i  :• 


PHILLIPS' S   MINERALOGY. 


FIFTH    EDITION. 


COMPRISING    SIX    HUNDRED    WOOD    CUTS 


"  The  study  of  Mineralogy,  whether  it  be  viewed  as  tending  to  increase  individual 
wealth,  to  improve  and  multiply  arts  and  manufactures,  and  thus  promote  the  public 
good  ;  or  as  affording  a  pleasant  subject  for  scientific  research,  recommends  itself  to  the 
attention  of  the  citizen  and  the  scholar." — Pro/.  Cleaveland. 


AN 


ELEMENTARY    TREATISE 


ON 


MINERALOGY: 


COMPRISING 


AN  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  SCIENCE; 


BY 

WILLIAM  PHILLIPS,  F.L.S.M.G.S.L.  &C. 

HON.  MEMBER  OF  THE  CAMBRIDGE  AND  YORKSHIRE  PHILOSOPHICAL  SOCIETIES. 


FIFTH    EDITION, 

FROM    THE    FOURTH  LONDON   EDITION,  BY  ROBERT  ALLAN : 

CONTAINING  THE  LATEST  DISCOVERIES   IN 

AMERICAN  AND  FOREIGN  MINERALOGY; 

WITH  NUMEROUS  ADDITIONS  TO  THE  INTRODUCTION. 

BY  FRANCIS  ALGER, 

MEMBER  OF  THE  AMERICAN  ACADEMY  OF  ARTS  AND   SCIENCES,  OP  THE  NATIONAL 
INSTITUTE  FOR  THE   PROMOTION   OF   SCIENCE,    OF  THE  BOSTON 

SOCIETY  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY,  ETC.  _—«.•••«•-*'••«.•«. 

^\j3  P-  *   f'.Y^> 

OF  THE  \ 

UNlVERSr 

x  ,        OF 
BOSTON : 

WILLIAM    D.    TICKNOR    &    CO. 

M  DCCC  XLIV. 


P 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1844, 

BY  FRANCIS  ALGER, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


PREFACE. 


WHEN  I  first  commenced  this  work,  my  intention  was  merely  to 
add  to  the  deservedly  popular  Treatise  of  the  late  Wm.  Phillips, 
the  principal  localities  of  North  American  minerals,  and  such  new 
species  as  I  could  conveniently  gather  from  the  few  journals  within  my 
reach,  and  to  send  it  forth  as  a  still  later  edition  of  that  work.  Pro- 
fessor Cleaveland's  Mineralogy  having  been  long  out  of  print,  there 
had  been  for  some  time  an  urgent  call  in  this  country  for  an  elemen- 
tary system  like  Phillips's,  based  on  a  chemical  arrangement,  and 
illustrated  by  numerous  figures  of  the  primary  and  secondary  forms  of 
crystals  ;  and  I  supposed  that  in  three  or  four  months,  I  could  make 
the  additions  proposed,  and,  to  some  extent,  answer  this  call.  As 
Dr.  Thomson's  work  was  more  recent,  my  first  intention  was  to 
republish  his  first  volume,  by  adding  to  it  a  short  introduction  on  Crys- 
tallography, and  embodying  as  many  of  the  figures  from  Phillips's  as 
possible.  But  I  relinquished  this  idea,  on  learning  that  Prof.  Web- 
ster, of  Harvard  University,  had  been  engaged  in  the  same  labor,  and 
had  actually  prepared  a  volume  on  the  basis  of  Dr.  Thomson's  and 
Phillips's,  which  was  even  publicly  announced  as  in  the  press.  From 
the  apprehension  that  two  works  were  not  required,  I  was  unwilling, 
finding  also  that  the  publisher  declined  proceeding  in  the  undertaking, 
to  engage  in  either,  until,  after  repeated  inquiries,  I  learnt  that  the 
publisher  who  had  announced  Dr.  Webster's  work  as  in  press,  had 
suspended  its  publication  ;  and,  eventually,  that  there  was  little  pros- 
pect of  his  proceeding  with  it.  The  pressing  calls  for  a  work  of  this 
character  throughout  the  United  States,  finally  led  me  to  the  prepara- 
tion of  the  present  volume .  But  I  soon  found  that  to  make  the  additions 
proposed,  without  embodying  a  more  complete  view  of  the  chemical 
constitution  of  the  species,  their  atomic  formulas,  &c.,  would  he  but 
a  very  imperfect  exposition  of  the  present  advanced  state  of  mineralo- 


703 


11  PREFACE. 

gical  science.     It  occurred  to  me  that  the  value  of  Phillips's  Treatise, 
would  be  greatly  enhanced,  by  introducing  generally  the  symbolic 
characters,  and  the  mineralogical  formulas,  adopted  by  Dr.  Thomson. 
To  effect  this,  it  became  necessary  to  rearrange  the  introductory  sec- 
tions on  the  metals  and  other  simple  bodies,  and  to  express  their  atomic 
relations  to  each  other,  according  to  the  system  of  equivalents  which 
had  been  arrived  at  by  the  investigations  of  Drs.  Thomson  and  Prout. 
The  explanatory  remarks  at  the  close  of  the  Introduction,  render  it  un- 
necessary to  repeat  the  reasons  why  these  atomic  weights  have  been 
preferred.     They  have  been  also  introduced,  in  a  tabular  form,  with 
familiar  illustrations  of  their  uses,  for  the  benefit  of  the  student.    It  will 
be  observed  that  they  generally  agree  with  the  numbers  obtained  by 
Berzelius,  if  multiplied  by  ten  ;  and,  consequently,  the  mineralogical 
formulas  founded  on  the  same  analyses,  will  be  the  same  whether  we 
adopt  one  or  the  other ;  that  is,  simply  divide  by  the  smallest  num- 
bers, or   calculate  from  the  quantities  of  oxygen  contained  in  the 
several  constituents,  as  has  also  been  explained  in  the  Introduction. 
Hence  a  large  number  of  Dr.  Thomson's  formulas,  agree  with  Beu- 
dant's  ;  the  discrepancies  generally  arising  from  arbitrary  considera- 
tions, having  reference  to  their  essential  and  non-essential  constituents. 
The  formulas  given  by  other  authorities,  also  vary  in  the  same  man- 
ner, so  that  we  sometimes  have  two  or  three  for  the  same  mineral. 
Chemical  formulas  have  occasionally  been  given,  when  employed  by 
the  analysts  themselves,  or  in  stating  the  composition  of  some  of  the 
more  complex  species,  particularly  of  the  metals  ;  but  for  the  purposes 
of  mineralogy,  they  should  not  be  generally  introduced  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  the  mineralogical  signs,  which  answer  all  the  ends  desired  in. 
making  known  the  proximate  constituents  of  the  species,  and  do  not 
involve  a  knowledge  of  chemistry  beyond  that  which  most  students 
should  possess.     Much  may,  however,  be  said  in  favor  of  adopting 
the  plan  so  well  carried  out  by  Beudant,  of  employing  both  formulas. 
Besides  the  changes  thus  alluded  to,  it  seemed  necessary  to  treat 
of  some  subjects  most  essentially  connected  with  the  science,  which 
had  either  not  been  fully  or  adequately  discussed,  or  had  been  entirely 
omitted.     I  allude  to  Crystallography,  and  to  the  doctrines  of  Pseu- 
domorphism, Isomorphism  and  Dimorphism.     Of  these  last,  but  little 
was  known  when  the  late  Mr.  Phillips  prepared  his  last  edition  ;  but 
they  were  subjects  familiar  to  Mr.  Allan,  and  certainly  should  not 
have  been  entirely  overlooked  by  him.     They  have  been  now  treated 
of,  perhaps  with  as  much  copiousness  as  is  desirable  ;  while  the 
Crystallographical  part,  has  been  enlarged  by  the  addition  of  many 


PREFACE.  Ill 

new  figures,  and  the  leading  definitions  and  elementary  principles  of 
this  department  of  the  subject.  These  are  founded  on  the  Popular 
Introduction  to  Crystallography,  by  Brooke,  whose  system  of  nota- 
tion and  primary  forms,  first  adopted  by  Phillips,  has  been  followed, 
the  new  figures  of  crystals  now  introduced,  being  lettered  and  drawn 
in  accordance  with  them.  It  is  undoubtedly  the  simple,  unmathemati- 
cal  method  of  acquainting  the  student  with  Crystallography,  as  made 
known  in  the  writings  of  Brooke,  and  first  practically  exemplified  by 
the  numerous  diagrams  scattered  through  the  successive  editions  of 
Mr.  Phillips's  work,  which  has  conferred  upon  it  a  popularity  altoge- 
ther unequalled  by  any  other  treatise  on  the  subject.  His  accurate 
measurements  of  crystals,  sometimes  confirming,  and  often  disproving, 
the  previous,  more  mechanical ,  determinations  by  Haiiy,  and  which  are 
given  so  extensively  in  this  volume,  have  rendered  his  labors  in 
mineralogy  of  invaluable  service  to  other  authors  who  have  since 
published.  This  was  his  peculiar  province,  and  he  has  acquired  in  it 
a  pre-eminence  which  will  ever  identify  his  name  with  mineralogy. 

In  the  general  arrangement  of  the  Descriptive  part,  I  have  made  no 
changes.  A  few  species  have  occasionally  been  transferred  from  one 
class  to  another,  in  consequence  of  newer  and  more  accurate  analyses  ; 
and  in  some  instances,  for  the  same  reason,  substances  described  as 
distinct  species,  have  been  united  with  others;  or  introduced  only  as 
varieties.  Some  of  these  last  are  the  following  :  Nacrite  has  been 
united  with  Talc,  (Brunswick,  Me.,  Nacrite  with  Mica) ;  Xantho- 
phyllite  with  Clintonite,  or  Seybertite,  according  to  Prof.  G.  Rose  ; 
Wollastonite  and  Stellite  of  Dr.  Thomson,  and  Pectolite  of  Kobell, 
with  each  other,  under  the  name  of  Stellite  ;  Okenite  of  Kobell,  with 
Dysclasite  of  Connell ;  Harringtonite  of  Dr.  Thomson,  with  Mesole  ; 
Scolezite  with  Mesolite  ;  Spinellane  with  Hauyne ;  Pleonaste  with 
Spinelle  ;  Meionite  with  Scapolite  ;  Humboldite  of  Levy,  with  Da- 
tholite  ;  Phillipsite  of  Beudant,  with  Purple  Copper ;  Neoctese  of 
Beudant,  with  Scorodite  ;  Fibrolite  with  Kyanite  ;  Xenolite  of 
Nordenskiold,  with  Bucholzite  ;  Junkerite  of  Dufrenoy,  with  Spa- 
those  Iron ;  Beudantite  of  Levy,  (as  shown  by  MM.  Damour  and 
Descloizeaux)  with  Pharmakisederite  ;  Cyprine  with  Grossularite, 
as  shown  by  the  analysis  of  Richardson  ;  Beudantite  of  Monticelli  and 
Covelli,  with  Nepheline  ;  Mellilite  with  Humboldilite,  as  shown  by 
M.  Damour.  The  number  of  these  might  perhaps  at  the  present  time 
be  considerably  increased.  For  example,  Brooke  and  Tamnau,  have 
shown  the  crystallographical  identity  of  Phacolite  with  Chabasie, 
though  Breithaupt  maintains  the  distinction,  and  the  analyses  by  An- 
»* 


IV  PREFACE  . 

derson  and  Rammelsberg,  are  not  decisive  on  the  point.  Rammels- 
berg's  recent  analysis  of  Comptonite  compared  withThomsonite,  also 
shows  an  exact  agreement  in  the  atomic  constitution  of  these  two  mine- 
rals, yettheir  crystallographical  identity  is  not  fully  admitted.  Of  Ame- 
rican species,  Chlorophyllite  of  Jackson,  is  classed  with  the  Hydrous 
lolite  of  Bonsdorff;  Washingtonite  of  Shepard,  with  Ilmenite  ;  Stellite 
of  Beck,  with  Stellite  of  Dr.  Thomson,  under  the  name  of  Anhydrous 
Lime-Mesolite  ;  Bisilicate  of  Copper  of  Bowen,  with  Chrysocolla  ; 
Microlite  of  Shepard,  with  Pyrochlore  ;  Beaumontite  of  Levy,  and 
Lincolnite  of  Hitchcock,  with  Heulandite ;  Eremite  and  Edwardsite 
of  Shepard,  with  Monazite  ;  Eupyrchroite  of  Emmons,  with  Phos- 
phate of  Lime  ;  Pickeringite  of  Hayes,  with  Magnesian  Alum ; 
Danaite  of  Hayes,  with  Mispickel ;  Chiastolite  with  Andalusite  ; 
Boltonite  of  Nuttall,  with  Picrosmine  ;  Rensselaerite  of  Emmons,  with 
Pyroxene.*  All  the  additions  by  Mr.  Allan  have  been  retained,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Table  of  the  Composition  of  Species,  which  was 
rendered  unnecessary  by  the  substitution  of  the  formulas.  They  are 
credited  to  him  as  quotations  from  his  "  Manual,"  so  far  as  they  are 
thus  distinguished  in  his  edition;  but  in  numerous  instances,  fresh 
matter  has  been  interwoven  with  them,  as  it  has  been  throughout  the 
work.  These  freedoms  with  the  author's  text,  were  rendered  neces- 
sary by  the  impracticability  of  introducing  so  large  an  amount  of  mat- 
ter in  the  form  of  notes.  A  few  notes,  however,  were  unavoidable  ; 
these,  when  written  by  Phillips  or  Allan,  are  so  indicated.  For  the 
rest,  the  present  editor  is  responsible. 

The  matter  now  introduced  rather  exceeds  three  hundred  pages. 
It  comprises  over  one  hundred  additional  figures  in  the  Introduction, 
and  the  Descriptive  part ;  with  the  new  species,  foreign  and  Ameri- 
can, brought  into  notice  since  the  date  of  the  last  edition  ;  and  the 
addition  of  many  foreign,  as  well  as  all  the  important  American  locali- 
ties. The  last  have  been  gathered  from  various  sources,  but  princi- 
pally from  the  State  Reports,  by  Profs.  Hitchcock,  Beck,  Emmons, 
Shepard,  W.  B.  and  H.  D.  Rogers,  Drs.  Troost,  Jackson  and  Haugh- 
ton.  The  localities  in  Nova  Scotia,  have  been  given  from  the  personal 
observations  of  Dr.  Jackson  and  the  editor. 

While  several  minerals,  supposed  to  be  new,  have  been  united 
with  others,  but  one  new  species  has  been  proposed,  viz.  Hayesine, 
or  Borocalcite,  described  at  p.  318.  One  or  two  changes  have  been 
made  in  the  naming  of  species,  which  seemed  to  be  demanded  by  a 

*  For  authorities  in  these  cases,  as  well  as  most  of  those  cited  oil  the  last  page,  the 
reader  will  refer  to  the  articles  themselves. 


PREFACE.  IT 

simpler  or  more  characteristic  expression  of  their  distinguishing  prop- 
erties. Thus  the  Uniaxial  Mica,  which  differs  from  the  Biaxial 
species,  in  containing  Magnesia,  I  have  disinguished  as  Magnesian 
Mica.  The  two  prominent  species  of  Iron  ore,  the  Magnetic  and 
Specular,  both  of  which  are  known  to  be  magnetic,  have  been  more 
appropriately  designated  under  the  names  of  Pleisto-Magnetic  Iron, 
and  Oligisto-Magnetic  Iron.  Red  Hematite,  and  one  or  two  other 
varieties  of  iron  ore,  hitherto  included  under  the  last  species,  with 
which  they  have  liitle  affinity,  have  been  transferred  to  the  species 
Limonite,  which  also  comprises  Brown  Hematite,  Goethite,  and  Stilp- 
nosiderite,  hitherto  described  in  this  work  as  distinct  species. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  work  I  have  consulted  the  various  treatises 
on  the  science,  the  numerous  Reports  of  our  own  Mineralogists  and 
Geologists,  who  have  been  called  into  the  field  by  the  various  State 
Legislatures,  as  well  as  oar  Scientific  Periodicals,  and  the  Transac- 
tions and  Journals  of  various  Scientific  Societies.  To  the  American 
Journal  of  Science, — that  most  invaluable  repository  of  all  the  discover- 
ies in  American  mineralogy  during  the  last  twenty-five  years,  —  I 
am  particularly  indebted  for  numerous  statements  and  facts  present- 
ed in  the  following  pages.  Dana's  Latin  names  have  been  introduced 
along  with  many  other  additional  synonyms,  particularly  those  by 
Prof.  Jameson.  The  principal  foreign  sources  from  which  some  of 
the  most  important  additions  have  been  obtained,  are  the  London 
Edinburgh  and  Dublin  Philosophical  Magazine ;  Jameson's  New  Edin- 
burgh Journal  of  Science;  Brewster's  Edinburgh  Journal  of  Science; 
Thomson's  Records  of  General  Science ;  the  Reports  of  the  British 
Association;  the  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  and 
of  the  Geological  Society  of  London ;  De  la  Beche's  Report  on  Devon, 
Cornwall,  <5fc. ;  and  Brooke' 's  article,  Mineralogy,  in  the  Encyclopedia 
Metropolitana.  Berzelius's  Annual  Reports,  (usually  the  French  or 
German  reprints,)  have  been  largely  consulted,  as  have  also  the  prin- 
cipal French  journals,  the  Annales  de  Chimie  et  de  Physique,  and  the 
Annales  des  Mines ;  Journal  fur  praktische  Chemic ;  Poggendorfs  An- 
nalen  der  Physik  und  Chemie ;  Kongl.  Vetenskaps  Academiens  Handlin- 
gar  ;  Verhandlungen  der  Kaiserlich-  Russischen  Mineralogischen  Gesell- 
schaft  zu  St.  Petersburg,  1842.  The  other  sources  of  information 
have  been  acknowledged  in  the  body  of  the  work.  The  Chemical 
Mineralogy  by  Rammelsberg,*  (2  Vols.  and  1st  Supp.,)  a  most 
thorough  and  laborious  treatise,  comprising  all  the  important  analy- 
ses of  mineral  species  hitherto  published,  has  often  been  consulted  ; 

*  C.  F.  Rammelsberg.  Handworterbuch  des  Chemischen  Theils  der  Mineralogie,  in  9 
Tola.  8vo.  Berlin,  1841.  Ea-ttes  Supplement,  $c.,  1  vol.  8vo.  Berlin,  1843. 


VI  PREFACE. 

and  I  have  only  to  regret  that  I  was  unable  to  obtain  a  copy  of  this 
work,  until  a  considerable  part  of  the  present  Treatise  had  been  printed. 
By  the  obliging  courtesy  of  Charles  Cramer,  Esq.,  late  Secretary 
of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  I  have  re- 
ceived copies  of  the  Transactions  of  that  and  a  similar  body  of  the  active 
scientific  men  of  Russia,  of  whose  labors  frequent  mention  has  been 
made.  I  am  indebted  to  other  friends,  for  several  valuable  journals, 
or  works,  on  the  science,  which  have  supplied  important  information. 
Among  these  I  would  here  mention  Dr.  Feuchtwanger,  of  New  York, 
Joseph  A.  Clay,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  Saml.  L.  Dana,  Esq.,  of 
Lowell.  Of  those  gentlemen,  who  have  supplied  me  with  many  valua- 
ble facts,  or  have  given  me  their  friendly  advice  on  many  occasions,  I 
would  also  mention  the  names  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  A.  A.  Hayes, 
J.  E.  Teschemacher,  and  Prof.  J.  W.  Webster.  I  am  indebted  to 
the  two  first  named  gentlemen,  for  the  analyses  of  several  minerals, 
the  results  of  which  were  first  communicated  to  this  work  The 
analyses  of  Stellite,  Sillimanite,  Washingtonite,  and  Acadialite,  were 
obligingly  undertaken  by  them  at  my  request,  and  were  instituted  on 
some  very  pure  crystals,  which  I  had  placed  in  their  hands. 

From  Mr.  James  H.  Blake,  I  have  received  very  valuable  notices 
of  all  the  localities  discovered  or  visited  by  him,  during  his  late  tour 
through  the  rich  mineral  districts  of  South  America :  he  has  besides 
supplied  me  with  several  new  analyses.  My  obligations  are  particu- 
larly due  to  J.  E.  Teschemacher,  Esq.,  for  the  measurements  of  the 
crystals  of  several  species  which  had  not  before  been  fully  or  accu- 
rately determined,  and  without  whose  nice  observations  with  the 
reflecting  goniometer,  the  identity  of  several  substances,  supposed  to 
be  distinct,  could  not  have  been  completely  established.  Nor  can  I 
close  this  preface,  without  expressing  my  sincere  thanks  to  W.  G. 
Lettsom,  Esq.,  of  the  British  Legation  at  Washington,  for  his  very 
frequent  contribution  of  facts,  as  well  as  his  valuable  suggestions.  I 
am  also  under  obligations  to  Henry  Heuland,  Esq.,  of  London,  and 
Dr.  Thomson  of  Glasgow,  for  facts  relating  to  foreign  localities. 

It  is  proper  to  add ,  that  whilst  the  labor  in  preparing  this  volume 
has  been  much  greater  than  was  anticipated,  my  time  has  been  devoted 
to  it  at  intervals,  amid  other  pursuits  ;  and  this  is  the  apology  now 
offered  on  account  of  its  slow  progress  through  the  press  ;  its  publi- 
cation having  been  promised  at  a  much  earlier  period. 

F.  A. 

BOSTON,  MAY  20,  1844. 


INTRODUCTION  TO  MINERALOGY. 


PART  I. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  INTRODUCTION. 


PREFACE,  by  the  Author,       .....      ••""!•••  -''K':'.  ix 

CHARACTERS  OF  MINERALS,         .         ,         .      :  .''-'";      '*•"*' "^  xxii 
Physical  Characters ,  ......      •l-.:'   '  V    xxiv 

External  Form,  and  Simple  Preliminary  Definitions,     .  xxv 

Crystals  Defined,    .         .         .         .         .        ..'•;.  xxv 

Structure,.         .         .         .         .  v     • .  '••'--•",'-. ^"^      f  xxix 

Cleavage,       .     "-';"•" \'\ _••'*"•'  i'?; :>"  '.  ^«v-.V;":  •*•;•••*  ".^  ••*  *"•;**••'' .->    xxx 

Primary  Forms,  and  their  Geometrical  Relations,          .  xxxi 

Different  Systems  of  Primary  Forms,       .      ''«*. * '""'•••'  -;.         .  xxxii 

The  Lettering  of  Crystals  explained,    ....  xxxiii 

Primary  Forms  enumerated, xxxiv 

Each  Primary  Form  described, xxxvi 

Mechanical  Cleavage,  and  Secondary  Forms  of  Crystals,  xlii 

Derivation  of  Secondary  Forms,           ....  xliv 

Hemitrope,  or  Twin  Crystals,          .....  li 

Measurement  of  the  Angles  of  Crystals,       ...  liv 

Common  Goniometer  described,       .....  liv 

Reflecting  Goniometer  described,          ....  Ivi 

The  Comparative  Value  of  these  Instruments,          .         .  lix 

Varieties  of  Structure, Ix 

Fracture, Ixi 

Frangibility, Ixii 

Scale  of  Hardness, Ixiii 

Transparency,  and  Lustre,           ,         *        .         .         .  Ixv 

System  of  Colors,  ........  Ixvi 

Flexibility,  Elasticity,  and  Double  Refraction,      .         .  Ixx 

Touch,  Taste,  Odor, r:      .  Ixxii 


Vlll 


CONTENTS . 


Touch,  Taste,  Odor, Ixxii 

Streak,  Adhesion  to  the  Tongue,  and  Magnetism,         .      Ixxiii 

Electricity, Ixxiv 

Phosphorescence,  and  Specific  Gravity,        .         .         .      Ixxvii 

Pseudomorphism, Ixxx 

Table  of  the  principal  Pseudomorphous  Minerals,          .      Ixxxii 

Isomorphism, Ixxxii 

Groups  of  Isomorphous  Bodies, Ixxxiv 

Dimorphism, Ixxxv 

Chemical  Characters, 

Action  of  the  Blowpipe, Ixxxvi 

Scale  of  the  Fusibility  of  Minerals,          .         .         .  xci 

Cupellation,  and  Action  of  Acids,         ....        xciii 

Table  of  Elementary  Substances, xcvi 

Non-Metallic  Bodies  enumerated  and  described,  .  .  xcvi 
Metallic  Bodies  enumerated  and  described,  ci 

Systematic  Arrangement  of  Mineral  Species,  .  .  cxviii 
Atomic  Constitution  of  Minerals,  .....  cxx 
Symbols  and  Atomic  Weights  of  Bodies  entering  into  the 

composition  of  Minerals, cxxiii 

Tables,  showing  the  Formulas,  Specific  Gravities,  and 
Hardness  of  Minerals,  arranged  in  their  respective 
Classes, cxxvi 


PREFACE  TO  THE  THIRD  EDITION. 


THE  present  differs  from  the  preceding  edition  in  some 
respects,  which  appear  to  require  notice  in  this  place. 

The  most  important  additions  and  improvements  that  have 
been  made,  consist,  first,  in  the  introduction  of  notices  or 
descriptions  of  about  eighty  minerals,  of  which  the  greater  part 
have  been  discovered  since  the  publication  of  the  preceding 
edition ;  secondly,  in  the  insertion  of  the  results  obtained  by  a 
careful  examination  of  most  crystalline  minerals,  as  regards 
their  structure  and  cleavage;  thirdly,  in  the  addition  of  a 
figure  to  the  verbal  description  of  most  substances  found  in  a 
crystallized  state,  representing  the  primary  form,  and  another 
the  secondary  planes  in  connection  with  those  of  the  primary 
crystal,  together  with  such  measurements  of  the  planes  as  I  have 
been  able  to  obtain,  chiefly  by  means  of  the  reflective  gonio- 
meter of  Dr.  Wollaston ;  in  the  fourth  place,  advantage  has 
been  taken  of  a  translation  of  Berzelius's  excellent  work  on 
"  The  Use  of  the  Blowpipe  in  Chemical  Analysis  and  the 
Examination  of  Minerals,  by  J.  G.  Children,  F.  R.  S.  L.  &, 
E.  &,c."  in  so  far  as  relates  to  the  more  simple  experiments 

B 


X  PREFACETOTHE 

with  that  useful  assistant  to  the  student  in  recognizing  min- 
erals; and,  fifthly,  the  meanings  of  the  names  by  which  min- 
erals are  commonly  known  in  this  country  are  mostly  given  at 
the  foot  of  the  page  containing  the  description,  except  where, 
being  chemical,  they  manifestly  have  been  derived  from  the 
composition  of  the  substance. 

In  regard  to  arrangement,  no  alteration  has  been  made  in  this 
edition,  except  where  new  and  more  satisfactory  analyses  de- 
manded a  change  :  on  the  subject  of  the  arrangement,  therefore, 
it  seems  requisite  only  to  add,  that,  having  in  the  first  instance 
adopted  it  as  being  in  my  own  estimation  the  most  advantageous 
to  the  student  that  I  could  devise,  the  experience  of  its  utility 
now  induces  me  to  recommend  it  to  him  as  an  instructive 
method  of  placing  the  minerals  in  his  cabinet. 

In  pursuing  the  at  once  pleasant  and  laborious  investigations 
connected  with  the  important  characters  of  cleavage,  crystalline 
form,  and  measurement,  and  which  were  undertaken  with  the 
view  of  rendering  the  present  edition  more  instructive  to  the 
student,  it  will  be  imagined  that  I  have  myself  derived  much 
information ;  and,  although  some  new  facts  relative  to  these 
points  have  resulted,  it  must  be  acknowledged  that  much  yet 
remains  for  future  investigation. 

If  the  more  accomplished  mineralogist  should  condescend  to 
consult  this  little  work,  he  will  perceive  that  the  measurements 
of  the  crystalline  forms,  and  especially  of  the  secondary  planes, 
are  not  precisely  exact,  do  not  on  all  occasions  relatively  agree : 
for  in  no  instance  has  it  been  attempted  to  correct  the  geometry 
of  nature  by  a  resort  to  the  more  rigid  laws  of  calculation.  It 
has  been  ascertained,  by  a  comparison  of  the  measurements 
taken  from  similar  and  brilliant  planes  of  different  crystals, 
that,  owing  to  some  natural  inequality  of  surface,  the  same  pre- 
cise angle  is  rarely  obtained,  and  hence  those  given  in  the  suc- 
ceeding pages  cannot  be  expected  to  be  absolutely  exact.  Ex- 
perience, however,  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the  limit  of  error 
is  considerably  within  one  degree,  —  that  it  rarely  exceeds  forty 
minutes,  and  that  it  is  frequently  confined  to  a  minute  or  two. 
The  measurements  annexed  to  the  figures  will  therefore  be 


THIRD     EDITION.  XI 

considered  only  as  near  approximations  to  the  true  value;  but 
where  those  of  the  primary  form  have  been  obtained  from  planes 
produced  by  cleavage,  which  is  generally  noted,  when  that  is 
the  case,  in  the  description  of  the  mineral,  they  may  be  con- 
sidered as  approximating  the  truth  much  more  nearly  than  when 
taken  by  means  of  the  natural  planes.  A  considerable  propor- 
tion of  the  whole  will  perhaps  be  found  sufficiently  precise  to 
form  a  basis  for  the  calculations  of  the  mathematician,  and, 
together  with  the  accompanying  figures,  to  induce  the  student 
to  examine  the  forms  of  crystals,  and  to  delineate  and  measure 
the  angles  formed  by  the  meeting  of  the  planes  by  which  the 
crystals  in  his  own  cabinet  are  bounded.  If  errors  should  be 
found  in  the  following  pages,  greater  than  those  above  alluded 
to,  they  are  to  be  attributed  to  my  own  want  of  exactness  in 
noting  the  measurements  obtained ;  for,  although  much  care 
has  on  all  occasions  been  taken  to  select  the  smallest  and  most 
brilliant  crystals,  and  to  note  the  results  faithfully,  it  is  scarcely 
to  be  hoped  that  errors  of  this  nature  have  altogether  been 
avoided. 

It  may  perhaps  be  concluded  that,  by  adopting  at  once  the 
figures  and  measurements  given  by  Haiiy,  and  other  mineralo- 
gists, much  chance  of  inaccuracy  might  have  been  prevented. 
But  it  must  be  observed,  that  where  the  primary  form  is  not  a 
regular  geometrical  solid,  such  as  are  the  cube,  regular  octa- 
hedron, and  six-sided  prism,  the  means  resorted  to  for  deter- 
mining the  true  measurements  —  namely,  that  of  subjecting  the 
planes  obtained  by  cleavage  to  the  reflective  goniometer  —  is  a 
more  certain  method  than  that  adopted  by  Haiiy ;  and  it  will 
be  perceived  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  all  the  primary 
forms  are  not  regular  geometrical  solids,  such,  for  instance,  as 
the  oblique  and  doubly  oblique  prisms,  and  the  very  numerous 
class  of  rhombic  prisms.  Where  the  cube,  regular  octahedron, 
six-sided  prism,  and  other  regular  solids,  are  the  primary  forms, 
I  have  adopted  the  measurements  given  by  Haiiy,  acknowledg- 
ing them  in  all  cases  by  annexing  the  letter  H,  or  by  some  other 
mode ;  first,  however,  verifying  them  in  most  cases  by  the  re- 
flective goniometer.  In  a  very  few  instances,  the  authority  of 


Xll  PREFACETOTHE 

the  Comte  de  Bournon  has  been  resorted  to,  but  not  without 
acknowledgment.  It  will  of  course  be  understood  that  where  no 
authority  is  mentioned,  the  measurements  have  been  obtained 
by  the  reflective  goniometer,  and,  from  what  is  said  above,  that 
they  must  be  considered  only  as  approximations.* 

In  regard  to  the  figures  to  which  the  measurements  are  an- 
nexed, it  may  be  observed,  that  these  are  not  in  all  cases  the 
representatives  of  single  crystals,  for  in  some  of  them  are  asso- 
ciated the  planes  observed  on  two  or  three ;  thus  occasionally 
rendering  the  form  more  complicated  than  any  single  crystal  I 
have  =>een,  but  not  more  so  than  may  probably  be  found  here- 
after. This  .mode  has  been  adopted,  as  offering  to  the  student 
the  greatest  assistance  that  I  could  devise,  since  it  combines  at 
one  view  all  the  observed  planes,  without  increasing  enormously 
the  bulk  and  consequent  expense  of  the  work,  as  must  have 
been  the  case  if  all  the  varieties  of  form  had  been  given  sepa- 
rately. As  to  the  drawing  of  the  figures,  it  remains  to  be 
added,  that  they  are  not  given  as  the  result  of  a  laborious  exe- 
cution by  the  assistance  of  the  rules  of  geometrical  projection; 
but,  in  the  general,  only  as  diagrams,  wanting  the  precision 
which  in  that  case  might  have  been  claimed  for  them,  and 
drawn  without  any  other  rule  than  such  as  the  hand  and  eye 
could  furnish. 

The  letters  on  each  plane  of  the  larger  figures  have  been  so 
placed,  according  to  the  system  of  notation  adopted  in  the 
11  Familiar  Introduction  to  Crystallography,  &c.,  by  H.  J. 
Brooke,  F.  R.  S.  &c.,"  a  work  which  may,  without  hesitation, 
be  recommended  strongly  to  the  student,  as  being  calculated 
to  teach  the  interesting  science  on  which  it  treats  in  its  most 
pleasing  form,  and  of  which  the  first  part  is  so  simple  that, 
without  any  reference  to  trigonometry,  geometry,  or  algebraical 
calculation,  it  shows,  by  means  of  the  figures  of  crystals  and 
attendant  explanations,  the  position  on  the  primary  forms  of 

*  In  some,  though  comparatively  few  instances,  the  crystals  of  a  substance  have  not 
been  found  sufficiently  bright  for  the  use  of  the  reflective  goniometer  ;  the  common  goni- 
ometer has  then  been  resorted  to,  and  the  measurements  taken  by  it  are  always  distin- 
guished by  having  the  letters  c.  ff.  annexed  to  them.  [P.] 


THIRD     EDITION.  Kill 

every  secondary  or  modifying  plane  to  which  those  forms  are 
liable,  and  thereby  the  transitions  of  one  form  into  another ; 
and  here,  if  he  be  so  inclined,  the  student  may  stop,  after  hav- 
ing gained  all  that  a  purely  mechanical  view  of  the  subject 
will  afford  him,  or  he  may  proceed  to  the  second  part,  in  which 
crystallographyjs  treated  more  scientifically;  and  it  may  be 
added,  that  the  pupil  may,  in  either  case,  attain  such  a 
knowledge  of  it,  as  will  not  fail  to  open  to  him  new  sources  of 
delight  in  this  interesting  department  of  Mineralogy.* 

To  the  author  of  the  fore-mentioned  work  I  am  under  much 
obligation,  for  assistance  on  various  points  connected  with  the 
improvements  which  it  is  confidently  hoped  will  be  manifest  in 
the  present  edition.  Often  as  his  name  occurs  in  its  pages,  I 
have  been  yet  more  often  indebted  to  him,  not  only  for  the  loan 
of  specimens,  amongst  which  were  several  that  I  could  not  oth- 
erwise have  obtained,  but  for  assistance  in  the  clearing  up  of 
many  difficulties  which,  without  his  help,  would  have  been  left 
in  doubt,  or  would  have  terminated  in  error. 

My  acknowledgments  and  thanks  are  also  thus  publicly  due 
to  several  others  of  my  friends.  To  Thomas  Allan,  F.  R.  S.  L. 
&/  E.  for  many  useful  criticisms,  of  which  I  have  not  failed  to 
avail  myself,  as  well  as  for  the  liberal  transmission  from  Edin- 
burgh of  some  rare  and  valuable  minerals.  To  Ashurst  Ma- 
jendie,  M.  G.  S.  for  the  loan  of  well-defined  crystals  of  several 
scarce  substances.  To  Samuel  Luck  Kent,  M.  G.  S.  for  a  free 
access  to  his  cabinet  upon  all  occasions,  and  for  his  cheerful 
permission  to  avail  myself  of  the  advantage  in  any  manner  that 
might  tend  to  benefit  the  work,  and  even  for  the  presentation 
to  me  of  some  rare  substances.  To  Henry  Heuland,  For.  Sec. 
G.  S.  for  some  valuable  minerals  presented  to  me  in  a  manner 
consistent  with  his  well-known  liberality ;  a  liberality  which 
also  I  have  experienced  in  numerous  instances  from  G.  B. 
Sowerby,  F.  L.  S.  to  whom  likewise  I  am  greatly  indebted  for 

*  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  distinguished  author,  above  alluded  to,  will  soon  cause  to 
be  issued  a  new  edition  of  his  work,  which  is  now  most  eagerly  demanded  by  mineralog- 
ical  students.  [An.  ED.] 


XIV  PREFACE     TO     THE 

many  valuable  hints,  and  for  the  readiness  with  which  he  has 
upon  all  occasions  endeavored  to  promote  my  views. 

In  conclusion,  if  the  utility  of  a  nice  investigation  of  the 
structure  of  crystallized  minerals,  and  the  measurement  of  their 
angles,  should  become  an  inquiry,  it  may  be  replied  that  they 
often  determine  the  differences  existing  betweenjninerals  which 
greatly  resemble  each  other.  This,  as  is  observed  more  at  large 
in  the  following  "  Introduction,"  is  fully  exemplified  in  the 
differences  discovered  by  means  of  the  reflective  goniometer, 
between  the  measurements  of  the  primary  rhomboids  of  carbo- 
nate of  lime,  carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  and  carbonate  of 
iron  ;  minerals  which  often  so  greatly  resemble  each  other,  that 
the  difference  between  them  can  only  be  ascertained  by  a  resort 
to  chemistry,  or  the  reflective  goniometer.  The  utility  of  a 
close  attention  to  this  instrument  has  been  further  manifested 
since  the  foregoing  was  written,  and  in  a  very  remarkable 
manner  :  —  A  mineral  which  has  always  been  considered  as  bit- 
terspar  from  the  Tyrol,  and  of  which  the  primary  crystal  is  a 
rhomboid  not  distinguishable  by  the  unassisted  eye  from  that  of 
either  of  the  foregoing,  was  found  by  the  reflective  goniometer 
to  afford  measurements  different  from  them  all ;  the  cause  of 
this  became  manifest  by  a  resort  to  analysis,  which  proved  it 
to  be  a  new  compound,  namely,  a  carbonate  of  magnesia  and 
iron.  The  reflective  goniometer  is  moreover  of  great  use  to 
the  geologist,  who  finds  those  rocks  which  are  termed  primi- 
tive, and  many  of  those  which  are  called  transition,  or  the  oldest 
secondary,  to  consist,  not  of  one  homogeneous  mass,  as  is  often 
the  case  with  those  of  a  newer  origin,  but  of  two  or  more  min- 
erals, so  intermixed  and  associated  that  a  reference  to  the  chem- 
ist is  of  little  avail  to  him :  by  such  means  he  may  indeed  be- 
come informed  whether  a  particular  earth  or  alkali  is  to  be  found 
in  the  mass,  but  the  various  substances  of  which  it  is  com- 
pounded are  often  too  minute,  and  therefore  too  intimately  as- 
sociated with  the  others,  to  allow  of  a  determination  as  to  which 
of  the  component  substances  may  contain  the  earth  or  the  alkali 
so  discovered.  Hence  structure,  if  it  exist,  becomes  a  character 


THIRDED1TION.  XV 

of  essential  importance ;  for  it  will  be  found  that  fragments  far 
too  minute  for  analysis  will  often  afford  brilliant  planes,  well 
adapted  to  the  use  of  the  reflective  goniometer.  A  knowledge 
of  structure,  therefore,  and  of  the  measurements  of  the  primary 
forms  of  minerals,  is  very  important  to  the  geologist ;  but  where 
structure  does  not  exist,  the  examination  of  the  various  external 
characters  of  the  minute  portions  forming  the  aggregate  of  the 
rock  are  often  of  singular  advantage;  and  hence  the  geologist 
should  become  intimately  acquainted  with  the  external  charac- 
ters of  at  least  all  such  substances  as  are  found  entering  into 
the  composition  of  rocks.  Mineralogy,  therefore,  is  in  reality 
essential  to  the  geologist ;  it  is  the  very  alphabet  to  the  older 
rocks,  and  it  is  probably  to  be  attributed  in  great  measure  to 
the  want  of  due  preparation  for  the  study  of  these  rocks,  by  an 
intimate  acqaintance  with  minerals  in  the  simple  state,  that  the 
primary  and  transition  tracts  of  England  and  Wales  have  been 
investigated  in  a  far  less  degree  than  those  of  a  newer  origin. 
"It  has  been  said  of  crystals,"  says  the  Abbe  Haiiy,  "that 
they  are  the  flowers  of  minerals ;  an  observation  concealing  a 
very  just  idea  beneath  the  air  of  a  comparison  which  appears  to 
be  only  ingenious."  The  importance  of  "form  will  become 
more  evident,"  he  further  observes,  "  if,  in  pursuing  our  inqui- 
ries into  the  niceties  of  the  mechanism  of  structure,  we  con- 
ceive all  these  crystals  as  the  assemblages  of  integrant  mole- 
cules perfectly  resembling  each  other,  and  subject  to  the  laws 
of  regular  arrangement.  Thus,  although  by  a  superficial 
notice  of  crystals  we  might  adjudge  them  to  be  only  the  sports 
of  nature,  a  more  intimate  acquaintance  with  them  leads  to 
this  conclusion, — that  the  Deity,  whose  power  and  wisdom 
prescribed  the  unerring  laws  of  the  planetary  motions,  has  also 
established  those  which  are  obeyed  with  the  same  fidelity,  by 
the  molecules  composing  the  various  substances  concealed  in 
the  recesses  of  the  earth." 

MAY  10,  1823.  W.  P. 


XVI  PREFACE      TO      THE 

EXTRACTS    FROM    THE    PREFACE    TO    THE    SECOND   EDITION. 

[I  have  thought  it  proper  to  introduce  a  few  paragraphs  from  the  preface  to  the  second 
edition  of  this  work,  because  they  have  a  beautiful,  and,  even  to  this  day,  not  untimely 
application  to  the  whole  subject,  and  are  well  calculated  to  excite  the  interest  of  the 
student  in  the  pursuit  of  an  ennobling  and  invigorating  science.  The  closing  words  of 
both  prefaces  are  characteristic  of  what  was  the  pervading  spirit  and  purpose  of  the 
excellent  author.] — Jim.  Ed. 

THE  most  effectual  and  advantageous  method  of  acquiring 
a  competent  knowledge  of  minerals,  is  undoubtedly  that  of 
personal  instruction.  The  superiority  which  France  and  Ger- 
many have  attained  in  mineralogical  science,  is  in  great  meas- 
ure to  be  attributed  to  the  facility  of  obtaining  instruction, 
both  public  and  private. 

Mineralogy,  as  it  is  too  commonly  pursued,  is  made  to  con- 
sist more  in  the  recognition  of  minerals  than  in  the  knowledge 
of  what  may  be  termed  its  principles ;  —  more  in  the  possession 
of  specimens,  and  in  that  satisfaction  which  arises  from  ar- 
ranging them  in  their  places,  than  in  subjecting  them  to  those 
investigations  which,  when  once  they  are  attempted,  are  found 
to  constitute  the  real  value  and  even  the  charm  of  the  science. 
The  beginner  may  be  assured  that  it  is  replete  not  less  with 
entertainment  than  with  instruction ;  for  whether  the  observa- 
tion of  the  physical  characters  —  of  structure,  phosphoresence, 
or  electricity  —  or  whether  the  blow-pipe,  or  those  investiga- 
tions which  belong  to  chemistry,  may  be  most  congenial  to 
him,  each  will  be  found  to  possess  an  ample  source  of  gratifi- 
cation, in  the  instruction  which  curious  phenomena  never  fail 
to  convey  to  the  mind,  and  in  the  exertion  of  the  ingenuity 
required  for  their  development. 

It  may  be  assumed  that  the  physical  characters  of  minerals 
are  more  likely  to  interest  the  generality  of  students,  as  being 
more  obvious,  and  probably  more  consonant  with  their  general 
pursuits,  than  the  chemical  characters.  Of  the  physical,  struc- 
ture will  be  found  the  most  inviting  and  most  uniform,  and 
therefore  the  most  important  of  them  all.  The  manner  in 
which  it  is  treated  of  in  the  Introduction,  being  purely  mechan- 
ical, is  not  likely  to  satisfy  the  advanced  mineralogist,  for  whom 
indeed  it  is  not  designed ;  but  perhaps  may  interest  the  student 


SECOND    EDITION. 

sufficiently  to  induce  him  to  pursue  the  subject  still  further ; 
and  what  if  I  say,  to  tempt  him  to  complete  his  acquirements 
by  a  resort  to  the  works  of  the  Abbe  Haiiy,  in  which  he  will 
find  structure,  and  its  interesting  and  beautiful  consequence, 
regular  external  form,  illustrated  by  the  application  of  the 
mathematics  to  its  laws. 

The  catalogue  of  simple  substances  offers  to  our  notice 
some  striking  considerations,  when  viewed  as  including, 
according  to  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  all  the  com- 
ponent materials  of  the  crust  of  the  globe.  This  crust,  how- 
ever, is  primarily  constituted  of  earthy  compounds,  in  which 
only  two  or  three  of  the  metals  are  found  either  intermixed,  or 
in  a  state  of  combination ;  for  the  metals  and  metalliferous 
ores  principally  occur  in  the  veins  which  traverse  mountainous 
or  hilly  countries,  and  their  quantity,  as  compared  with  that  of 
the  rocks  which  enclose  them,  sinks  into  insignificance.  The 
alkalies  occur  in  too  trifling  a  proportion  to  be  of  much  con- 
sideration in  this  point  of  view ;  and  the  acids,  excepting  the 
carbonic,  and  their  bases,  excepting  perhaps  only  carbon,  are 
similarly  circumstanced.  But  if  we  would  look  still  more  nar- 
rowly into  the  composition  of  the  crust  of  the  globe  as  consist- 
ing chiefly  of  the  earths  and  earthy  minerals,  we  shall  find  that 
only  three  of  the  ten  earths  ^vhich  have  been  discovered, 
namely,  silica,  alumine,  and  lime,  are  found  to  constitute  its 
great  bulk ;  for  although  magnesia  is  a  constituent  of  a  moun- 
tain rock,  it  is  by  no  means  plentiful,  nor  does  magnesia  enter 
into  its  composition  in  a  large  proportion.  The  other  earths 
are  found  only  in  comparatively  small  quantity,  and  chiefly,  if 
if  not  altogether,  in  veins. 

If,  however,  we  pursue  the  investigation  further,  we  shall 
find  that  the  three  earths  above  mentioned  are  compound 
bodies,  consisting  on  the  average  of  about  50  per  cent,  of  oxy- 
gen, combined  with  the  bases,  silicium,  aluminum,  and  calcium, 
in  the  proportion  also  of  50  per  cent,  in  the  aggregate. 

Now  if  we  turn  our  attention  to  what  is  known  of  the  nature 
of  these  four  elements,  oxygen,  silicium,  aluminum,  and  calcium, 
which  primarily  constitute  the  great  mass  of  the  crust  of  the 


XV111  PREFACE. 


globe,  some  curious  facts  will  be  presented  to  our  consideration. 
The  first  and  most  abundant  element,  oxygen,  has  eluded  the 
vigilant  eye  of  the  analyst,  being  known  to  him,  in  its  purest 
state,  only  in  combination  with  caloric,  as  a  gas  ;  —  silicium 
and  calcium,  although  they  may  have  been  rendered  visible, 
can  scarcely  be  said  to  have  been  seen  in  a  separate  form,  and 
hence  their  precise  nature  is  unknown ;  —  while  calcium  has 
been  observed  to  possess  the  color  and  lustre  of  silver ;  but  as 
it  spontaneously  takes  fire  the  instant  of  its  exposure  to  the  air, 
its  nature  has  not  been  examined. 

It  is  admirably  observed  by  my  friend  J.  G.  Children,  that 
"  with  four  simple  elements  (oxygen,  hydrogen,  carbon,  and 
nitrogen,  a  brief  alphabet  for  so  comprehensive  a  history)  has 
a  bountiful  Providence  composed  the  beautiful  volume  of  the 
living  world;  where,  turn  to  what  page  we  may,  fresh  loveli- 
ness meets  the  eye,  fresh  cause  of  admiration  and  delight." 
(Essay  on  Chem.  Analysis,  p.  271.) 

That  part  of  the  creation,  therefore,  which  is  animate,  is 
composed  of  some  of  the  same  elements  as  the  inanimate :  and, 
according  to  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge,  the  elements 
employed  by  the  great  Artificer  of  the  Universe,  in  the  forma- 
tion of  the  globe,  and  all  the  animal  and  vegetable  creation, 
but  little  exceeds  the  number  of  fifty,  reckoning  as  elements 
some  substances  which  are  suspected  to  be  compounds.  And 
when  we  reflect  upon  the  fact,  that  a  very  few  of  these  actually 
constitute  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  whole ;  —  upon  the 
nature  of  these  elements,  that  several,  even  of  those  which 
have  been  employed  in  by  far  the  most  important  degree,  have 
either  eluded  our  research,  or  are  known  to  us  chiefly  by  their 
agencies  —  upon  their  wonderful  arrangement,  subservient  to 
the  purposes  of  organization  in  the  living,  and  structure  in  the 
inanimate ;  upon  the  affections  and  properties  of  matter  in  gen- 
eral, we  may  adopt  the  language  of  the  Abbe  Haiiy,  and  say 
that  Nature  is  thus  exhibited  "  under  an  aspect  which  claims  for 
its  Author  the  tribute  of  our  admiration  and  our  reverence." 

MAY,  1819.  W.  P. 


INTRODUCTION. 


THE  investigation  of  the  structure  of  the  earth  belongs  to  the 
science  of  Geology.  It  may,  however,  be  interesting  to  take  a 
rapid  survey  of  the  present  state  of  our  knowledge  respecting 
it,  were  it  only  for  the  sake  of  showing  its  intimate  connection 
with  mineralogical  pursuits. 

In  speaking  of  the  earth,  and  of  our  knowledge  of  its  nature, 
it  is  essential  that  the  limited  extent  of  that  knowledge  should 
always  be  had  in  remembrance.  We  are  acquainted  with  it 
only  to  a  very  inconsiderable  depth  ;  and  when  it  is  recollected 
that,  in  proportion  to  the  bulk  of  the  earth,  its  highest  moun- 
tains are  to  be  considered  merely  as  unimportant  inequalities  of 
its  surface,  and  that  our  acquaintance  does  not  extend  in  depth 
more  than  one  fourth  of  the  elevation  of  those  mountains  above 
its  general  level,  we  shall  surely  estimate  our  knowledge  of  the 
earth  to  be  extremely  superficial ;  that  it  extends  merely  to  its 
crust. 

The  term  "Crust  of  the  Earth,"  therefore,  relates  only  to 
the  comparative  extent  of  our  knowledge  beneath  its  surface. 
It  is  not  used  with  the  intention  of  conveying  an  opinion  that 
the  earth  consists  only  of  a  crust,  or  that  its  centre  is  hollow ; 
for  of  this  we  know  nothing.  The  term  may  not  be  philo- 
sophical, but  it  is  convenient. 

The  nature  of  the  crust  of  the  earth  is  most  readily  studied 
in  mountains,  because  their  masses  are  obvious  ;  and  also  be- 
cause, as  they  are  the  chief  depositories  of  metalliferous  ores, 
the  operations  of  the  miner  tend  greatly  to  facilitate  their  study. 


XX  OF    THE    OBJECTS    OF    MINERALOGY. 

Mountains  are  composed  of  masses  which  have  no  particular  or 
discernible  shape;  or,  as  is  more  commonly  the  case,  of  strata 
or  beds,  either  horizontal  or  oblique,  sometimes  nearly  vertical. 

In  these  masses  and  beds,  different  structures  have  been  ob- 
served. Some  of  them  are  crystalline;  that  is  to  say,  are  com- 
posed of  crystals  deposited  in  a  confused  manner,  as  in  granite  : 
or  of  crystals  imbedded  in  some  other  substance,  as  in  porphyry. 
These  crystalline  rocks  contain  no  organic  remains;  and,  as 
they  are  always  found  beneath,  never  above,  those  which  do 
contain  them,  they  are  considered  to  have  been  of  earlier 
formation,  and  therefore  have  been  termed  Primitive  rocks* 

Other  mountain  rocks  have  no  appearance  of  crystallization  ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  seem  rather  to  have  been  formed  by  the 
mere  falling  down,  or  settlement,  of  the  substances  of  which 
they  are  composed,  from  the  solution  which  contained  them. 
These  are  always  found  above,  never  beneath,  the  crystalline 
rocks,  and  often  include  abundance  of  organic  remains,  both 
animal  and  vegetable.  The  more  ancient  of  these,  or  such  as 
contain  the  remains  of  animals  of  which  the  genera  and  species 
are  extinct,  are  called  Transition  rocks ;  the  more  recent,  or 
such  as  contain  the  remains  of  animals  most  nearly  resembling 
those  now  inhabiting  our  oceans,  are  called  Secondary,  and 
Tertiary ;  arid  of  this  last  Mr.  Lyell  has  made  four  subdivi- 
sions founded  on  the  nature  of  the  fossils. 

Primitive  and  secondary  rocks  have  suffered  considerable 
change  and  ruin  from  causes  which  it  is  not  our  present  object 
to  notice;  and  their  disintegrated  portions,  having  been  formed 
anew,  now  constitute  that  peculiar  description  of  deposit  which 
is  termed  alluvial,  or  diluvial,  and  which  therefore  consists  of 
the  debris  of  rocks. 

But  there  is  still  another  and  a  very  different  kind  of  rock, 
abundantly  found  in  certain  countries,  which  may  in  great 
measure  be  considered,  like  the  preceding,  as  resulting  from 
the  ruin  of  rocks,  but  from  an  opposite  cause,  or  by  an  agent 
directly  the  reverse,  viz.  by  fire;  constituting  those  known  by 
the  name  of  Volcanic  rocksj  Many  of  these  strongly  bear  the 


*  These  remarks  now  require  some  qualification.  Von  Buch  has  shown  that  granite  is 
not  always  subordinate  to  the  so-called  newer  rocks,  and  has  pointed  out  a  very  "remarka- 
ble instance  in  Scandinavia,  where  this  rock  occurs  in  strata  between  other  rocks  which 
contain  fossils,  and  are  also  traversed  by  it  in  veins.  Mr.  Lyell  has  also  recorded  a  simi- 
lar occurrence  in  the  Hartz,  where,  he  says,  the  granite  is  mixed  with  grey-wacke  slate, 
containing  organic  remains.  (Jameson's  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal,  Vol.  xxx,  p 
211 ;  Lyell's  (Geology,  Vol.  i.  p.  66,  Philadelphia  edition,)  [AM.  ED.] 

f  The  terms  volcanic  or  igneous  rocks,  seem  to  be  applied  by  the  author  to  the  trap 
rocks  and  the  masses  of  modern  eruptions  of  existing  or  but  recently  extinct  volcanoes, 


OBJECTS    OF    MINERALOGY.  Xxi 

marks  of  heat,  and  even  of  fusion ;  some,  on  the  contrary,  offer 
no  evidence  of  their  having  been  subjected  to  heat. 

Lofty  mountains  composed  of  primitive  rocks  usually  present 
rugged  and  uneven  summits,  and  steep  acclivities  on  the  sides, 
as  though  they  had  suffered  by  convulsion.  Such  as  are  wholly 
or  externally  composed  of  secondary  beds  or  strata  are  less 
rugged,  their  summits  are  flattish  or  somewhat  rounded,  and 
their  sides  present  acclivities  more  easily  accessible. 

Both  primitive  and  secondary  mountains,  more  particularly 
the  former,  are  traversed  in  various  directions  by  fissures  of 
different  dimensions.  These  fissures  are  not  often  empty,  but 
are  partially,  and  sometimes,  though  but  rarely,  filled  with  stony 
or  metalliferous  substances.  They  are  termed  Mineral  Veins; 
and  from  them  a  large  proportion  of  the  specimens  composing  the 
cabinet  of  the  mineralogist  are  obtained ;  indeed,  almost  all  such 
as,  from  their  rarity,  brilliancy,  or  peculiarity  of  form  and  com- 
bination, possess  the  greatest  attraction  for  the  mere  collector. 

Mineralogy  is  a  science  of  such  interest  that  it  would  be 
much  to  be  regretted  if  its  real  objects  and  tendency  were  mis- 
understood, or  suffered  to  degenerate  into  an  avidity  merely  for 
the  collecting  of  what  is  brilliant  or  rare.  To  the  attainment 
of  the  science  of  geology,  which  is  intimately  connected  with 
agriculture  and  the  arts  of  life,  that  of  mineralogy  is  essentially 
requisite.  The  study  of  mineralogy,  therefore,  does  not  include 
only  a  knowledge  of  the  more  rare  and  curious  minerals  :  there 
is  nothing  in  the  mineral  kingdom  too  elevated,  or  too  low,  for 
the  attention  of  the  mineralogist,  from  the  substances  com- 
posing the  summits  of  the  loftiest  mountains,  to  the  sand  or 
gravel  on  which  he  treads.  It  is  true  that  the  aggregated 
masses  of  compound  rocks  are  not  arranged  in  a  mineralogical 
collection ;  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  each  of  the  sub- 
stances of  which  such  aggregated  masses  are  constituted,  are 
comprehended  in  a  mineralogical  arrangement,  and  therefore 
find  their  places  in  the  cabinet.  Granite,  indeed,  is  not  to  be 
found  there ;  but  its  components,  quartz,  felspar,  and  mica, 
are  met  with  in  every  one. 

Thus,  then,  by  the  study  of  what,  in  opposition  to  the  term 
aggregated  rocks,  may  be  termed  simple  minerals,  the  mineral- 
ogist becomes  enabled  to  detect  the  substance  with  which  he 
holds  acquaintance  by  itself,  when  aggregated  with  others  in  a 

including  the  trachites  ;  hut  geologists  now  comprehend  under  the  same  class  the  granites 
and  the  primitive  rocks  generally,  all  of  which  exhibit,  under  some  of  their  forms,  evi- 
dences of  their  igneous  origin  ;  so  that  no  opposite  cause  can  be  ascribed  to  one,  which  is 
not  applicable  to  the  others  ;  nor  can  either  of  them  he  properly  regarded  as  the  ruins  of 
previously  existing  rocks,  hut  only  as  the  cooled,  solidified  mass  of  what  before  existed 
in  the  fluid  state.  [An.  En.] 
C 


XX11  CHARACTERS    OF    MINERALS. 

mass;  and  thus  he  becomes  qualified  for  the  more  difficult  and 
more  important  study  of  the  science  of  geology,  which  embraces 
a  knowledge  of  the  nature  and  respective  positions  of  the  masses 
and  beds  composing  mountains,  and  indeed  of  country  of  every 
description,  whether  mountainous  or  otherwise. 

It  is  not,  therefore,  or  at  least  it  ought  not  to  be,  the  sole 
object  of  the  mineralogist  to  be  able  to  distinguish  the  several 
genera  and  species  of  mineral  substances ;  nor  should  his  atten- 
tion be  confined  to  the  mere  task  of  recognizing  a  mineral  at 
first  sight,  or  of  being  capable  of  at  once  assigning  it  a  proper 
place  in  his  cabinet.  He  should  hold  a  more  enlarged  acquaint- 
ance with  minerals,  and  with  the  circumstances  attending  them, 
in  what  may  be  termed  their  native  places;  he  should  know 
something  of  the  positions  they  respectively  bear  towards  each 
other  in  those  places;  he  should  become  acquainted  with  their 
relative  ages,  deduced  from  the  nature  of  the  rocks  in  which 
they  are  found;  their  comparative  scarcity  or  abundance;  their 
combinations;  the  countries  in  which  they  occur;  and  their 
characters,  both  internal  and  external. 

This  knowledge,  it  may  be  repeated,  is  the  first  and  requisite 
step  in  the  science  of  geology ;  not  that  it  is  essential  to  this 
science  that  every  mineral  should  be  accurately  known;  some 
are  of  comparatively  little  importance  in  a  geological  point  of 
view,  from  their  extreme  scarcity  ;  but  it  is  essential  to  become 
acquainted  with  simple  minerals  in  the  general,  because  of  some 
of  them,  many  of  the  vast  masses  of  the  earth  are  composed. 

Minerals  which  are  found  only  in  primitive  rocks,  are  said 
to  belong  to  primitive  countries  ;  by  which  name  are  designated 
such  tracts  as  are  chiefly  composed  of  primitive  rocks.  The 
substance  in  or  on  which  a  mineral  is  found,  is  called  its  gan- 
gue,  or  matrix;  when  in  its  natural  place  or  position,  a  mineral 
is  said  to  be  in  situ;  when  this  place  and  position  are  known, 
we  are  acquainted  with  its  habitat. 


CHARACTERS    OF    MINERALS. 

§  1.  It  is  one  of  the  first,  if  not  the  first  inquiry  of  those  who 
are  uninstructed  in  mineralogy,  if  a  specimen,  of  quartz,  for  in- 
stance, be  shown  them,  how  they  may  recognize  it.  The  reply 
necessarily  is,  that  it  is  essential  to  observe  it  closely,  to  study 
it,  to  mark  with  precision  its  characters ;  —  that  as  minerals  are 
not  organized  bodies,  their  characters  are  less  defined,  and 
therefore  not  so  readily  intelligible,  as  those  of  such  bodies  as 


CHARACTERS    OF    MINERALS.  XX111 

possess  regular  organization;  —  that,  in  fact,  there  is  no  treat- 
ise, by  a  reference  to  which  the  beginner  is  enabled,  if  he  take 
up  a  mineral,  to  arrive  at  once  at  a  knowledge  of  its  nature  ;  * 
that,  therefore,  at  present,  practical  observation  is  the  only 
mean  of  attaining  this  knowledge.  It  will  be  of  advantage, 
then,  that  these  characters,  and  the  mode  of  observing  them, 
should  be  pointed  out. 

§  2.  Although  long  experience  and  attention  give  a  facility  in 
recognizing  minerals  by  mere  inspection,  this  facility  can  only 
be  acquired  by  such  means.  There  are  certain  minerals  which 
may  at  once  be  detected  by  some  simple  experiment;  that  is  to 
say,  there  exist  a  few  possessing  some  one  character  which 
decides  with  precision  what  the  mineral  must  necessarily  be, 
because  that  character  belongs  to  no  other.  For  instance, 
there  are  three  substances  which  often  so  nearly  resemble  each 
other,  that  simple  inspection  indicates  no  difference,  even  when 
reduced  by  cleavage  to  the  primary  form.  All  may  be  cleaved 
into  obtuse  rhomboids,  differing  from  each  other  in  measure- 
ment. If  the  planes  of  one  of  them  meet  at  the  angles  of  105° 
5'  and  74°  55',  it  is  carbonate  of  lime  ;  if  the  second  measures 
106°  15'  and  73°  45',  it  is  bitterspar ;  the  third,  measuring  107° 
and  73°,  is  carbonate  of  iron.  But  comparatively  few  substances 
can  be  known  by  so  simple  a  process ;  some  cannot  be  cleaved 
with  regularity ;  we  must  then  resort  to  other  characters  ;  and 
it  is  frequently  only  by  a  comparison  of  several  of  these  that 
the  desired  object  is  attained.  It  is  therefore  essential  that  the 
characters  belonging  to  each  should  be  faithfully  detailed  in 
describing  it,  since  there  is  no  book  to  which  the  beginner  can 
resort,  that  will  enable  him  to  distinguish  the  generality  of  min- 
erals with  facility. 

§  3.  The  characters  belonging  to  most  simple  minerals  may 
be  said  to  be  numerous.  If  its  parts  cohere,  it  possesses  some 
degree  of  hardness ;  by  trying  its  hardness,  we  may  discover 
the  ease  with  which  its  breaks,  or  \\sfrangibility  ;  and  we  may 
or  may  not  perceive  that  it  possesses  a  regular  structure;  if 
the  structure  be  regular,  we  discover  the  forms  into  which  it 
may  be  divided,  and  amongst  them,  that  from  which  all  the  rest 
are  derived,  or  its  primary  crystal.  These  regular  forms  may 
be  termed  the  geometrical  characters  of  the  substance :  al- 
though, along  with  numerous  others,  they  are  commonly 
included  under  the  term  of  physical  or  external  characters. 

§4.  These  characters  are  extremely  important;  but  taken 

*The  method  proposed  by  Professor  Mohs  is  perhaps  the  most  systematic,  and 
approaches  nearer  to  this  desirable  point  than  any  other,  —  more  especially  as  regards 
crystalline  minerals.  [E.  ED.] 


XXIV  PHYSICAL    CHARACTERS. 

alone,  with  whatever  precision  they  might  be  given,  we  should 
still  be  far  from  a  competent  knowledge  of  the  real  nature  of 
the  substance  examined.  For  there  are  substances  of  which 
the  primary  form  is  the  same  in  each,  and  which  resemble 
each  other  so  strikingly,  in  their  common  physical  characters, 
that  it  is  with  great  difficulty  we  can  distinguish  between  them 
as  species,  without  calling  in  the  aid  of  chemistry.  And 
again,  there  are  others  which  do  not  crystallize  at  all.  This 
science,  therefore,  becomes  an  important  auxiliary  to  mineral- 
ogy ;  so  important,  that  no  complete  and  thorough  mineralogical 
system  can  be  established  unless  it  be  based  upon  chemical 
principles.  And  the  student  who  enters  upon  the  study  of  the 
science  with  some  previous  knowledge  of  chemistry,  will  find  a 
delight  and  satisfaction  in  his  progress  which  he  would  fail  to 
experience  without  it,  though  he  should  never  prove  to  be,  nor 
aspire  to  be,  a  thorough  analytic  chemist.  We  cannot  agree 
with  the  author  of  a  recent  Treatise  on  Mineralogy,  that  any 
system  ought  to  be  made,  or  can  be  made,  so  simple  as  "not 
to  require  any,  the  least,  knowledge  of  chemistry,  in  order  to 
its  being  perfectly  comprehended  in  all  its  parts."  *  The 
characters  of  minerals  should  therefore  be  treated  of  under 
two  equally  important  divisions  ;  viz  :  physical  or  external,  and 
chemical.  The  optical  properties  are  sometimes  treated  of  un- 
der a  distinct  head,  but  they  may  be  included  among  the  phy- 
sical characters. 

PHYSICAL    CHARACTERS. 

§5.  These  characters  are  numerous,  and  require  to  be  well 
defined,  in  order  that  the  same  language  may  always  convey 
the  same  definite  idea :  there  exist,  however,  and  often  in  the 
same  substance,  such  very  nice  shades  of  difference  in  certain 
of  them,  that  much  at  last  is  necessarily  left  to  experience. 
The  learner  will  find  that,  after  a  laborious  endeavor  to  dis- 
cover by  written  description  what  a  mineral  is,  it  will  be  much 
more  easy  to  discover  what  it  is  not;  and  at  all  times  he  will 
reap  an  infinitely  greater  and  more  speedy  advantage  from  per- 
sonal instruction  than  from  books.  Such,  however,  as  can 
resort  only  to  the  latter,  will  find  that  an  attentive  observation 

*  Shepard's  Treatise  on  Mineralogy  ;  preface  to  part  first.  It  is  from  this  circumstance 
of  rejecting  altogether  the  guidance  of  chemistry,  added,  perhaps,  to  its  hard  nomencla- 
ture, that  the  natural  history  system  of  Mohs  has  not  met  with  that  reception  which  the 
great  talents  of  its  author,  and  of  its  translator  into  English,  would  otherwise  have 
secured  for  it.  The  mixed  system  by  Naumann,  or  the  last  purely  chemical  arrange- 
ment by  Berzelius,  founded  on  electro-chemical  relations,  seem  to  lead  us  to  an  easier  and 
more  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  mineral  kingdom.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  neither 
of  these  works  has  as  yet  been  translated  into  English.  [AM.  ED.] 


EXTERNAL    FORM    AND    PRELIMINARY    DEFINITIONS.         XXV 


of  the  physical  characters,  and  a  comparison  of  them  in  differ- 
ent minerals,  will  forward  the  acquisition  of  knowledge. 

These  characters  are  comprehended  under   the   following 
heads: 


External  Form,  &c. 

Structure  —  perfectly  crystal- 
line. 

Primary  Forms  of  Crystals. 

Mechanical  Cleavage  of  Crys- 
tals. 

Secondary  Forms  of  Crystals. 

Measurement  of  the  Angles  of 
Crystals. 

Structure  —  imperfectly  crys- 
talline, and  its  varieties. 

Fracture. 

Frangibility. 


Hardness. 

Transparency. 

Lustre,  —  Color. 

Flexibility. 

Double  Refraction. 

Touch,  Taste,  and  Odor. 

Streak. 

Powder. 

Adhesion  to  the  Tongue. 

Magnetism. 

Electricity. 

Phosphorescence. 

Specific  Gravity. 


External  Form,  and  Simple  Preliminary  Definitions. 

§6.  Only  a  small  proportion  of  the  specimens  admitted  into 
our  collections  can  be  said  to  possess  precise  external  forms, 
since  they  mostly  exhibit,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  and  are 
sometimes  entirely  bounded  by,  surfaces  produced  by  fracture. 
There  are  comparatively  few  minerals  which  are  found  in 
masses  absolutely  isolated. 

§  7.  Nevertheless  there  are  many  minerals  to  which  partic- 
ular external  forms  belong;  some  few  are  found  in  single  or 
separate  crystals,  and  the  surfaces  of  others  are  coated  by  them. 

A  crystal  may  be  defined  as  a  more  or  less  symmetrical, 
geometrical  solid,  commonly  bounded  by  plane  surfaces,  which 
in  mineralogical  language  are  termed  planes  or  faces,  as  a,  6,  c, 
fig.  1. 

An  edge  is  formed  by  the  meeting  of  two 
planes,  as  the  line  d,  fig.  1. 

A  plane  angle,  or,  as  it  may  be  termed 
more  simply,  an  angle,  is  formed  by  the 
meeting  of  any  two  lines  or  edges,  as  d  o  e, 
dog,  fig.  1,  which  are  formed  by  the  meet- 
ing of  the  lines  do,  o  e,  and  do,  og. 

A  solid  angle  is  a  point  formed  by  the  meeting  of  three  or 
more  planes,  or  plane  angles,  as  at  o,  fig.  1. 

The  value  or  measure  of  angles  is  the  number  of  degrees, 
minutes,  &c.  of  which  they  consist. 

In  measuring  angles,  the  circle  is  divided  into  360  equal 
parts,  called  degrees ;  each  degree  into  60  equal  parts,  called 
c* 


XXVI  EXTERNAL    FORM    AND 

minutes ;  and  each  minute  into  60  seconds  :  the  divisions  being 
thus  designated  :  360°,  GO7,  60". 

If  one  fourth  part  of  the  circle,  or  90°,  be  intercepted  by 
two  lines  a  o,  o  b,  of  the  annexed  figure,  which  meet  at  an 
angle  a,  o,  b,  in  the  centre,  those  lines 
are  perpendicular  to  each  other,  and  the 
angle  at  which  they  meet  is  said  to  meas- 
ure 90°,  and  is  termed  a  right  angle.  If 
the  portion  of  the  circle  thus  intercepted 
be  less  than  J,  as  shown  by  the  lines 
o  b,  o  c,  the  angle  b  o  c  will  measure 
less  than  90° ;  it  is  then  called  acute;  if  it  measure  more  than 
90°,  as  it  would  if  the  angle  were  formed  by  the  lines  a  o,  o  c, 
it  is  called  obtuse. 

In  fig.  1,  the  plane  a,  and  the  opposite,  on  which  the  figure 
rests,  are  called  summits,  or  bases,  or  terminal  planes,  and  the 
planes  b  and  c,  with  those  opposite  to.  and  parallel  with  them, 
are  termed  lateral  planes. 

The  edges  of  the  terminal  planes,  as  d,  e,  m,  n,  are  called 
terminal  edges. 

The  edges/",  g,h,  produced  by  the  meeting  of  the  lateral 
planes,  are  termed  lateral  edges. 

Planes  are  said  to  be  similar,  when  their  corresponding 
edges  are  proportional,  and  their  corresponding  angles  equal. 

Edges  are  similar,  when  they  are  produced  by  the  meeting 
of  planes  respectively  similar,  at  equal  angles. 

Angles  are  similar,  when  they  are  equal,  and  contained 
within  similar  edges  respectively. 

Solid  angles  are  similar,  when  they  are  composed  of  equal 
numbers  of  plane  angles,  of  which  the  corresponding  ones  are 
similar. 

A  triangle  is  a  figure  bounded  by  three  sides,  and  the  sum 
of  its  angles  equals  180  degrees. 


Fig.  2  is  an  equilateral  triangle,  or  a  figure  contained  within 
three  equal  sides,  and  containing  three  equal  angles.  Fig.  3; 
an  isosceles  triangle,  has  two  equal  sides,  a,  b,  which  may  con- 
tain either  a  right  angle,  or  an  acute,  or  obtuse  angle.  If  the 


PRELIMINARY    DEFINITIONS.  XXV11 

contained  angle  be  less  than  a  right  angle,  the  triangle  is  called 
acute ;  if  it  be  greater,  it  is  called  obtuse.  The  line  on  which 
c  is  placed  is  called  the  base  of  the  triangle.  Fig.  4 ;  a  scalene 
triangle,  has  three  unequal  sides,  and  contains  three  unequal 
angles.  Fig.  5;  a  square,  has  four  equal  sides,  containing 
four  right  angles. 


/ 


Fig.  6 ;  a  rectangle,  has  its  adjacent  sides,  a  and  b,  unequal ; 
the  four  contained  angles  being  right  angles,  like  the  square. 
Fig.  7 ;  a  rhomb,  has  four  equal  sides ;  two  of  its  angles,  d  and 
e,  are  obtuse ;  the  other  two,  d  and  b,  are  acute.  Fig.  8 ;  an 
oblique-angled  parallelogram,  has  its  opposite  sides  parallel, 
but  its  adjacent  sides,  a,  b,  and  its  adjacent  angles,  c,  d,  une- 
qual. By  parallelogram  is  to  be  understood  any  right-lined 
quadrilateral  plane  figure,  whose  opposite  sides  are  equal  and 
parallel. 

When  certain  forms  of  crystals  have  a  rhomb  as  the  figure 
of  some  of  their  planes,  they  are  termed  rhombic. 

A  prism  is  rarely  found  having  only  three  sides,  very  com- 
monly four,  six,  eight,  or  more  sides;  the  sides,  or  lateral 
planes,  surround  its  axis,  which  is  an  imaginary  line  passing 
down  the  middle  of  the  prism,  from  the  centre  of  the  upper 
terminal  plane  to  the  centre  of  the  lower;  the  terminal  planes 
are  also  called  the  bases.  But  prisms  are  found  both  very 
long  and  very  short ;  when  long,  and  the  crystals  slender  and 
curved,  they  are  termed  capillary;  when  straight,  acicular ; 
when  the  prism  is  short,  the  crystal  is  said  to  be  tabular. 

A  pyramid  is  formed  by  the  meeting  of  three  or  more  planes 
at  a  point,  which  is  termed  the  apex,  each  plane  being  bounded 
by  edges ;  considered  separately,  a  pyramid  is  supposed  to  have 
a  base,  which  is  the  case  in  regard  to  the  tetrahedron  ;  but  in 
respect  of  most  other  forms,  it  is  only  imaginary,  as  in  the 
instance  of  the  octahedron,  which  often  is  termed  a  double 
four-sided  pyramid ;  and  also  the  dodecahedron  with  triangu- 
lar faces,  which  is  frequently  denominated  a  double  six-sided 
pyramid. 

The  prism  and  the  pyramid  are,  however,  often  combined 
in  the  same  crystal,  which,  in  that  case,  is  generally  described 


XXV111  EXTERNAL    FORM,    ETC. 

as  a  prism  of  four,  six,  or  eight  sides,  terminated  by  a  pyramid 
of  four  or  more  sides. 

§  8.  We  have  spoken  of  the  edges  and  solid  angles  of  crys- 
tals; these,  however,  are  sometimes  wanting;  for,  instead  of 
the  edge  or  the  solid  angle,  we  find  a  plane;  the  edge  or  solid 
angle  is  then  said  to  be  replaced  or  truncated.  These  are, 
however,  merely  terms  of  convenience;  neither  the  edges  nor 
angles  ever  were  on  the  crystal,  and  therefore  could  not  have 
been  replaced,  truncated,  or  taken  off.  But  when  it  is  said 
that  the  lateral  or  terminal  edges  are  replaced,  or  when  a  solid 
angle  or  an  apex  is  described  as  being  truncated,  it  is  meant 
only  by  a  single  plane,  unless  expressed  to  the  contrary.* 

When  the  edges  of  a  crystal  are  replaced  by  two  planes, 
separated  only  by  an  edge,  they  are  said  to  be  bevelled. 

If  any  plane  replacing  an  edge,  and,  being  parallel  to  it, 
incline  equally  on  the  two  adjacent  planes;  or  if,  replacing  a 
solid  angle,  it  incline  equally  on  all  the  adjacent  planes,  it  is 
called  a  tangent  plane.  Thus  the  planes  replacing  the  solid 
angles  and  the  edges  of  the  octohedron,  figs.  3  and  6,  of  red 
oxide  of  copper;  the  edges  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  figs. 
2  and  3,  of  garnet;  the  lateral  edges  and  terminal  solid  angles 
of  the  rhomboid,  fig.  2,  of  carbonate  of  lime ;  and  the  edges  of 
the  hexagonal  prism  shown  by  the  letter  d,  under  the  head  of 
beryl ;  and  of  those  of  the  tetrahedron  shown  by  the  letter  e, 
under  the  head  of  grey  copper  ore  —  are  a  few  examples  of 
tangent  planes  that  can  be  readily  referred  to. 

§  9.  These  truncations  and  bevelments  are  sometimes  so 
slight  as  not  to  alter  the  general  form  of  the  crystal ;  but  are 
often  sufficiently  deep  to  give  it  a  perfectly  different  figure. 
Thus  the  octahedron  passes  into  the  cube,  the  cube  into  the 
octahedron,  and  the  latter  into  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  as 
will  presently  be  shown. 

§  10.  These  passages  of  one  form  into  another,  —  and  in 
many  more  respects  than  are  above  recited,  —  are  constantly 
found  to  occur  in  certain  mineral  substances.  This  is  not 
ideal.  For  not  only  may  a  series  of  crystals  be  observed  which 
exhibit  these  transitions,  but  they  may  also  be  proved  by  evi- 
dence of  the  most  convincing  kind,  arising  out  of  an  exarnina- 

*  We  must,  however,  make  certain  exceptions  to  some  of  the  preceding  remarks  in 
regard  to  prismatic  crystals.  Every  crystal  which  has  lateral  and  terminal  planes  is  not 
considered  as  being  prismatic  ;  as,  for  instance,  the  cube,  which  is  a  solid  of  perfect  pro- 
portion, all  its  sides  being  equal ;  so  with  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  which  also  appears, 
in  some  points  of  view,  as  having  lateral  faces;  but  as  these  solids  are  perfectly  symmet- 
rical, their  apparently  lateral  and  terminal  faces  are  never  so  distinguished,  and,  when 
their  edges  are  replaced,  the  fact  is  merely  stated  without  distinction  ;  indeed,  it  com- 
monly happens  in  these  perfectly  geometrical  solids,  and  in  others,  as  the  regular  octahe 
dron  and  the  tetrahedron,  that  when  one  edge  is  replaced,  the  others  are  so  also.  [P.] 


STRUCTURE.  XXIX 

tion  of  these  crystals  by  a  method  more  decisive  than  that 
which  depends  on  the  accuracy  of  the  eye.  The  fact  here 
alluded  to  is,  that  the  crystals  of  many  substances  may,  by  the 
application  of  force,  be  mechanically  divided  or  cleaved,  in  the 
direction  of  the  lamina  (along  their  natural  joints),  so  as  to 
reduce  the  one  form  into  the  other;  but  the  consideration  of 
this  fact  belongs  properly  to  that  division  of  the  subject  which 
may  be  denominated  structure. 

Structure. 

§11.  Structure,  when  it  exists  in  a  mineral  substance,  arises 
from  the  particular  arrangement  of  the  minute  portions  or  mole- 
cules of  which  it  is  composed. 

§  12.  In  some  minerals  this  arrangement  exists  both  in  the 
regular  crystals  in  which  these  occur,  and  in  those  masses 
which  have  no  particular  external  form. 

§  13.  Of  the  forms  of  those  minute  and  imperceptible  mole- 
cules which  are  aggregated  by  the  law  of  attraction  into  masses, 
nothing  is  known  with  certainty.  Conjecture  has  in  some  in- 
stances been  allowed  to  supply  the  deficiency.  The  conse- 
quences of  this  arrangement,  however,  are  very  perceptible, 
and  may  be  satisfactorily  proved,  in  some  instances,  by  the 
rudest  attempt;  a  slight  blow,  or  letting  fall  a  specimen  of 
certain  minerals  on  the  floor  or  the  pavement,  will  suffice  to 
produce  instantaneous  conviction  that  this  arrangement  does 
exist ;  for  by  such  means  fragments  of  perfectly  regular  form 
may  be  obtained,  and  from  the  faces  of  these  fragments  may 
again  be  procured  thin  slices,  of  which  the  larger  planes  are 
perfectly  parallel,  and  these  slices  may  again  be  subdivided 
into  regular  forms,  until  the  fragments  are  no  longer  percepti- 
ble without  the  aid  of  the  microscope. 

§  14.  Structure,  then,  it  may  be  repeated,  arises  from  the 
particular  arrangement  of  the  minute  portions  or  molecules  of 
which  the  mineral  is  composed. 

If  a  mineral  can  be  mechanically  divided  or  cleaved  in  direc- 
tions which  produce  only  one  particular  form,  that  form  is  de- 
nominated its  primary  or  primitive  crystal.  For  instance,  cal- 
careous spar  can  only  be  cleaved  into  the  form  of  an  obtuse 
rhomboid  of  particular  measurements,  which  therefore  is  termed 
its  primary  crystal ;  a  rhomboid  has  six  planes,  which  are  par- 
allel two  and  two.  Calcareous  spar  therefore  has  three  cleav- 
ages; it  possesses  natural  joints  in  three  directions:  so  has 
common  salt,  of  which  the  primary  form  is  the  cube;  and  also 
galena. 


XXX  STRUCTURE. 

But  some  minerals  are  not  so  circumstanced.  Fluor  spar, 
which  may  be  cited  as  yielding  with  ease  to  mechanical  divis- 
ion, is  an  instance.  It  cleaves  in  four  directions,  and  affords 
three  different  forms,  a  regular  octahedron,  a  regular  tetrahe- 
dron, and  an  acute  rhomboid  ;  of  these,  the  first  has  arbitrarily 
been  selected  as  the  primary  crystal,  and  convenience  may  be 
assigned  as  the  reason  for  the  preference. 

Other  substances  are  cleavable  in  a  still  greater  number  of 
directions;  for  instance,  blende,  from  which  may  be  extracted 
a  rhombic  dodecahedron,  and  from  this  an  obtuse  rhomboid, 
an  octahedron,  an  acute  rhomboid,  and  an  irregular  tetrahe- 
dron ;  in  this  mineral,  also,  the  choice  of  a  primary  crystal  has 
been  arbitrary,  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  having  been  selected. 

Further  instances  might  be  cited,  but  these  will  suffice  ; 
they  are  particularly  quoted  because  of  the  remarkable  ease 
with  which  the  learner  may  satisfy  himself  of  the  facts. 

The  faces  produced  by  this  mechanical  separation  of  crys- 
tals, are  usually  called  faces  of  cleavage,  and  they  are,  of 
course,  parallel  with  the  faces  of  crystallization  of  the  primary 
form,  or  of  those  planes,  by  which  the  primary  figure,  when 
obtained,  is  bounded. 

§  15.  Many  minerals  yield  to  cleavage  with  ease  only  in  one 
direction,  of  which  topaz  is  an  instance.  The  structure  of  such 
is  described  as  being  perfectly  crystalline  or  lamellar  in  one 
direction.  Sapphire  yields  to  cleavage  in  one  direction  with 
much  ease ;  in  the  others  with  extreme  difficulty. 

§  16.  The  arbitrary  selections  just  noticed  will  suffice  to  in- 
duce the  suspicion,  that  in  this  department  Mineralogy  has  not 
yet  attained  perfection,  and  also  to  lead  the  pupil  to  investigate, 
as  he  advances  in  the  science,  rather  than  take  for  granted 
what  is  asserted  without  proving  the  facts. 

§  17.  Other  circumstances  also  exist,  sufficient  to  make  us 
extremely  cautious  on  this  point. 

Some  minerals,  to  which  primary  forms  have  been  assigned, 
do  not  yield,  or  have  not  yet  been  found  to  yield,  to  regular 
cleavage  in  more  than  one  direction,  or  even  not  in  any  direc- 
tion. In  these  determinations  one  of  two  modes  has  been  re- 
sorted to.  In  the  first,  thin  fragments  of  the  substance  have 
been  held  up  between  the  eye  and  the  light;  and  by  this  means 
the  Abbe  Haiiy  was  enabled  in  several  instances  to  deduce  the 
probable  form  of  the  primary,  from  the  directions  of  the  crev- 
ices, or  appearances  of  natural  joints,  which  are  observable  in 
the  fragment;  and,  in  many,  these  have  afterwards  proved  to 
be  correct.  By  the  other  mode,  the  primary  form  is  deter- 
mined by  analogy,  that  is,  by  a  comparison  of  the  forms  of  the 


V 

vSiUFosj^ 

PRIMARY    FORMS.  XXXI 

crystals  of  a  mineral  with  those  of  other  known  substances ; 
but  this  may  in  some  cases  prove  a  source  of  error. 

Sometimes,  also,  the  natural  joints  may  be  shown  by  simply 
heating  the  mineral,  which  causes  them  to  separate  ;  at  others, 
the  appearance  of  strise  may  serve  as  a  guide,  as  will  be  shown 
further  on. 

§  18.  Cleavage  can  be  accomplished  in  various  ways, 
dependent  on  the  nature  of  the  substance.  In  some>  as  in 
blende,  it  is  best  effected  by  a  sharp  knife,  when  the  mineral 
is  held  between  the  fingers,  because  of  its  numerous  natural 
joints,  which  a  blow  might  disturb  in  the  wrong  direction.  In 
sulphate  of  strontian  it  is  done  by  the  same  means,  for  another 
reason ;  namely,  because  it  is  easily  cracked  in  directions  con- 
trary to  the  natural  joints,  even  by  a  slight  blow.  Fluor  and 
calcareous  spar  are  best  cleaved  by  putting  them  on  a  table, 
and  placing  the  edge  of  a  knife  or  razor  along  their  natural 
joints ;  a  slight  blow  then  separates  them.  The  oxide  of  tin 
yields  only  to  the  pressure  of  the  cutting  pincers,  when  held 
in  proper  directions.*" 

§  19.  By  one  or  other  of  the  preceding  methods,  however, 
most  minerals  have  had  assigned  to  them  some  one  solid,  as 
the  primary  form  of  the  several  varieties  of  crystals  in  which 
they  are  found. 

Primary  Forms,  and  some  of  their  Geometrical  Relations 
considered. 

§  20.  The  system  of  Primary,  or  Fundamental  Forms,  ac- 
cording to  which  minerals  are  described  in  this  treatise,  is  that 
adopted  by  Brooke  in  his  "  Introduction,"  and  consists  of  fif- 
teen in- number.  Their  names  are  as  follow:  1.  Cube;  2. 
Regular  Tetrahedron;  3.  Regular  Octahedron;  4.  Rhombic 
Dodecahedron ;  5.  Octahedron  with  a  square  base ;  6.  Octa- 
hedron with  a  rectangular  base ;  7.  Octahedron  with  a  rhombic 
base ;  8.  Right  Square  Prism ;  9.  Right  Rectangular  Prism  ; 
10.  Right  Rhombic  Prism ;  11.  Right  Oblique-angled  Prism  ; 
12.  Oblique  Rhombic  Prism;  13.  Doubly  Oblique  Prism; 
14.  Rhomboid;  15.  Regular  Hexagonal  Prism. 

By  some  authors  these  primary  forms  are  not  recognized  as 
such,  but  they  are  all  included  under  new  systems  of  Crystal- 
lization, founded  on  what  are  called  the  "  Axes  of  Symmetry  " 
of  Crystals,  or  "Axes  of  Crystallization"  —  a  method  which 

*For  further  practical  hints  on  this  subject,  vide  Mr.  Phillips's  Communication  to  the 
London  Geological  Society,  On  the  Primitive  Crystals  of  Certain  Substances,  and  on  the 
Modes  of  cleaving  them,  inserted  in  vol.  iv.  of  its  transactions.  [E.  ED.] 


XXXH  PRIMARY    FORMS. 

was  first  adopted  by  the  German  mineralogists,  and  originated 
with  Weiss,  Though  they  are  actually  observed  forms,  either 
natural,  or  obtained  by  cleavage,  as  will  be  shown  under  the 
species,  it  is  obvious  that  in  describing  them,  they  may  be  re- 
duced to  fewer  divisions,  or  classed  according  to  certain  geo- 
metrical affinities.  Thus  they  could  all  be  comprehended  un- 
der the  cube,  the  regular  tetrahedron,  the  rhombic  dodecahe- 
dron, the  octahedron,  the  six-sided  prism,  and  the  parallelepi- 
ped; the  term  parallelepiped  including  all  those  solids  whose 
bounding  planes  are  parallel  two  and  two ;  as,  for  instance,  all 
the  varieties  of  the  rhomboid,  both  acute  and  obtuse ;  all 
prisms,  both  right  and  oblique,  of  which  the  terminal  planes 
are  rhombic ;  and  all  the  square  and  rectangular  prisms  which 
do  not  possess  the  precise  proportions  of  the  cube. 

Weiss  and  Prof.  Mohs  include  all  under  the  Rhombohedral, 
Pyramidal,  Prismatic,  and  Tessular  Systems;  and  G.  Rose,  in 
his  Treatise,  published  at  Berlin  in  1838,  comprises  them  under 
"  Six  Systems  of  Axes  of  Crystallization."  These  have  been 
adopted  in  England  by  Prof.  Miller,*  by  whom  they  are  thus 
stated;  viz:  the  Octahedral,  the  Pyramidal,  the  Rhombohedral, 
the  Prismatic,  the  Oblique  Prismatic,  the  Doubly  Oblique  Pris- 
matic. Mr.  Brooke,  also,  in  the  late  article  attributed  to  him, 
in  the  Encyclopedia  Metropolitana,  has  modified  his  system, 
and  assumes  only  the  Rhomboid,  the  Square  Prism,  the  Right 
Rhombic  Prism,  Oblique  Rhombic  Prism,  Doubly  Oblique 
Prism,  and  the  Cube;  the  last  answering  to  the  Tessular,  the 
next  three,  to  the  Prismatic,  and  the  other  two  to  the  two  first 
in  the  above-named  system  of  Mohs.  But,  in  the  present  edi- 
tion of  this  work,  the  American  Editor  prefers  to  adhere  to 
Brooke's  original  number  of  Primary  Forms,  as  they  have  been 
generally  adopted  by  American  authors,  and  are,  of  course,  fa- 
miliar to  our  students.  Besides,  all  the  species  in  this  work 
have  been  described  in  reference  to  them  by  Mr.  Phillips,  who, 
from  a  large  number  of  observations  and  measurements,  seems 
to  have  been  satisfied  that  they  afforded  a  true  and  natural  ex- 
planation of  the  character  and  relations  of  form  among  crystal- 
lized minerals.  Should  the  new  systems  generally  prevail,  the 
student  will  be  better  prepared  for  the  investigation  of  them, 
by  his  knowledge  of  the  less  mathematical  and  abstruse  method 
pursued  in  this.t 

*  Treatise  on  Crystallography,  by  W.  H.  Miller,  F.  R.  S.,  Professor  of  Mineralogy  in 
the  University  of  Cambridge.  London,  1839. 

f  Mr.  Griffith  of  Glasgow,  the  translator  of  H.Rose's  Analytical  Chemistry,  endeavors  to 
show  that  "  the  doctrine  of  primary  forms  is  useless  and  mischievous,  being  equally  una- 
dapted  for  popular  and  for  scientific  nomenclature."  His  work  (a  System  of  Crystallo- 
graphy, with  its  application  to  Mineralogy ;  Glasgow,  1839)  shows  considerable  inge- 


PRIMARY    FORMS.  XXX111 

Examples  of  these  primary  forms  will  be  exhibited,  with 
their  various  modifications,  by  secondary  planes,  when  we 
come  to  describe  the  mineral  species;  but  that  the  student 
may  the  more  readily  comprehend  them,  we  shall  offer  a 
few  explanations  in  the  present  connection,  and  introduce 
figures,  (see  p.  xxxvi)  having  their  angles,  edges,  and  planes 
designated  by  appropriate  letters,  without  which  it  would  be 
impossible  to  convey  to  his  mind  any  very  accurate  idea  of  the 
variety  of  crystalline  forms.  The  vowels,  A,  E,  i,  o,  are  used  to 
designate  the  solid  angles ;  some  of  the  consonants,  B,  c,  D,  F,  G, 
H,  to  designate  the  primary  edges;  and  p,  M,T,  (primitive)  to 
designate  the  primary  planes  of  crystals.  The  same  letter  is 
repeated  where  the  angles,  edges,  and  planes,  are  similar;  and 
different  letters  are  used  when  those  angles,  edges,  or  planes, 
are  dissimilar,  as  explained  on  page  xxvi.  Thus,  the  letter  A 
is  repeated  on  the  angles  of  the  cube,  these  being  all  similar; 
while  A  and  E  are  placed  on  the  alternate  angles  of  the  right 
rhombic  prism,  to  show  that  there  the  opposite  angles  only  are 
similar.  So  the  letter  p  is  repeated  in  all  the  planes  of  the 
cube,  for  the  same  reason  that  they  are  all  similar.  In  the  right 
rhombic  prism,  (fig.  10)  the  letter  p  stands  only  on  the  terminal 
plane,  the  lateral  planes  having  the  letter  M  placed  upon  them. 
This  implies  that  the  lateral  planes  are  not  similar  to  the  ter- 
minal plane;  but  the  letter  M  being  repeated  on  both  the  lateral 
planes,  denotes  that  these  are  similar  to  each  other. 

In  the  Right  Oblique-angled  Prism ,  the  lateral  planes  are  dis- 
tinguished from  each  other  by  the  letters  M  and  T,  implying 
that  they  are  dissimilar  to  each  other,  as  both  are  to  the  ter- 
minal plane,  which  is  designated  by  p. 

The  '  and  "  added  to  some  of  the  letters,  are  intended  merely 
to  distinguish  two  or  more  similar  planes  from  each  other. 

It  is  not  deemed  necessary  to  give  any  figures  of  the  second- 
ary forms  of  crystals,  as  these  modifications  will  be  fully  and 
familiarly  shown  in  figures  annexed  to  the  descriptions  of  spe- 
cies in  the  body  of  the  work,  where  they  will  also  be  fre- 
quently accompanied  by  the  parent  figure,  from  which  they  are 
all  derived,  or  to  which  they  may  all  be  referred. 

nuity,  and  no  small  share  of  knowledge  of  his  subject ;  but  it  is  mainly  based  on  the  sys- 
tem of  Rose,  though,  in  its  applications,  it  is  somewhat  modified.  His  notations  and  sym- 
bols, and  all  the  machinery  by  which  he  describes  the  various  combinations  of  forms, 
have  not  an  attractive  appearance,  and,  when  understood,  possess  no  advantages  that 
will  lead  to  t/ie  abandonment  of  the  simpler  methods  adopted  by  Brooke  and  others, 
which  are  based  on  the  idea  of  fundamental  forms,  and  have  now  acquired  the  sanction 
of  popular  use.  It  may  be  observed  that  the  models  which  are  intended  to  illustrate  his 
work,  formed  of  cream-colored  porcelain,  and  representing  the  most  simple  and  compli- 
cated natural  crystals,  are  as  well  adapted  to  one  system  as  another,  and  they  will  be 
found  to  be  of  great  practical  utility  to  the  student.  They  are  from  one  to  four  inches  in 
diameter,  and  sufficiently  smooth  to  admit  of  very  good  approximate  measurements  with 
the  goniometer.  [AM.  ED.] 
D 


XXXI V  PRIMARY    FORMS. 

Examples  of  Primary  Forms. 

The  Cube  may  be  seen  in  Native.  Gold  and  Silver,  Iron  Py- 
rites, Fluor  Spar,  Analcime,  and  Galena;  the  Tetrahedron  in 
Grey  Copper  Ore ;  the  Rhombic  Dodecahedron  in  Garnet  and 
Blende ;  the  Regular  Octahedron  in  Pleisto-magnetic  Iron, 
Red  Oxide  of  Copper,  and  Spinel ;  Octahedron  with  a  square 
base,  in  Zircon,  Tungstate  of  Lime,  Molybdate  of  Lead,  and 
Anataste;  Octahedron  with  a  rectangular  base,  in  Arseniate 
of  Copper;  Octahedron  with  a  rhombic  base,  in  Sulphur; 
Right  Square  Prism,  in  Apophyllite,  Scapolite,  and  Idocrase; 
Right  Rectangular  Prism,  in  Harmotome,  Phillipsite,  and 
Anhydrite ;  Right  Rhombic  Prism,  in  Mesotype,  Topaz,  and 
Sulphate  of  Barytes;  Right  Oblique-angled  Prism,  in  Sulphate 
of  Lime  and  Heulandite;  Oblique  Rhombic  Prism,  in  Lau- 
monite  and  Mica  ;  Doubly-oblique  Prism,  in  Felspar,  Sappare, 
and  Axinite;  Rhomboid,  in  Quartz,  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Tour- 
maline, and  Chabasie;  Regular  Hexagonal  Prism,  in  Beryl 
and  Phosphate  of  Lirne.  Rv  referring  to  the  above-named 
substances,  the  student  will  find  the  various  modifications  of 
form,  which  have  resulted  from  the  replacement  of  some  of  the 
edges  or  solid  angles  belonging  to  the  figures  soon  to  be  intro- 
duced, with  the  recorded  angular  measurements  of  many  of 
the  most  commonly  occurring  natural  crystals.  The  small 
letters  resting  upon  the  planes  which  have  replaced  the  pri- 
mary edges  and  angles,  as  shown  in  these  figures  of  natural 
crystals,  are  intended  to  distinguish  the  classes  of  modifications 
by  which  they  have  been  derived  from  the  primary  forms. 
They  are  characters  of  much  importance  in  describing  crys- 
tals, and  as  their  application  is  uniform,  they  may  be  easily 
remembered  after  a  little  study.  For  the  entire  series  of  trans- 
formations which  they  are  intended  to  express,  but  which  are 
too  numerous  to  be  here  introduced,  the  student  is  desired  to 
consult  the  "Tables  of  Modifications"  in  Brooke's  Crystallo- 
graphy. A  few  references  to  the  figures  in  the  body  of  the 
work,  which  should  be  compared  with  those  which  are  lettered 
in  the  following  section,  are  all  that  will  be  required  in  these  in- 
troductory remarks.  Under  the  species  Native  Gold,  the  solid 
angles  of  the  Cube  are  replaced  by  tangent  planes,  class  a, 
passing  into  the  Octahedron.  Under  Analcime,  the  same  figure 
has  its  solid  angles  replaced  by  three  planes,  class  b,  producing 
a  figure  with  24  trapezoidal  faces,  the  ordinary  form  of  this 
mineral ;  the  replacement  of  its  solid  angles  by  three  planes, 
class  c,  resting  on  the  edges,  produces  a  figure  having  24  isos- 
celes triangular  planes:  this  may  be  seen  in  Iron  Pyrites. 


PRIMARY    FORMS.  XXXV 

Class  d,  the  replacement  of  the  solid  angles  by  six  planes, 
forming  a  figure  containing  48  triangular  faces,  which  may  be 
seen  under  Fluor  Spar,  fig.  12. 

When  the  edges  of  the  cube  are  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
class  e,  the  new  figure  produced  will  be  a  Rhombic  Dod- 
ecahedron. When  its  edges  are  replaced  by  two  planes,  class 
f,  a  series  of  four-sided  pyramids  is  formed  on  the  faces  of  the 
Cube. 

Class  g,  alternate  solid  angles  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
producing  the  Regular  Tetrahedron. 

Class  k,  edges  replaced  by  single  planes  inclining  at  unequal 
angles  on  the  adjacent  primary  planes.  They  give  rise  to  the 
Pentagonal  Dodecahedron,  shown  in  figs.  5  and  6,  under  the 
species  White  Cobalt.  The  incipient  planes  of  this  class  may 
be  seen  on  the  large  figure,  under  the  same  species. 

In  the  Regular  Tetrahedron,  class  a  shows  the  replacement  of 
the  solid  angles  by  tangent  planes;  class  ft,  the  same  angles 
replaced  by  three  planes  resting  on  the  primary  planes;  class 
c,  by  three  planes  resting  on  the  primary  edges;  and  class  d, 
by  six  planes.  Class  e,  edges  of  the  Tetrahedron,  replaced  by 
tangent  planes  ;  class/",  edges  replaced  by  two  planes.  These 
several  modifications  may  be  seen  in  the  large  figure,  under  the 
species  Grey  Copper. 

In  the  Regular  Octahedron,  class  a,  angles  replaced  by  tan- 
gent planes ;  class  b,  solid  angles  replaced  by  four  planes  rest- 
ing on  the  primary  planes;  class  £,  by  four  planes  inclining  on 
the  primary  edges,  the  first  resulting  in  the  Cube,  the  second 
in  a  figure  with  24  trapezoidal  planes,  the  last  in  one  with  24 
isosceles  triangular  planes;  class  d,  solid  angles  replaced  by 
8  planes,  producing  the  same  result  as  class  d  of  the  Cube,  or 
a  figure  having  48  triangular  planes  (fig.  12  of  Fluor  Spar). 
Class  e,  edges  of  the  Octahedron  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
tending  to  the  Rhombic  Dodecahedron,  shown  in  fig.  3,  and 
large  figure,  under  Magnetic  Iron  ;  class  jT,  edges  replaced  by 
two  planes,  fig.  9,  under  Red  Oxide  of  Copper.  The  large 
figure,  under  the  same  species,  shows  the  replacements  an- 
swering to  o,  b,  c,  d,  e,  and  f. 

Rhombic  Dodecahedron,  class  a,  acute  solid  angles  replaced 
by  tangent  planes,  by  which  the  figure  is  passing  into  the 
Cube;  class  6,  by  four  planes  resting  on  the  primary  planes; 
class  c,  by  four  planes  resting  on  the  edges,  producing  the 
trapezohedron,  contained  under  24  equal  trapeziums,  as  shown 
in  fig.  4,  under  Garnet;  class  d,  same  angles  replaced  by  8 
planes;  class  c,  obtuse  solid  angles  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
passing  into  the  Regular  Octahedron,  as  shown  in  figs.  2,  3, 


XXXV111 


PRIMARY    FORMS. 


acute;  or  we  may  call  one  the  greater  and  the  other  the  lesser 
edge  of  the  base. 

The  Octahedron  with  a  rhombic  base,  fig.  7,  is  contained 
under  eight  equal  scalene  triangles.  Crystals  of  this  class  will 
differ  from  each  other  in  the  inclination  of  p  on  p',  and  of  p 
on  p".  Octahedrons  are  said  to  be  in  position  Fig.  7, 
when  they  are  so  held  or  placed  that  their  bases 
are  horizontal.  This  last  figure  is  drawn  with 
the  greater  diagonal  of  the  base  horizontal ;  that 
is,  in  the  direction  of  the  two  farthest  oppositeE 
angles  of  the  base  (a  diagonal  signifying  a  line 
connecting  two  opposite  angles  of  any  parallelo- 
gram). The  faces  meet  at  the  edge  B,  at  a  more 
acute  angle  than  at  the  edge  c.  One  is  therefore  called  the 
acute,  and  the  other  the  obtuse  edge  of  the  pyramid.  The  solid 
angle  at  E  will  be  termed  the  acute  lateral  solid  angle,  and 
that  at  i,  the  obtuse  lateral  solid  angle. 

The  Right  Square  Prism  is  a  quadrilateral  solid  whose  edges 
B  and  G  (fig.  8)  are  unequal,  or  whose  bases  are  equal  squares, 
and  sides  are  equal  rectangles.  It  has  an 
axis  in  four  directions  similar  to  the  cube, 
and  a  line  connecting  the  centres  of  the 
bases,  which  is  called  the  prismatic  axis,  as 
c,  d.  The  lateral  edges  G  G,  are  always 
longer  or  shorter  than  the  terminal  ones  B  B  : 
otherwise  the  form  would  be  a  cube.  Crystals  of  this  class 
will  of  course  differ  from  each  other  in  the  comparative  length 
of  the  edges  G  and  B. 

The  Rig/it  Rectangular  Prism  (fig.  9)  is  a  quadrilateral  solid 
whose  bases  are  equal  rectangles.*  It  has  the  same  number 
of  axes  with  the  last  figure  described.  The 
lateral  edges  G  G,  are  similar,  but  of  a  dif- 
ferent length  from  the  terminal  edges  c  B,- 
which  are  not  equal.  Individuals  of  this, 
class  will  differ  from  each  other  in  the  com- 
parative length  of  the  edges  c,  G,  and  B. 

The  Right  t  Rhombic  Prism  (fig.  10)  is  a  quadrilateral  solid, 

*The  difference  between  the  right  square  and  the  right  rectangular  prism  will  be  read- 
ily understood  by  calling  to  mind  the  definition  given  of  a.  square  and  a  rectangle,  at  p.  xxvii, 
or,  to  convey  a  more  direct  meaning,  he  may  call  one  a  right  prism  with  a  square  base,  and 
the  other  a  right  prism  with  a  rectangular  base;  the  base  of  one  having  its  edges  all  of  equal 
length,  while  the  other  has  its  opposite  edges  only  equal,  or  its  adjacent  edges  unequal. 

f  The  student  will  observe  that  prisms  are  called  right  or  oblique  when,  supposing  them 
to  be  held  with  their  lateral  planes  perpendicular,  their  terminal  planes  are  either  at  right 
angles  with  them,  or  are  placed  obliquely,  at  a  greater  or  less  angle  than  90  degrees.  In 
the  quadrilateral  or  quadrangular  prisms,  it  is  evident  that  two  of  the  faces  are  chosen  as 
bases. 


PRIMARY    FORMS. 


XXXIX 


whose  bases  are  equal  rhombs,  and  whose  lateral  planes  are 
either  equal  squares,  or  equal  rectangles.  Besides  the  pris- 
matic axis  e,f,  it  has  two  greater  and  two  lesser  axes;  the  first 
pass  through  the  solid  angles  which  terminate  the  acute  edges 
of  the  prism,  as  E  e,  and  the  latter  through  Fis< 10- 

those  which  terminate  the  obtuse  edges  of  the 
prism,  as  A  a.  The  solid  angles  at  A  are  the 
obtuse,  and  those  at  E  the  acute,  solid  an- 
gles. The  edge  G  and  its  opposite  are  the 
acute,  and  the  edge  H  and  its  opposite,  the  a 

obtuse,  lateral  edges.  Examples  of  this  class  of  crystals  will 
differ  from  each  other  in  the  inclination  of  M  on  M',  or  in  the 
ratio  of  the  edge  H  to  the  edge  B.  It  is  said  to  be  in  position 
when  on  its  rhombic  base,  with  an  obtuse  edge  towards  the 
observer. 

Fig.  11. 


The  Right  Oblique-angled  Prism  (fig.  11)  is  a  quadrilateral 
solid,  whose  bases  are  equal  oblique-angled  parallelograms. 
Besides  the  prismatic  axis,  (small  fig.)  it  has  the  same  axes  as 
the  last  primary  form  described,  and  like  it,  its  angles  and 
edges  may  be  similarly  designated :  A  obtuse,  E  acute,  solid 
angles.  The  lateral  edges  at  H  are  the  obtuse,  those  at  G  the 
acute,  lateral  edges.  The  edges  B  are  the  greater,  and  c  the 
lesser,  terminal  edges.  Examples  of  this  class  will  differ  in  the 
inclination  of  M  on  T,  and  in  the  relative  lengths  of  the  edges 

C,  B,  H. 

The  Oblique  Rhombic  Prism  (fig.  12)  is  a  quadrangular 
prism,  whose  bases  are  equal  rhombs,  and  whose  lateral  faces 
are  equal  oblique-angled  parallelograms.  Besides  the  several 
axes  described  in  the  last  figure,  the  oblique  rhombic  prism 
has  two  transverse  axes  which  pass  through  the  lateral  solid 
angles  e,f,  g,  h,  of  the  small  figure.  The  figure  is  supposed 
to  be  oblique  in  the  direction  o  A,  of  the  large  figure;  so  that 
the  terminal  plane  forms  an  obtuse  angle  with  the  edge  H. 
The  planes  MM'  may  meet  at  an  acute  or  an  obtuse  angle.  If 
at  the  former,  the  prism  is  said  to  be  oblique  from  an  acute 


xl 


PRIMARY    FORMS. 


Fig.  12. 


edge;  if  at  the  latter,  oblique  from  an  obtuse  edge.  The  solid 
angle  at  A  may,  in  either  case,  be  called  the  acute  solid  angle; 
that  at  o,  the  obtuse  solid  angle;  and  those  at  E,  the  lateral 
solid  angles.  The  edges  B  are  called  the  acute  terminal  edges, 
and  those  at  D  the  obtuse  terminal  edges.  The  edge  H  and 
its  opposite  are  the  oblique  edges  of  the  prism,  and  G  and  its 
opposite,  the  lateral  edges  of  the  prism. 

Individuals  of  this  class  will  differ  from  each  other  in  the 
inclination  of  M  on  M',  and  in  the  ratio  of  the  edge  H  to  the 
edge  D. 

Fig.  13. 


The  Doubly  Oblique  Prism  (fig.  13)  is  a  quadrangular  solid 
whose  bases  are  equal  oblique-angled  parallelograms.  Besides 
the  prismatic  axis,  it  has  four  unequal  axes  passing  through 
the  opposite  pairs  of  solid  angles,  which  are  shown  in  the  small 
figure.  It  differs  from  the  oblique  rhombic  prism  in  the  angles 
A,  E,  i,  and  o,  which  are  dissimilar,  and  also  in  its  acute  terminal 
edges  B,  c,  and  its  obtuse  terminal  edges  D  and  F.  It  is  sup- 
posed to  stand  oblique  in  the  direction  o,  A,  so  that  the  ter- 
minal plane  forms  an  obtuse  angle  with  the  edge  H.  The 
prismatic  axis  inclines  from  a  perpendicular.  The  same  terms 
used  in  designating  the  edges  and  angles  of  the  oblique  rhombic 


PRIMARY    FORMS. 


Xli 


prism,  may  be  employed  in  describing  corresponding  ones  be- 
longing to  this  class.  The  individuals  will  differ  from  each 
other  in  the  inclination  of  p  on  M,  p  on  T,  and  M  on  T,  and  in 
the  ratios  of  the  edges  D,  H,  and  F. 

Fig.  14. 


The  Rhomboid  (fig.  14)  is  a  solid  contained  under  six  equal 
rhombic  planes.  The  line  a  b  (small  figure)  which  passes 
through  the  summits,  is  called  the  perpendicular  axis,  and  the 
lines  c  d,  ef,g  h,  which  pass  through  the  opposite  pairs  of 
lateral  solid  angles,  are  termed  the  transverse  axes  ;  those  from 
a  to  6,  and  c  to  d,  are  sometimes  called  the  greater  and  lesser 
axes  of  the  rhomboid.  The  crystal  is  said  to  be  in  position 
when  the  perpendicular  axis  is  vertical.  The  solid  angle  A 
(large  figure)  and  its  opposite,  forming  the  other  extremity  of 
the  greater  axis,  are  called  the  solid  angles  of  the  summit,  or 
the  terminal  solid  angles  ;  the  edges  B  the  terminal  edges,  or 
edges  of  the  summit;  the  solid  angles  at  E,  the  lateral  solid 
angles  ;  and  the  edges  D,  the  lateral  edges.  Individuals  be- 
longing to  this  class  are  usually  distinguished  from  each  other 
by  the  inclination  of  p  on  p'.  When  p  on  P'  measures  more 
than  90°,  the  rhomboid  is  called  obtuse;  when  less,  it  is  called 
acute. 

The  Regular  Hexagonal  Prism  (fig.  15)  is  a  right  prism 
whose  bases  are  regular  hexagons.  Any  two  of  the  contiguous 
lateral  planes,  as  M  on  M',  measure 
120°.  The  line  represented  from  A  to 
the  opposite  solid  angle,  may  be  regarded 
as  one  axis,  and  it  may  have  as  many 
axes  as  it  has  opposite  solid  angles;  but 
the  line  c  d,  passing  through  the  centre, 
or  the  prismatic  axis,  is  the  only  one 
now  referred  to  in  describing  the  modi- 
fications of  this  form.  Individuals  of 


Fig.  is. 


Xlii  MECHANICAL    CLEAVAGE    AND    THE 

this  class  will  differ  from  each  other  in  the  ratio  of  the  edge  G 
to  the  edge  B. 

Mechanical  Cleavage  and  the  Secondary  Forms  of  Crystals 
considered. 

§  21.  Whoever  undertakes,  for  the  first  time,  the  examination 
of  the  crystalline  forms  of  a  mineral,  will  find,  if  they  be  nume- 
rous, that  many  of  them  seem  to  possess  no  mutual  relation. 

§  22.  He  will,  however,  eventually  discover  that  a  substance, 
from  whatever  country  it  may  be  brought,  always  assumes  crys- 
tals, which,  if  they  yield  readily  to  mechanical  division,  will 
always  afford  by  it  the  same  nucleus  or  primary  form. 

§  23.  Hence  we  have  a  right  to  conclude  that  the  form  of  the 
molecules  constituting  these  crystals  must  invariably  resemble 
each  other  in  the  same  substance,  and  that  their  arrangement 
must  be  invariable  in  regard  to  each  other. 

§  24.  How  comes  it,  then,  will  be  the  inquiry,  that  so  great 
a  diversity  of  external  forms  should  be  produced  by  an  invaria- 
ble internal  arrangement?  A  satisfactory  answer  to  this  ques- 
tion cannot  perhaps  be  given.  We  only  know  the  fact,  and 
are  compelled  in  general  terms  to  suppose  it  to  be  the  conse- 
quence of  affinity,  or  attraction,  or  polarity;  of  laws  to  which 
matter  is  subject.  We  must  not,  however,  fail  to  notice  the 
curious  and  important  fact,  that  the  crystals  of  a  mineral,  from 
what  part  of  the  world  soever  it  may  be  brought,  and  however 
unlike  each  other  at  first  sight  in  external  form,  are  always 
found  to  possess  such  a  mutual  relation  as  will  enable  the 
observer  to  trace  them  to  the  same  primary  form.* 

§25.  A  few  of  the  many  minerals  which  may  be  cleaved 
with  regularity  have  already  been  noticed  (§  14),  and  we  have 
pointed  out  the  manner  in  which  the  crystals  of  certain  sub- 

*  This  fact,  that  the  angles  of  similar  planes  of  a  crystal  of  the  same  mineral,  whatever 
may  be  its  dimensions,  precisely  agree  in  their  measurements,  seems  to  have  been 
entertained  at  a  very  early  date.  Nicolas  Steno,  a  Dane,  published  a  dissertation  in 
1669,  in  which  he  says,  "  that  though  the  sides  of  the  hexagonal  crystal  may  vary,  the 
angles  are  not  changed."  And  Dominic  Gulielmini,  in  1707,  expresses  the  same  idea, 
though  in  more  remarkable  language.  He  says  :  "  Nature  does  not  employ  all  figures,  but 
only  certain  ones  of  those  which  are  possible  ;  and  of  these  the  determination  is  not  to  be 
fetched  from  the  brain,  or  proved  a  priori,  but  obtained  by  experiments  and  observations. 
Since  there  is  here  a  principle  of  crystallization,  the  inclination  of  the  plane  and  of  the 
angles  is  always  constant."  Henckel  of  Saxony,  in  1827,  described  several  classes  of  min- 
erals in  reterence  to  their  forms ;  and  the  enthusiasm  he  displays  on  the  subject  is  well 
worth  recording.  "  Neither  tongue  nor  stone  can  express  the  satisfaction  which  [ 
received  on  setting  eyes  upon  this  spar  covered  with  galena,  (probably  the  beautiful  pol- 
ished crystals  which  we  often  see  accompanying  the  spar  from  the  mines  of  Saxony)  and 
thus  it  constantly  happens  that  one  must  have  more  pleasure  in  what  seems  worthless 
rubbish,  than  in  the  purest  and  most  precious  ores,  if  we  know  aught  of  minerals."  Lin- 
nteus  first  attempted  to  arrange  minerals  according  to  their  crystalline  forms.  The  first 
persons  who  seem  to  have  had  any  notion  of  the  truncation  of  the  angles  and  edges  of 
crystals,  and  the  consequent  passage  of  one  form  into  another,  are  Werner,  in  1774,  and 
Demeste,  in  1779.  But  the  true  relations  of  the  changes  of  form  were  not  understood 
until  Rome  de  Lisle  and  Hatty  brought  their  mathematical  minds  to  the  subject,  and 


SECONDARY    FORMS    OF    CRYSTALS    CONSIDERED. 


xliii 


stances  may  be  reduced  to  their  primary  forms  (§  18).  Let 
us  now  attend  to  the  manner  in  which  the  primary  forms  of 
certain  minerals  may  be  supposed  to  have  increased,  so  as  to 
assume  external  forms  which  appear  to  have  little  or  no  affinity 
with  the  primary. 

The  forms  thus  produced  are  called  secondary  forms,  and 
however  numerous  or  complicated  they  may  appear,  they  are 
ultimately  reducible  to  the  same  central  nucleus  of  the  species, 
when  it  is  susceptible  of  cleavage.  It  must  not,  however,  be 
supposed  that  the  primary  nucleus  is  always  concealed  by  the 
super-position  of  particles  which  give  rise  to  these  secondary 
forms;  on  the  contrary,  there  are  many  mineral  species  in 
which  the  primary  form,  either  perfect,  or  but  slightly  modified 
on  its  edges  or  angles,  is  the  one  which  prevailingly  occurs  in 
nature.  This  is  shown  in  the  case  of  the  regular  hexahedron 
in  beryl,  and  the  octahedron  in  diamond,  spinel  and  pleisto- 
magnetic  iron.  The  number  of  secondary  forms  which 
actually  occur  is  very  large,  but  the  possible  number  which 
may  occur,  of  variable  dimensions,  may  be  said  to  be  infinite. 
Calcareous  spar  alone  has  presented  to  our  observation  up- 
wards of  eight  hundred  different  varieties  of  form,  derived  from 
an  obtuse  rhomboid. 

§26.  In  examining  a  cubical  crystal  of  fluor,  we  find  that 
all  its  solid  angles  may  readily  be  taken  off  by  means  of  a 
knife;  and  that  by  thus  displacing  each  angle,  we  produce 
eight  triangular  planes,  which  are  smooth  and  brilliant;  we 
moreover  find  that  it  cannot  be  cleaved,  so  as  to  produce  a 
brilliant  plane  in  any  other  direction. 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 


laid  the  foundations  of  a  new  and  beautiful  science.  The  former,  in  1783,  speaks  of  the 
invariability  of  the  angles  of  crystals  of  each  kind,  under  all  the  changes  of  relative  dimen- 
sions which  the  faces  may  undergo  :  and  shows  that  this  law  applies  only  to  the  primitive 
forms,  from  each  of  which  many  secondary  forms  are  derived  hy  various  changes.  He 
illustrates  this  principle  in  its  application  to  a  large  numher  of  crystals,  of  which  lie  gives 
drawings  in  his  work.  But  Haiiy  may  be  said  to  have  shown  its  truth  by  its  application 
to  the  whole  mineral  kingdom ;  and  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  our  knowledge  of  the 
importance  of  cleavage,  and  the  consequent  expression  of  the  laws  of  deviation  of  the 
secondary  from  the  primary  forms,  by  means  of  the  decrements  of  the  successive  layers  of 


xllV  MECHANICAL    CLEAVAGE    AND    THE 

§  27.  Then  let  the  lines  of  fig.  1  represent  a  cube,  and  the 
dotted  lines,  the  triangular  planes  produced  by  cleavage. 

§28.  The  cube  having  its  solid  angles  displaced,  is  also 
represented  in  fig  2.  If,  however,  we  pursue  the  cleavage  by 
which  we  produced  the  triangular  planes;  that  is,  if  layers  or 
laminae  parallel  with  those  planes  are  removed,  we  reduce  the 
volume  of  the  crystal  by  degrees,  and  finally  change  its  form; 
for  we  ultimately  find  that  the  eight  triangular  planes  of  the 
cube  become  the  eight  triangular  planes  of  the  octahedron 
within  it.  Let  us  not  fail  to  observe  that  the  termination  of 
each  solid  angle  of  the  octahedron  forms,  as  it  were,  a  point  in 
the  centre  of  each  plane  of  the  cube. 

§29.  If  we  still  go  on,  and  remove  from  each  plane  of  the 
octahedron  other  laminae,  we  thereby  reduce  its  size,  but  do 
not  alter  its  form ;  hence  the  octahedron  is  considered  to  be 
the  primary  form  of  fluor. 

§30.  Every  one  of  the  laminaB  taken  off  in  this  process 
may  be  again  subdivided;  it  may  be  broken  into  octahedrons, 
tetrahedrons,  and  acute  rhomboids  (§  14). 

§31.  Assuming,  then,  the  octahedron  to  be  the  primary 
form  of  fluor  (§  14),  and  knowing  that  all  its  lamina?  may  be 
divided  into  regular  forms,  is  it  not  reasonable  to  conclude  that 
the  whole  cube,  upon  which  we  first  began  to  operate,  is  com- 
posed of  minute  solids  of  a  definitive  form,  whatever  that  form 
may  be;  and  since  the  cleavage  is  attainable  only  in  the  direc- 
tions specified  (§26),  is  there  not  reason  for  concluding  that 
they  must  be  arranged  with  perfect  regularity  ? 

§  32.  Hence  the  cube  (which  is  therefore  one  of  the  second- 
ary forms  of  fluor)  appears  to  be  the  consequence  of  a  regular 
arrangement,  on  the  planes  of  the  primary  octahedron,  of  ex- 
tremely minute  solids,  resembling  each  other  in  respect  of  form. 
We  may  assume  this  without  pretending  to  decide  the  precise 
form  of  those  molecules  or  integrant  particles. 

§  33.  When,  therefore,  we  describe  a  crystal  of  fluor,  as 
being  a  cube  of  which  the  solid  angles  are  (naturally)  replaced 
by  triangular  planes,  we  do  not  describe  it  either  truly  or  phi- 
losophically ;  but  we  thus  describe  it  from  motives  of  conveni- 

integrant  molecules.  Gahn,  a  German  philosopher,  was  the  first  who  observed  the  regular 
integrant  rhomboidal  structure  of  c.ilcareons  spar.  Bergman  took  up  the  idea,  and  showed 
how,  in  various  ways,  crystals  of  this  substance  may  be  produced  by  the  union  of  small 
rhomboids  from  one  single  figure.  And  it  is  not  certain  whether  Haiiy  was  aware  that 
Bergman  had  thus,  several  years  before  him,  shown  that  an  hexagonal  prism  of  cale-spar 
was  made  up  by  the  juxtaposition  of  solid  rhombs  on  the  planes  of  a  simple  rhombic 
nucleus.  As  he  makes  no  mention  of  Bergman's  recognition  of  this  fact,  though  he  refers 
to  his  memoir  on  the  subject,  it  is  probable  that  it  was  original  with  them  both.  For 
many  other  important  facts  in  the  history  of  the  science  of  crystals  not  generally  known, 
the  student  is  referred  to  vol.  iii.  of  the  eloquent  and  learned  "  History  of  the  Inductive 
Sciences,"  by  the  Rev.  William  Whewell.  [An.  ED.] 


SECONDARY    FORMS    OF    CRYSTALS    CONSIDERED.  xlv 

ence ;  we  might  more  aptly  term  it  a'cubo-octahedron,  because 
the  triangular  planes  belong  manifestly,  from  what  has  pre- 
ceded, to  the  octahedron,  and  the  larger  planes  to  the  cube 
(§  28).  But  there  are  few  crystals  to  which  terms  so  conveni- 
ent could  be  applied. 

§  34.  Let  us  take  one  more  example,  in  which  the  regular 
octahedron  is  the  primary ;  this  will  also  apply  to  fluor. 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 


§  35.  Let  fig.  1  represent  a  crystal  of  fluor  in  the  form  of 
the  rhombic  dodecahedron. 

The  same  form  is  visible  in  fig.  2,  and  within  it  an  octahe- 
dron; the  lines  of  the  latter  being  somewhat  the  darkest. 

§  36.  Now,  by  the  latter  figure,  we  perceive  that  the  rhombic 
dodecahedron  is  the  consequence  of  an  accession  of  crystalline 
laminae  composed  of  molecules  placed  in  regular  succession  on 
every  plane  of  the  primary ;  the  laminae  regularly  diminishing 
in  size  until  they  arrive  at  a  point,  and  producing  on  every 
plane  of  the  octahedron  a  low  three-sided  pyramid. 

§37.  On  one  plane  of  the  octahedron  in  fig.  2,  the  laminae, 
progressively  diminishing  and  terminating  in  a  point,  are  shown 
by  lines,  and  these  lines  or  striae  are  often  visible  in  the  rhombic 
dodecahedron,  when  the  primary  is  an  octahedron.  Whenever 
striae  are  seen  on  the  planes  of  a  crystal,  they  generally  denote 
that  it  may  be  cleaved  along  them.  These  may  be  observed 
in  dodecahedrons  of  fluor  and  red  oxide  of  copper,  of  which 
the  primary  is  the  regular  octahedron ;  and  if  the  substance 
does  not  yield  to  cleavage,  they  sometimes  serve  as  a  clue  to 
the  determination  of  the  primary  form. 

But  it  may  be  asked,  how  does  it  happen,  that  if  these  laminae 
progressively  diminish,  forming,  as  represented  in  fig.  2,  a  sort 
of  step  from  one  to  the  next,  that  the  planes  have  sometimes  a 
perfectly  brilliant  polish,  without  any  of  the  roughness  which 
in  such  a  case  might  be  expected.  The  answer  is  simple. 
E 


xlvi 


MECHANICAL    CLEAVAGE    AND    THE 


The  molecules  composing  the  crystal  may  be  termed  almost 
infinitely  small,  since  no  limit  has  been  found  to  mechanical 
division. 

§  38.  Hitherto  the  octahedron  has  been  assumed  as  the  pri- 
mary ;  let  us  now  take  the  cube,  and  suppose  the  octahedron 
and  rhombic  dodecahedron  to  be  its  secondary  crystals,  as  they 
are  in  several  minerals.  Afterwards  the  pentagonal  dodecahe- 
dron will  be  considered  as  arising  from  the  same  primary  form. 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 


§39.  Let  the  lines  of  fig.  1  be  a  regular  octahedron,  and  let 
the  square  formed  by  dotted  lines  represent  the  planes  which 
would  be  produced  by  replacing  the  solid  angles. 

§  40.  In  fig.  2,  the  octahedron  is  represented  as  having  its 
solid  angles  replaced,  and  a  cube  within  it.  On  considering 
the  relations  of  these  two  figures,  it  is  manifest  that,  by  pursu- 
ing the  cleavage  parallel  with  all  the  planes  produced  by  dis- 
placing the  solid  angles  of  the  octahedron,  we  ultimately  con- 
vert that  form  into  the  cube.  This  might  be  performed  in  the 
instance  of  common  salt,  but  octahedral  crystals  of  salt  are  rare. 
If,  however,  we  apply  the  knife,  or  the  hammer,  to  each  of  the 
solid  angles  of  an  octahedron  of  galena,  we  find  that  they  may 
readily  be  taken  off,  so  as  to  obtain  a  brilliant  cube. 

§  41.  By  pursuing  the  division  still  further,  that  is,  by  taking 
off  laminae  in  the  same  directions,  we  only  reduce  the  volume 
of  the  cube,  not  alter  its  form. 

§  42.  If  then  the  cube,  which,  in  this  case,  is  the  primary 
crystal,  can  only  be  cleaved  into  cubes  (as  is  the  case  with  com- 
mon salt  and  galena),  we  conclude  that  the  octahedron,  which 
is  only  a  secondary  form,  has  arisen  from  an  accession,  on 
every  plane  of  the  primary  cube,  of  crystalline  laminae  composed 
of  minute  cubes ;  the  points  of  the  solid  angles  of  the  cube  be- 
ing, in  the  preceding  figure,  precisely  in  the  centre  of  the  planes 
of  the  octahedron. 


SECONDARY    FORMS    OF    CRYSTALS    CONSIDERED. 


§  43.  Let  us  now  consider  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  as 
arising  from  the  cube. 


This  figure  represents  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  having 
within  it  a  cube.  On  considering  the  relation  of  these  two 
solids,  we  conclude  that  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  which  is 
the  secondary  crystal,  arises  from  the  primary  cube  by  an 
accession  of  crystalline  laminae  on  each  plane  of  the  cube,  so 
as  to  form  thereon  a  low  quadrangular  pyramid;  and  progres- 
sively diminishing  in  size,  so  as  to  terminate  in  a  point.  This 
pyramid,  if  the  primary  can  only  be  cleaved  into  cubes,  is  as- 
sumed to  be  composed  of  cubic  molecules,  regularly  arranged. 

§44.  These  laminae,  progressively  diminishing,  are  repre- 
sented on  one  plane  of  the  primary  nucleus,  and  the  same  ob- 
servations apply  to  the  crystals  thus  formed  as  were  made  upon 
the  rhombic  dodecahedron  arising  out  of  the  octahedron  (§  34). 
The  striae,  it  has  been  observed,  sometimes  denote  the  primary. 
In  this  case  it  will  be  seen  that  their  direction  is  parallel  with 
the  lesser  diagonals  of  the  rhombic  planes  ;  and  the  existence 
of  these  striae  in  the  aplome,  usually  ranked  as  a  variety  of 
garnet,  induced  the  Abbe  Haiiy  to  suspect  its  primary  to  be  a 
cube. 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


§  45.  We  now  proceed  to  consider  the  trapezoidal  dodeca- 
hedron as  a  secondary  crystal  of  the  cube,  in  other  words,  as 


xlviii 


MECHANICAL    CLEAVAGE    AND    THE 


arising  from  a  regular  deposition  of  crystalline  laminae  on  the 
planes  of  that  solid. 

Fig.  1  represents  a  trapezoidal  dodecahedron;  a  solid 
bounded  by  twelve  equal  and  similar  trapeziums;  it  is  some- 
times termed  the  pentagonal  dodecahedron,  all  its  planes  being 
five-sided. 

The  same  dodecahedron  is  also  seen  in  fig.  2,  having  within 
it  a  nucleus  in  the  form  of  a  cube. 

§46.  We  here  observe  that  on  each  plane  of  the  cube  there 
is  an  equal  and  similar  pyramid;  and  that  each  pyramid  is  not, 
as  in  the  instance  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  just  described, 
composed  of  equal  and  similar  planes.  But,  in  this  instance, 
the  planes  of  each  pyramid  are  equal  and  similar,  two  and  two  ; 
a  and  a  resemble  each  other ;  and  the  two  small  triangular 
planes,  the  one  above,  the  other  below  the  planes  a,  a,  also 
resemble  each  other. 

§  47.  Here,  therefore,  there  must  necessarily  be  an  arrange- 
ment of  the  little  cubic  molecules  of  which  the  crystal  is  as- 
sumed to  be  composed,  very  different  to  that  which,  in  the  in- 
stance of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  produced  a  precise  uni- 
formity. Here,  between  a  a  we  have  a  line,  but  the  four  planes 
on  each  surface  of  the  cube  terminated,  in  the  rhombic  dode- 
cahedron, in  a  point  —  in  a  single  cube. 

§  48.  Let  us  observe  whence  this  difference  of  form  arises, 
on  the  assumption  that  the  crystal  is  composed  of  cubic  mole- 
cules. 


Let  a,  b,  c,  d,  e,f,  be  the  cubic  nucleus,  or  primary  crystal, 
composed  of  minute  cubic  molecules. 

Then  «,/,  e,  h,  n,  will  be  one  of  the  six  pyramids  on  the 
planes  of  the  cube. 


SECONDARY    FORMS    OF    CRYSTALS    CONSIDERED.  xlix 

§  49.  Now  there  is  a  remarkable  difference  in  the  arrange- 
ment of  the  cubic  molecules  on  the  two  sides  of  this  pyramid, 
which  are  obvious  to  us;  the  same  difference  will  consequently 
exist  between  the  other  two.  On  the  side  a,f,  h,  n,  which  re- 
sembles the  steps  of  a  stair-case,  we  observe  that  these  steps 
are  two  ranges  of  molecules  in  breadth,  and  only  one  in  height. 
But  the  very  reverse  of  this  is  the  case  of  the  sidef,c,  h',  for 
in  this,  the  molecules  are  two  ranges  in  height  and  only  one  in 
breadth. 

§  50.  The  consequence  of  this  difference  in  the  arrangement 
of  the  molecules  is,  that  the  quadrangular  sides  of  the  pyramid 
incline  much  more  upon  the  upper  plane  of  the  cube  than  those 
which  are  triangular.  Not  so  in  the  instance  of  the  pyramids 
on  the  planes  of  the  cube  forming  the  rhombic  dodecahedron 
(p.  xlvii) ;  for  in  them,  as  in  all  the  preceding  figures,  the 
super-position  of  molecules  on  the  primary  nucleus  is  on  every 
side  equal  and  similar,  producing  equal  and  similar  planes,  and 
precisely  equal  measurements  in  every  direction.  The  struc- 
ture in  those  crystals  may  therefore  be  termed  simple :  as  the 
planes  decrease  equally  to  a  point,  they  are  said  to  arise  from 
a  simple  decrement. 

But  the  structure  of  the  pentagonal  dodecahedron  may  be 
termed  compound,  because  its  planes  do  not  decrease  equally 
on  all  sides ;  the  decrement  is  compound.  Of  this  species  of 
structure  there  are  several  varieties. 

§51.  But  it  may  be  objected,  that  since  the  molecules  of 
which  crystals  are  constituted  are  too  minute  to  be  detected  by 
the  he.lp  of  the  most  powerful  glass,  every  thing  which  can  be 
said  in  regard  to  the  form  of  these  molecules  must  necessarily 
be  theoretical. 

§  52.  This  of  course  will  be  granted.  We  are  not  specially 
contending  for  any  peculiar  form  in  the  integrant  particles  of 
matter;  but  only  for  this,  —  that  since  the  crystals  of  a  sub- 
stance yield  to  mechanical  division  in  particular  directions,  and 
cannot  be  made  to  yield  to  it  with  regularity  in  other  direc- 
tions, these  particles,  whatsoever  may  be  their  form,  must  ne- 
cessarily resemble  each  other,  and  be  arranged  with  the  utmost 
regularity  ;  and  also  that  this  perfection  of  internal  structure 
is  the  cause  of  regular  external  form. 

§53.  The  planes  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  (p.  xlvii) 
meet  each  other  under  an  angle  of  120°,  and  those  of  the  pen- 
tagonal dodecahedron,  (same  page)  under  different  angles. 

In  the  determination  of  the  value  of  these  angles,  calculation 
has  been  resorted  to  for  the  purpose  of  confirming  the  measure- 
ments obtained  by  the  goniometer :  and  thus  it  has  been  de- 


1  MECHANICAL    CLEAVAGE,    ETC. 

cided  that  the  pyramid  formed  on  each  plane  of  the  cube,  in 
the  instance  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  (§43)  (being  com- 
posed of  planes  which  are  equal  and  similar,  and  the  measure- 
ment of  any  one  upon  the  next  being  uniformly  the  same),  that 
those  pryamids  must  be  composed  of  laminas  superimposed  in 
regular  order  on  every  side;  namely,  of  owe  molecule,  in  height, 
and  one  in  breadth.  But  as  the  planes  of  the  pyramid  super- 
imposed on  each  face  of  the  cube  are  dissimilar  and  unequal 
(or  similar  and  equal  only  two  and  two)  in  the  pentagonal 
dodecahedron  (§45),  so  they  afford  different  results  under  the 
goniometer,  which  have  been  confirmed  by  calculation ;  for 
by  calculation  it  has  been  determined  that  the  angles  under 
which  these  planes  meet,  could  only  be  in  consequence  of  a  su- 
perposition *  of  lamina?  on  each  plane  of  the  cube,  of  two  mole- 
cules in  height  and  one  in  breadth  on  the  one  side,  and  of  one 
in  height  and  two  in  breadth  on  the  other  (§49.)  And 
whether  we  assume  these  molecules  to  be  cubes,  or  any  other 
form,  we  must  assume  them  to  be  equal  to  each  other ;  and  if 
so,  whatever  may  be  their  form,  the  same  structure  would 
ensue. 

§54.  By  means  of  calculation  the  Abbe  Haiiy  determined 
the  angles  under  which  the  secondary  planes  meet,  which  re- 
sult from  an  increase  of  laminae  on  the  cube  and  octahedron, 
and  on  other  geometrical  solids,  considered  as  primary  crys- 
tals :  and  thus,  if  we  procure  a  portion  of  a  crystal  presenting 
only  two  planes  of  one  of  the  varieties  of  those  solids,  we  may 

*  It  is  a  conclusion  necessarily  arising  from  the  structure  of  crystals,  that  those  which 
are  secondary  result  from  a  superposition  on  the  primary  nucleus,  of  laminae,  which  are 
composed  of  regularly  arranged  molecules. 

But  the  usual  mode  of  describing  the  manner  in  which  the  secondary  forms  arise  out  of 
the  primary,  supposes  the  contrary  to  be  the  fact.  The  secondary  crystal  is  described  as 
arising  out  of  the  replacement  of  the  edges  or  angles,  or  both,  of  the  primary  crystal. 

Thus,  in  the  instance  of  Red  Copper,  it  is  said  that  the  primary  is  an  octahedron  ;  that 
fig.  6  arises  from  the  replacement  of  its  edges :  but  fig,  6  is  in  reality  the  consequence  of  a 
very  opposite  cause  —  of  an  increase  of  laminx  on  the  planes  of  the  octahedron,  the  lamina 
diminishing  progressively  in  width.  Fig.  7  is  described  as  the  consequence  of  a  deeper, 
fig.  8  of  a  complete,  replacement  of  its  edges,  by  which  the  octahedron  is  converted  into 
the  rhombic  dodocohedron  —  when,  in  fact,  these  crystals  arise  from  an  increase  of 
laminae  on  the  planes,  progressively  diminishing  to  a  point. 

It  may  be  inquired,  why,  in  these  descriptions,  a  mode  is  adopted  which  is  diametrically 
opposed  to  fact.  The  reply  is,  that  it  is  convenient.  If  the  fact  were  adhered  to,  the 
descriptions  would  he  long,  and  scarcely  intelligible  ;  and,  in  effect,  it  matters  not  which 
method  is  adopted,  for  the  same  consequence  is  arrived  at  in  either  case. 

The  beginner  may  convince  himself  of  the  truth  of  this  assertion,  by  moulding  or  cut- 
ting a  piece  of  wax  or  of  soap,  into  the  form  of  the  octahedron  ;  then  let  each  edge  be  cut 
away  (teplaced}  by  a  knife,  and  the  ultimate  consequence  will  be  the  rhombic  dodecahe- 
dron. Let  then  those  solid  angles  of  the  dodecahedron  which  are  formed  by  the  meeting 
of  three  planes,  he  in  like  manner  replaced  by  a  knife,  and  the  consequence  will  be,  that 
in  lieu  of  each  there  will  be  a  triangular  plane  ;  if  these  triangular  planes  (eight  in  num- 
ber) be  increased  by  deeper  replacements  parallel  with  each,  the  rhombic  dodecahedron 
will  ultimately  be  converted  into  the  octahedron.  Thus  the  assertion  is  proved,  that 
•whether  we  describe  this  secondary  crystal  as  arising  from  the  replacement  of  the  edges  of  the 
primary,  or  from  increase  on  its  planes,  the  effect  is  the  same. 

This  practice  is  recommended  to  the  beginner,  not  simply  as  regards  the  above  fact,  but 
also  as  a  pleasing  method  of  convincing  himself  of  the  transitions  of  crystalline  forms.  [P.] 


HEMITBOPE    CRYSTALS.  11 

decide  which  they  are,  —  the  use  of  the  common  goniometer 
will  approximate  the  truth  sufficiently  to  enable  us  to  decide 
by  a  reference  to  his  measurements,  which  may  doubtless  be 
relied  on  in  every  instance  wherein  the  primary  crystal  is  a 
perfectly  geometrical  solid,  as  the  cube,  the  regular  octahe- 
dron, the  tetrahedron,  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  and  the  six- 
sided  prism  :  for,  the  angles  formed  by  the  meeting  of  any  two 
planes  of  these  solids  being  accurately  known,  it  follows  that 
the  angles  of  the  secondary  planes  may  be  accurately  calculated. 
§55.  There  are  other  primary  forms,  as  has  been  observed, 
which  are  not  regular  geometrical  solids;  for  instance,  all 
those  varieties  of  the  octahedron  of  which  the  sides  of  the 
planes  are  not  equal  and  similar;  the  primary  octahedron  of 
the  oxide  of  tin  is  flatter  than  the  regular  octahedron,  and  that 
of  sulphur  is  more  acute.  The  varieties  of  the  parallelepiped 
also  are  not  regular  geometrical  solids,  as  the  acute  and  obtuse 
rhomboids,  and  the  varieties  of  prisms  whose  bounding  planes 
are  equal  and  similar  two  and  two. 

Hemitrope  Crystals. 

Crystals  of  certain  minerals  present  us  with  singular  appear- 
ances or  changes,  which  we  may  suppose  them  to  have  under- 
gone, by  which  one  half  is  described  as  having  revolved  or 
turned  round  on  the  other,  in  a  certain  line  or  imaginary  axis, 
through  the  centre  of,  and  perpendicular  to,  the  plane  of  sec- 
tion, and  in  a  quantity  equal  to  one  half  of  a  circle,  or  180°. 
This  imaginary  axis  has  been  termed  the  axis  of  revolution, 
and  the  section  the  plane  of  revolution.  But  it  is  obvious  that 
such  a  revolution  has  never  actually  occurred,  and  the  origin 
of  these  anomalies  must  be  ascribed  to  certain  laws  which  op- 
erated upon  the  molecules  from  the  time  they  began  to  arrange 
themselves  in  the  commencement  of  the  crystal,  until  its  final 
completion  :  a  power  analogous  to  that  by  which  other  second- 
ary forms  are  produced.  To  these  forms  Rome  de  Lisle  ap- 
plied the  term  made;  but  as  this  term  was  soon  assigned  to  a 
particular  mineral  species,  they  were  afterwards  denominated, 
by  Haiiy,  hemitrope  crystals,  an  appropriate  expression  for 
the  demi-revolution  which  they  are  supposed  to  have  under- 
gone. They  are  also  sometimes  called  twin  crystals,  implying 
that  they  are  composed  of  pairs  of  single  crystals,  which  have 
been  united  by  particular  planes. 

One  or  two  examples,  taken  from  Haiiy  ( Traite  de  Mineral- 
ogie,  torn.  ii.  edit.  2de.  p.  169),  will  be  sufficient  to  convey  a  per- 
fect idea  of  these  phenomena.  Suppose  an  octahedron,  (fig.  1) 


lii 


HEMITROPE    CRYSTALS. 


to  have  a  line  passing  through  its  centre,  parallel  to  the  two 
triangles  b  eg,  pfd.  Each  half  of  the  octahedron  (for  exam- 
ple, the  superior  half)  will  have  for  its  base,  in  one  part,  a  reg- 

Fig.l.  Fig.  2. 

,,& 
ft 


*Hw 


ular  hexagon  Jcnxcoh,  which  may  be  called  the  plane  of  junc- 
tion, and  in  the  other  an  equilateral  triangle  beg,  and  for  lat- 
eral faces  three  trapezia,  c  b  c  x,  g  c  n  k,  gboh,  and  three 
equilateral  triangles,  ncx,  cbo,  kgh,  which  alternate  with  the 
trapezia.  In  fig.  2  the  two  halves  of  the  octahedron  are  sepa- 
rated one  from  the  other. 

Let  us  now  imagine  the  superior  half  turned  on  the  inferior 
for  a  sixth  of  its  circumference,  and  we  shall  have  the  arrange- 
ment represented  by  fig.  3,  in  which  h  k  n  x  c  o  indicate  the  po- 
sition of  the  hexagon  which  belongs  to  the  superior  half,  fig.  1, 
and  which  has  turned  so  that  the  point  k,  which  answered  to  the 
point  k',  answers  now  to  the  point  »',  and  so  with  the  others. 
By  a  necessary  consequence  the  three  superior  triangles  make 

Fig.  3. 


re-entering  angles  with  the  three  inferior  ones,  and  the  three 
superior  trapezia  make,  on  the  contrary,  salient  angles  with 
the  three  inferior  trapezia.  This  supposition  is  the  simplest 
possible,  but  the  same  arrangement  will  happen  if  we  suppose 
that  the  superior  half  has  turned  a  full  half  circumference. 


HEMITROPE    CRYSTALS. 


liii 


These  hemitropes  are  common   in   spinel,  spinel  ruby,  and 
pleisto-magnetic  iron. 

There  is  another  kind  which  is  frequently  witnessed  in  the 
oxide  of  tin.  It  consists  of  a  four-sided  prism,  (fig.  4),  ter- 
minated at  each  extremity  by  a  four-sided  pyramid,  which,  by 

Fig.  4.  Fig.  5. 


a  transposition  or  demi-revolution  of  its  superior  portion,  situ- 
ated above  the  plane  ah  ye,  which  passes  obliquely  from  one 
solid  angle  to  the  opposite,  and  parallel  with  the  edge  om,  has 
given  rise  to  a  form  resembling  fig.  5,  excepting  that  the  crys- 
tals are  always  more  or  less  modified,  or  rather  portions  of  the 
primary  planes  yet  remain,  as  seen  in  the  hemitrope  crystal, 
under  the  species  oxide  of  tin,  in  this  volume.  Similar  com- 
binations exist  in  rutile,  an  ore  of  titanium,  a  common  exam- 
ple of  which  may  also  be  seen  under  its  appropriate  head. 
For  many  other  examples  of  this  class  of  phenomena,  illus- 
trated by  figures,  consult  Beudant  (Traite  etementaire  de  Min- 
eralogie,  torn.  i.  edit.  2de) ;  and  also  the  Treatises  by  Dana  and 
Shepard.  Dana  makes  a  distinction,  among  these  forms,  into 
Connatal  and  Postnatal  Compound  Crystals,  the  first  implying 
the  union  of  the  two  crystals  from  the  commencement  of  the 
crystallogenic  process,  as  in  the  hemitropes  of  spinel  and  tin, 
just  referred  to,  and  the  latter  the  union  of  the  individuals 
sometime  subsequent  to  their  formation,  and  even  after  they 
have  attained  considerable  size.  The  groupings  of  quartz 
crystals,  like  those  from  Herkimer,  New  York,  belong  to  the 
latter,  the  combinations  of  which  seem  at  first  very  irregular, 
and  almost  to  have  been  tumultuously  thrown  together ;  but, 
on  closer  examination,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  simple  crystals 
amoncr  them  are  united  so  as  to  have  their  similar  faces 


liv 


GONIOMETER. 


parallel.  The  geniculated  crystals  are  also  included  among 
the  same  class.  The  distinctions  thus  made  are  important 
when  we  have  reference  to  the  origin  of  these  singular  depart- 
ures from  the  ordinary  crystallizations,  and  the  student  is 
referred  to  Dana's  Treatise  for  the  very  ingenious  method  by 
which  he  attempts  to  explain  them. 

Some  of  the  minerals  which  offer  the  best  examples  of  those 
compound  forms,  that  may  be  consulted  in  this  volume,  besides 
those  already  mentioned,  are  Harmotome,  Staurolite,  Arragon- 
ite,  Chrysoberyl,  Carbonate  of  Lime,  Carbonate  of  Barytes, 
Hornblende,  Carbonate  of  Lead,  Carbonate  of  Copper,  and 
Bournonite.  The  term  geniculated  is  applied  to  those  twin 
crystals  which  are  united  lengthwise,  and  present  jointed  or 
knee-shaped  appearances,  as  observed  in  Rutile.  It  may  be  ex- 
pressed as  single  or  double,  as  we  have  one  or  more  of  the 
joints  presented. 

Common  Goniometer. 


Measurement  of  the  Angles  of  Crystals. 

In  determining  the  angles  of  crystals,  two  instruments  are 
employed,  called  Goniometers,  from  ywL&v  paiya,  measurers 
of  arrgles.  The  first  and  simplest  is  that  invented  by  Caran- 
geau.  It  consists,  as  represented  in  the  above  figure,  of  a 
brass  or  silver  semicircle  a  b  c,  graduated  into  180  degrees, 
each  degree  being  marked  on  the  instrument  by  a  short  line 
extending  from  the  outer  rim  to  the  circle,  which  is  about  one- 
twentieth  of  an  inch  within  it;  de  zndfg  are  two  steel 
arms,  the  horizontal  one  being  fixed,  the  vertical  movable; 


GONIOMETER.  ly 

beneath  the  arm  de,  there  is  a  plate  of  steel  or  of  brass,  which 
is  attached  to  the  semicircle  near  c,  and  extends  somewhat 
more  than  half-way  towards  a,  its  termination  being  connected 
with  the  semicircle  by  the  bar  h  for  the  sake  of  firmness :  f  is 
the  head  of  a  pin  in  the  centre  of  motion,  which  is  precisely 
midway  between  the  two  extremities  of  the  semicircle  a  c,  and 
at  the  same  distance  from  b  as  from  a  to  c.  The  pin  passes 
through  both  arms  and  the  brass  plate ;  and  on  this  pin  the 
arm  f  g  is  at  pleasure  moved  by  the  finger.  The  upper  part 
of  the  arm  f  g  cuts  the  semicircle,  in  the  above  figure,  pre- 
cisely at  90  degrees,  expressed  by  90° ;  if  then  two  faces  of  a 
cube  were  presented  to  the  lower  portions  of  the  two  arms  g  I 
and  I  e,  it  would  be  found  to  fit  them  accurately,  since  the 
planes  of  a  cube  always  meet  each  other  at  the  angle  of  90°. 
But  if  the  solid  be  less  or  more  than  that  angle,  the  instrument 
may  be  accommodated  to  the  angle  at  which  the  two  planes 
meet,  by  altering  with  the  finger  the  movable  arm  f  g,  if  ap- 
plied near  its  termination  f;  and  the  value  of  the  angle  will 
be  indicated  by  the  edge  of  the  movable  arm. 

As  this  goniometer  is  here  figured,  it  is  adapted  to  the  planes 
of  a  crystal  free  from  its  gangue ;  but  if  the  crystal  be  small 
and  surrounded  by  obstruction,  the  two  arms  may  be  drawn  by 
the  ends  d  and  f  (the  cavities  in  the  arms  permitting  them  to 
slide),  so  that  the  points  g1  and  e  will  be  much  nearer  the  pin 
which  is  the  centre  of  motion.  Sometimes,  however,  this  go- 
niometer is  made  in  two  parts,  the  semicircle  being  one  of 
them,  and  the  two  arms,  connected  by  the  pin,  the  other.  In 
that  case  the  arms  are  in  some  instances  more  conveniently 
applied  to  the  planes  of  a  crystal ;  which  being  accurately 
done,  the  pin  is  dropped  into  a  small  hole,  made  to  receive  it, 
and  the  arm  fg  indicates  the  angle  on  the  semicircle;  care 
being  taken  that  the  relative  position  of  the  arms  be  not  dis- 
turbed, after  they  have  been  adjusted  to  the  planes  of  a  crystal. 

The  student,  in  his  first  attempts  with  this  instrument,  should 
select  crystals  whose  primary  and  secondary  planes  are  large, 
smooth,  and  perfect,  admitting  of  its  application  over  different 
parts  of  the  same  plane,  in  order  to  avoid  any  minute  irregu- 
larities that  may  exist;  and  his  object  should  be  to  distinguish 
one  class  of  planes  from  the  other  by  comparing  his  results  with 
those  given  in  the  book.  But  let  him  in  the  first  place  take  a 
crystal,  the  planes  of  which  he  can  distinguish  beforehand, 
for  example,  a  crystal  of  pleisto-magnetic  iron,  which  exhib- 
its portions  of  the  planes  of  the  octahedron  and  rhombic  dode- 
cahedron. He  will  observe  that  p  on  p  will  measure  109°,  28', 


Ivi 


GONIOMETER. 


p  on  e  144°,  44',  and  e  on  e  120°.  (See  large  figure  under 
this  species.)  Let  him  now  pass  to  other  more  complicated 
forms,  the  planes  of  which  he  cannot  distinguish  beforehand, 
and  endeavor  to  ascertain  the  two  classes  of  planes  by  measure- 
ment, and  by  comparing  his  results  with  the  figures  given  in 
the  book.  But  he  must  remember  that  his  skill  in  the  use  of 
the  goniometer  will  depend  on  its  precise  adjustment  to  the 
planes  of  the  crystal  to  be  measured  ;  for  unless  the  light  be  ex- 
cluded from  between  the  instrument  and  the  crystal,  the  adapta- 
tion will  not  be  complete.  If  this  cannot  be  accomplished,  it 
may  be  concluded  that  the  crystal,  how  perfect  soever  its  planes 
appear,  is  not  sufficiently  regular  to  be  relied  on,  if  perfect  ac- 
curacy be  required.  Even  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances, and  by  those  most  experienced  in  the  use  of  the  instru- 
ment, we  can  obtain  only  approximations  to  the  real  value  of 
the  angles  of  crystals ;  and  it  was  by  relying  solely  on  the  re- 
sults thus  afforded,  that  many  of  Haiiy's  measurements  have 
proved  to  be  inaccurate.* 

The  Reflecting  Goniometer,  as  invented  by  Wollaston,  and 
improved  by  Sang,  is  a  very  superior  instrument. 


*This  is  shown  in  the  case  of  the  rhomboid  of  calcareous  spar,  the  angles  of  which,  as 
given  by  Hauy,  instead  of  being  correctly  stated  at  105°,  V,  and  74",  55',  are  104°,  W, 


GONIOMETER.  Ivii 

A  is  a  movable  circle  graduated  on  one  edge  to  half  de- 
grees, and  divided  for  convenience  into  two  parts  of  180  degrees 
each  (it  is  graduated  only  in  part  in  the  above  sketch). 

C  is  an  immovable  brass  plate  screwed  upon  and  supported 
by  the  pillar  D,  and  graduated  as  a  vernier. 

F  is  the  axis  of  the  circle  A,  and  passes  through  the  upper 
part  of  two  brass  pillars  D  E,  the  lower  ends  of  which  are  in- 
serted into  a  wooden  base  M. 

B  is  an  axis  enclosed  within  F,  and  turned  by  means  of  the 
smallest  circle  G,  which  communicates  a  motion  to  all  the  ap- 
paratus to  the  left  of  A,  without,  however,  moving  that  circle. 

H  is  a  circle  to  which  is  attached  the  axis  of  the  principal 
circle  A.  If,  therefore,  we  would  move  the  latter,  it  is  done 
by  turning  H  ;  and  as  the  axis  of  the  principal  circle  includes 
that  of  the  apparatus  on  the  left  of  it,  the  whole  instrument  is 
necessarily  put  in  motion  by  moving  the  circle  H. 

L  is  a  curved  brass  plate  connected  with  the  concealed  axis 
B,  and  to  which  a  motion  is  given  by  turning  the  small  circle 
G  ;  to  L  another  curved  plate  is  attached,  but  so  as  to  admit  of 
movement ;  and  through  the  upper  extremity  of  this  last  passes 
the  pin  p,  which  is  so  adjusted  as  to  allow  of  being  moved  either 
up  or  down  or  circularly. 

By  means  of  the  several  motions  thus  obtained,  a  crystal  at- 
tached to  the  lower  extremity  of  the  pin  p  may  be  brought  as 
nearly  as  possible  on  a  line  with  the  axis  of  the  instrument. 

I  is  a  small  mirror  made  of  some  substance  which  does  not 
give  a  very  bright  reflection :  black  glass  or  obsidian,  for  ex- 
ample. This  is  placed  obliquely  on  a  support  N,  at  an  angle 
towards  the  object  of  about  45°,  immediately  under  the  crystal 
(which  in  the  present  instance  we  shall  assume  to  be  a  rhom- 
boid of  calcareous  spar).  The  support  is  fixed  to  the  wooden 
base  M  by  a  pin  in  the  centre,  which  admits  of  its  being  turned 
for  adjustment,  and  by  a  clamping  screw  o  at  the  extremity  of 
the  arm  Q  o,  which  secures  it  in  its  proper  position. 

The  use  of  this  instrument  depends  on  the  reflecting  power 

40",  and  75°,  31',  20"  ;  and,  as  measured  by  Comte  de  Bournon,  101°,  32',  and  75°,  28'. 
It  is  added  by  Phillips,  (Third  Edition)  that  the  common  goniometer  was  perhaps  never 
used  by  more  skilful  hands  than  by  the  authors  named.  Soon  after  the  appearance 
of  Mr.  Phillips's  celebrated  paper  on'the  measurements  of  oxide  of  tin,  Haiiy  (Annales 
des  Mines,  1818)  candidly  acknowledged  the  superiority  of  the  reflecting  goniometer, 
and  admitted  the  inaccuracy  of  some  of  his  former  results  ;  but,  aided  by  a  resort  to  the- 
ory, he  was  enabled  to  correct,  as  he  supposed,  many  of  his  former  measurements,  in  the 
determination  of  primary  forms,  and  thus  had  the  satisfaction  of  finding  them  to  accord 
with  those  taken  by  reflection,  while,  at  the  same  time,  he  continued  to  use  the  common 
instrument,  which,  he  observes,  "besides  the  advantage  of  its  being  direct  and  expedi- 
tious, suffices,  whether  the  object  be  to  determine  a  new  variety,  or  to  discover  to  which 
of  those  already  classed  in  the'method,a  crystal  presenting  the  form  of  either,  and  which 
we  see  for  the  "first  time,  belongs."  It  has  been  shown  that  his  theory,  also,  has  led  hira 
into  important  errors.  [AM.  ED,] 
F 


Iviii  GONIOMETER. 

of  the  polish  on  the  natural  planes  or  fractured  surfaces  of  min- 
erals, which,  in  some  cases,  is  very  powerful.  In  adjusting  it, 
the  image  of  any  object  seen  by  reflection  from  the  face  of  the 
crystal,  is  made  to  agree  with  the  image  of  the  same  object  seen 
by  the  help  of  the  mirror  i.  In  this  way  any  object  may  be  se- 
lected which  has  a  well-defined  outline  :  while  the  goniometer, 
like  the  common  sextant,  may  be  held  in  the  hand. 

If  a  distant  object,  say  the  moon,  be  used,  the  coincidence 
of  its  two  images  will  indicate  that  the  face  of  the  crystal  is 
parallel  to  the  mirror  i,  so  that,  if  the  two  faces  be  brought 
successively  into  that  position,  the  angular  motion  of  the 
divided  circle  must  measure  the  inclination  of  these  faces.  In 
this,  it  is  essential  that  the  plane  of  the  mirror  i  be  parallel  to 
the  axis  of  motion.  Its  adjustment  is  thus  effected.  Select,  a 
thin  plate  of  any  mineral,  say  calcareous  spar,  of  which  the  op- 
posite faces  are  parallel,  and  cement  it  to  the  lower  extremity 
of  the  pin  p;  then  bring  the  image  of  any  distant  object  seen 
in  one  of  its  faces,  to  agree  with  that  seen  in  i ;  turn  the  in- 
strument half  round,  so  as  to  bring  up  the  opposite  face.  If 
the  images  agree  now,  the  mirror  is  correctly  placed;  if  not, 
one  half  of  the  apparent  error  must  be  corrected  by  releasing 
the  clamp  nut  o,  and  turning  the  mirror  on  the  pin  at  Q;  the 
other  half  by  the  motions  of  P.  A  second,  perhaps  a  third  trial 
must  be  made,  to  ascertain  the  adjustment  completely;  but 
when  this  is  once  done,  it  need  only  be  examined  at  long  inter- 
vals, or  after  any  accident. 

The  mirror  having  been  thus  adjusted,  and  the  reflections  in 
both  the  surfaces  whose  inclinations  are  to  be  measured  having 
been  brought  to  agree  with  it,  we  have  now  to  observe  that  the 
line  at  180°  or  0  forms  a  line  with  that  at  0  on  the  vernier,  at 
the  same  time  that  the  double  reflection  of  the  distant  object 
in  the  mirror,  and  in  one  of  the  faces  of  the  crystal,  appear 
exactly  to  agree.  One  movement  more,  and  the  measurement 
is  completed.  Turn  the  circle  H,  until  the  reflection  of  the 
same  object,  as  seen  on  the  adjoining  plane  of  the  crystal,  ap- 
pears exactly  to  cover  the  image  in  the  mirror,  and  it  is  done. 

We  now  observe  what  line  of  the  principal  circle  touches 
that  at  0  in  the  vernier.  Suppose  that  105°  on  the  former  be 
now  on  a  line  with  0  on  the  vernier ;  —  it  is  the  value  of  the 
angle.  But  suppose  it  to  be  a  little  more  than  105°,  and  less 
than  105^°,  it  must  then  be  observed  which  line  of  the  vernier 
touches,  or  forms  but  one  line  with,  another  line  on  the  prin- 
cipal circle ;  suppose  it  to  be  5°  on  the  vernier ;  the  angle  is 
then  105°,  5',  which  is  the  true  value  of  the  obtuse  angle  of  a 
rhomboid  of  calcareous  spar. 


GONIOMETERS    COMPARED.  llX 

Mr.  Sang's  important  improvement  on  Wollaston's  goniom- 
eter consists  principally  in  the  apparently  simple  addition  of 
the  mirror  i,  which,  however,  renders  it  a  vastly  superior  in- 
strument, not  only  as  regards  precision  and  rapidity  of  meas- 
urement, but  from  its  being  readily  used  as  a  sextant,  or  rather 
as  a  repeating  reflector,  and  thus  enabling  the  expert  mineral- 
ogist both  to  determine  the  angles  of  minute  crystals,  and  to 
delineate  the  geographical  features  of  the  district  which  he 
may  be  exploring. 

Of  the  comparative  Value  of  the  Common  and  Reflecting  Goni- 
ometers. 

The  use  of  the  common  goniometer  depends  on  two  circum- 
stances; one,  the  perfection  of  the  crystalline  planes;  the 
other,  the  steadiness  and  accuracy  of  the  hand  and  eye. 

We  are  but  little  acquainted  with  the  works  of  nature  in  her 
more  hidden  processes,  amongst  which  may  be  reckoned  crys- 
tallization; but  it  can  be  demonstrated  beyond  dispute,  that 
the  surfaces  of  large  crystals  are  not  so  uniformly  even,  how- 
ever brilliant  they  may  appear,  as  the  surfaces  of  small  ones. 
Now  the  larger  ones  are  best  adapted  for  the  use  of  the  com- 
mon goniometer;  hence,  if  the  crystal  to  be  measured  be  not 
selected  with  the  utmost  care,  and  if  the  hand  and  eye  be  not 
steady  and  accurate,  we  cannot  hope  for  precision  in  the  use 
of  it ;  we  cannot  expect  that  precision  which  ought  to  exist, 
since  this  mechanical  operation  is  to  form  the  foundation  for 
calculation. 

That  the  planes  of  small  crystals  are  more  perfect  than 
those  of  large  ones,  is  proved  by  the  use  of  the  reflecting  goni- 
ometer, which  depends  on  the  perfection  of  these  planes,  and 
on  their  brilliancy.  Even  minute  crystals,  which  generally 
are  the  most  perfect,  rarely  agree  in  the  angles  they  afford; 
but  this  disagreement  is  commonly  too  small  to  be  detected  by 
the  common  goniometer ;  a  fact  which  clearly  proves  that  its  use 
cannot  be  relied  on  as  a  foundation  for  calculation.  When, 
therefore,  we  would  arrive  at  the  greatest  precision,  we  shall 
prefer  the  reflecting  goniometer,  and  the  reflections  from  the 
planes  of  minute  crystals,  in  preference  to  those  of  large  ones ; 
but,  above  all,  from  planes  produced  by  cleavage,  whenever 
they  can  be  obtained. 

Now  the  surfaces  produced  by  cleavage  are  sometimes  very 
small,  and  therefore  are  not  adapted  to  the  common  goniome- 
ter ;  while,  for  the  reflecting  goniometer,  it  matters  not  if  the 
surface  be  small,  provided  it  be  perfect  and  brilliant ;  a  surface 


x  VARIETIES    OF    STRUCTURE. 

of  the   100th  part  of  an   inch  in   length   ahd   breadth  will 
suffice. 

In  measuring  the  angles  of  crystals,  it  has  been  observed  thai 
great  precision  is  essential,  because  the  mechanical  operation 
is  a  foundation  for  calculation ;  that  is,  for  calculating  the  an- 
gles under  which  the  secondary  planes  of  a  crystal  meet  each 
other ;  which,  when  once  the  first  operation  has  been  well  con- 
ducted, is  perhaps  the  shortest  and  most  certain  mode  of  ar- 
riving at  the  truth.  In  this  the  labors  of  the  Abbe  Haiiy  have 
shed  over  mineralogy  a  purely  philosophical  lustre,  which  in- 
deed has  been  one  of  the  chief  causes  of  raising  the  study  to 
the  rank  of  a  science :  this  he  has  done  by  showing  the  con- 
sonance of  the  laws  of  crystallization  with  rigid  calculation: 
he  has  proved  that  in  crystallization  there  is  a  natural  geometry. 

Varieties  of  Structure. 

§56.  Hitherto  we  have  been  treating  chiefly  of  that  struc- 
ture which  may  be  termed  perfectly  crystalline ;  this  exists  in 
such  minerals  as  admit,  in  various  directions,  of  regular  cleav- 
age. There  are,  however,  other  kinds  of  structure  observable. 
In  some  minerals  the  natural  joints  are  scarcely  attainable,  or, 
when  attained,  are  only  perceptible  by  the  assistance  of  a  mi- 
croscope; in  these  the  structure  is  said  to  be  imperfectly  lamel- 
lar, and  this  effect  may  be  supposed  to  arise  either  from  the 
brittleness  of  the  substance,  or  from  the  strong  cohesion  exist- 
ing between  the  laminaB.  Such  minerals  may  be  said  to  be 
imperfectly  crystalline,  as  may  those  also  of  which  the  planes 
obtained  by  cleavage  are  curved  or  undulating.  It  has  already 
been  observed,  that  some  minerals  are  perfectly  lamellar  in 
one  direction  only,  —  the  topaz,  for  instance;  others  cleave 
readily  in  one  direction,  with  difficulty  in  another,  as  the  sap- 
phire. 

§  57.  The  Jibrous  structure  which  some  minerals  assume 
may  in  most  cases  be  considered  only  as  resulting  from  the 
close  longitudinal  adherence  of  small,  or  of  extremely  fine 
acicular  crystals ;  for  the  terminations  of  the  crystals  are  often 
observable  on  the  exterior  of  the  mass. 

§  58.  Perhaps,  also,  under  the  head  of  Structure  may  be 
classed  the  variety  of  appearances  assumed  by  the  aggregation 
of  small  crystals.  When  merely  collected,  as  it  were,  into  a 
bundle,  they  are  said  to  be  fasiculated;  when  they  are  fasicu- 
lated,  and  diverge  from  a  common  centre,  they  are  said  to  be 
scopiform;  but  when  the  divergence  surrounds  the  centre,  they 
are  said  to  be  radiated,  or  stellated — sometimes  producing  a 


FRACTURE.  Ixi 

starlike  appearance.  When,  by  radiating  from  a  centre  in  all 
directions,  a  spherical  or  kidney-shaped  form  is  produced,  they 
are  called  globular,  or  rtniform.  The  masses  are  called 
Botryoidal  when  in  round  shining  prominences,  like  grapes, 
as  often  seen  in  hematite  or  calcedony :  Mammillary  when 
the  prominences  are  larger. 

§  59.  The  term  slaty,  as  it  regards  structure,  is  rarely  applied 
to  those  minerals  of  which  we  have  been  treating,  even  when 
they  are  separable  only  in  one,  or  at  most  two  directions. 
This  term  is  more  commonly  applied  to  such  substances  as 
consist  of  parallel  layers  which  are  thick  and  coarse. 

§60.  The  granular  structure  arises  from  an  aggregation  of 
small  particles,  frequently  of  laminae  which  separately  are  lamel- 
lar, intercepting  each  other  in  every  direction.  And  in  pro- 
portion to  the  fineness  of  these  particles,  a  mineral  is  termed 
coarse-grained  or  Jine-grained.  If  the  particles  are  only  per- 
ceptible with  the  aid  of  the  microscope,  the  mineral  is  said  to 
be  fine-grained;  but  if  the  parts  of  which  a  mineral  is  con- 
stituted be  not  thus  apparent,  it  is  termed  compact. 

§61.  The  above  modifications  of  structure,  as  has  been 
hinted,  arise  principally  from  the  form  of  the  individual  parti- 
cles of  which  they  are  composed.  These  are  termed  particles 
of  composition,  and  are  supposed  to  be  true  crystals,  which, 
by  close  contact,  have  been  prevented  from  assuming  regular 
forms.  They  are  distinguished,  according  to  their  length, 
breadth,  and  thickness,  by  the  terms  granular,  columnar,  and 
lamellar  particles  of  composition.  The  first  is  seen  in  com- 
mon galena;  the  second  in  fibrous  minerals,  as  asbestus;  and 
the  last  in  foliated  minerals,  as  lepidolite.  The  difference  be- 
tween what  has  been  called  a  foliated  and  radiated  fracture, 
consists  in  that  the  first  refers  to  granular  particles,  while  the 
second  is  confined  to  columnar  particles  of  composition. 

Fracture. 

An  important  part  of  this  subject  has  already  been  consid- 
ered under  the  head  of  structure;  namely,  that  which  treats  of 
the  geometrical  forms  into  which  some  minerals  may  be 
cleaved  ;  and  the  means  (p.  xxix)  of  attaining  this  have  been 
adverted  to. 

But  when  such  minerals  as  may  be  mechanically  divided 
along  their  natural  joints  are  broken  in  directions  contrary  to 
those  joints,  the  surfaces  so  produced  are  not  plane;  they  are 
said  to  be  conchoidal  when  the  surface  more  or  less  resembles 
the  appearance  of  a  shell ;  thus  we  have  the  perfect,  imperfect, 

F* 


Ixil  FRANGIBILITY. 

large,  small,  and  flat  conchoidal.  These  varieties  of  fracture 
also  exist  in  minerals  which  appear  not  to  possess  any  regular 
internal  structure.  There  are  also  other  kinds  of  fracture;  as 
the  even,  when  the  surface  is  nearly  flat;  the  uneven,  when  it 
is  not  flat;  the  splintery,  &,c.  The  faces  thus  separated  are 
called  faces  of  fracture,  in  contradistinction  to  the  fares  of 
crystallization,  and  to  those  faces  produced  by  separation  par- 
allel with  the  natural  joints  of  the  crystal,  called  faces  of 
cleavage,  both  of  which  have  already  been  described. 

When  crystals  closely  united  are  separated  from  each  other, 
the  faces  thus  developed  are  termed  faces  of  composition. 
They  may  readily  be  distinguished  from  the  other  faces  by 
their  dull,  uneven  surfaces,  except  in  the  cases  of  minerals 
composed  of  lamellar  particles  of  composition,  in  which,  by 
the  juxtaposition  of  similar  planes,  the  laminae  happen  to  be 
disposed  in  the  same  direction,  and  separate  smoothly.  This 
is  often  the  case  in  crystals  of  heulandite  and  apophyllite,  in 
which,  however,  if  a  portion  of  either  of  the  two  faces  which 
had  been  united  is  cleaved  off,  the  distinction  will  be  made 
manifest.  Faces  of  fracture  can  hardly  be  mistaken  for  them 
under  any  circumstances. 

Frangibility. 

The  frangibility  of  some  minerals  may  in  a  measure  be  said 
to  depend  upon  their  structure ;  in  all,  it  is  probably  dependent 
on  some  peculiarity  in  the  arrangement  of  the  molecules  or 
particles  of  which  a  mass  or  crystal  is  composed.  From  what- 
ever cause  it  proceeds,  this  quality  varies  greatly  in  different 
substances,  ranging  through  all  the  intermediate  degrees,  from 
very  brittle  to  very  tough.  It  cannot  in  all  cases  depend  on 
the  chemical  composition  of  a  species ;  for  some  substances 
which  are  very  different  in  their  frangibility,  have  very  nearly 
the  same  chemical  composition.  This  is  seen  particularly  in 
the  new  mineral  of  Mr.  Cornell,  called  Dysclasite,  which  is 
nearly  allied  to  thomsonite  or  mesotype  in  its  composition, 
but  which  has  almost  the  toughness  of  a  malleable  metal  when 
we  attempt  to  break  it. 

Some  few  minerals,  as  sulphur,  are  so  brittle  that  a  fragment 
is  easily  detached  by  the  pressure  of  the  nail  on  the  edge  of  a 
broken  surface;  but  as  this  may  be  produced  in  any  direction, 
it  cannot  be  said  to  depend  on  the  structure  of  the  substance. 

The  laminaB  of  selenite  are  readily  separable  in  one  direc- 
tion; and,  if  very  thin,  are  brittle  in  another  direction;  while 
in  the  same,  if  the  specimen  be  a  line  or  more  in  thickness,  it 


HARDNESS. 

is  tough ;  heavy  spar  is  easily  frangible  in  every  direction ;  so 
also  are  calcareous  spar  and  fluor.  But  frangibility,  strictly 
speaking,  ought  not  to  be  considered  as  connected  with  the 
ease  or  difficulty  with  which  minerals  yield  in  directions  par- 
allel to  their  natural  joints :  it  seems  rather  applicable  to  their 
property  of  yielding  to  mechanical  force  in  other  directions. 
If  this  quality  depended  on  regular  cleavage,  we  should  say 
that  corundum  is  very  brittle,  because  it  yields  along  its  natural 
joints  with  ease;  and  we  should  characterize  the  diamond  as 
moderately  brittle,  because  it  can  be  cleaved  with  but  little 
force ;  but  in  contrary  directions  these  substances  are  far  re- 
moved from  either  brittleness  or  toughness. 

Sulphur  and  the  sulphate  of  lead  are  very  brittle;  carbonate 
of  lead,  red  silver,  grey  copper,  and  others,  are  moderately 
brittle,  and  easily  frangible  in  every  direction.  From  these, 
fragments  are  readily  detached  by  the  pressure  of  the  knife; 
other  minerals  yield  only  to  a  blow  with  the  hammer;  others, 
again,  are  said  to  be  tough,  because,  instead  of  breaking,  their 
particles  only  yield  to  the  force,  and,  by  sliding,  as  it  were,  over 
one  another,  suffer  depression  without  producing  fragments. 
Granular  selenite  is  considerably  tough;  massive  hornblende 
is  very  tough.  In  using  the  hammer,  it  will  be  found  that  a 
smart  blow  from  a  small  one  will  produce  more  effect,  and  bet- 
ter surfaces,  than  a  heavy  blow  with  a  large  one. 

It  may  be  observed  that  most  of  the  porous  minerals,  and 
perhaps  there  are  few  which  are  not  so,  are  much  more  frangi- 
ble when  first  taken  from  their  native  bed  than  after  exposure. 
Of  this,  common  flint,  in  which  no  regular  structure  has  been 
observed,  is  a  remarkable  instance.  This  circumstance  is 
doubtless  owing  to  the  water  which  fills  its  pores  when  in  its 
native  place,  but  which  evaporates  on  exposure. 

Hardness. 

Hardness  is  a  very  useful  property  in  determining  minerals ; 
and  we  are  indebted  to  Professor  Mohs  for  a  scale  easily 
formed,  and,  at  the  same  time,  distinct  and  accurate.*  The 
means  of  applying  it  also  are  within  the  reach  of  every  miner- 
alogist. It  consists  of 

1.  Talc,  of  a  white  or  greenish  color. 

2.  Rock-salt,  a  pure  cleavable  variety ;  or  gypsum  uncrys- 
tallized,  and  only  semi-translucent. 

*The  method  here  alluded  to,  of  denoting  hardness  by  numbers,  is  due  to  an  earlier 
mineralogist,  Kirwan,  who  constructed  a  scale  somewhat  similar  to  it,  as  may  be  seen  in 
his  Mineralogy,  vol.  i.  p.  38.  [An.  ED.] 


IxiV  HARDNESS. 

3.  Calcareous  Spar,  any  cleavable  variety. 

4.  Fluor  Spar,  presenting  good  cleavage. 

5.  Apatite,  the  Asparagus  Stone  from  Saltzburg. 

6.  Adularia,  any  perfectly  cleavable  variety. 

7.  Rock-crystal,  limpid  and  transparent. 

8.  Topaz,  any  simple  variety. 

9.  Sapphire,  which  affords  smooth  cleavage  planes. 

10.  The  Diamond. 

As  the  degrees  of  hardness  between  2  and  3,  5  and  6,  are 
not  proportionate  to  the  other  numbers,  Breithaupt  has  im- 
proved the  scale  by  introducing  between  these  numbers  two 
additional  expressions,  which  Dana  has  employed  so  as  not  to 
increase  the  number  of  units  of  comparison.  Thus,  foliated 
mica,  2-5  ;  scapolite.  5'5 ;  Breithaupt's  scale  consists  of  whole 
numbers,  or  of  tioelve  individual  minerals,  whose  degrees  of 
hardness  regularly  increase. 

In  employing  the  above  scale,  we  endeavor  to  find  the  de- 
gree of  hardness  of  a  given  mineral  by  trying  which  number  of 
the  series  is  scratched  by  it ;  or,  still  better,  by  passing  with 
the  least  possible  force  the  specimens  under  comparison  over 
a  very  fine  file.  Every  person  will  observe  a  marked  differ- 
ence on  comparatively  trying  in  this  way  any  two  consecutive 
numbers  of  the  above  scale,  and  by  a  little  experience  he  will 
soon  acquire  the  manual  skill  necessary  for  nice  discrimina- 
tion. 

From  the  resistance  these  bodies  afford  to  the  file,  from  the 
noise  occasioned  by  their  passing  over  it,  and  from  the  quantity 
of  powder  left  on  its  surface,  their  mutual  relations  in  respect 
to  hardness  are  deducible  with  great  correctness.  When,  af- 
ter repeated  trials,  we  are  satisfied  which  member  of  the  series 
our  mineral  is  most  closely  allied  to,  we  say  its  hardness  (sup- 
pose it  to  be  calc-spar)  is  equal  to  3,  and  write  after  it  H.  =: 
3'0.  If  the  mineral  do  not  exactly  correspond  with  any  mem- 
ber of  the  series,  but  is  found  to  be  between  two  of  them,  we 
say  H.  =  3'5,  or  3-75,  if  it.  approximate  to  the  higher  number. 
Care,  however,  must  be  taken  to  employ  specimens  of  each 
which  nearly  agree  in  form  and  size,  and  correspond  as  much 
as  possible  in  the  shape  of  their  angles.  They  must  likewise 
possess  perfect  purity,  as  the  degrees  of  hardness  can  no  more 
be  correctly  ascertained  than  the  specific  gravity,  if  impure 
substances  are  made  use  of.  The  file  required  for  this  pur- 
pose should  be  cut  fine,  and,  if  possible,  of  the  hardest  steel. 
The  latter  property,  however,  is  of  less  moment,  as  it  is  not 
the  hardness  of  the  tool  with  which  we  are  to  compare  that  of 
the  mineral,  but  the  relative  degrees  of  hardness  of  minerals, 


LUSTRE.  JXV 

which  are  to  be  ascertained  through  the  medium  of  the  file. 
(Introduction  to  Allan's  Manual.) 

Transparency. 

This  is  not  an  essential  physical  character,  inasmuch  as  the 
degree  in  which  light  is  transmitted  through  a  mineral  often 
varies  greatly  in  the  same  substance,  and  even  in  the  same 
specimen.  In  description,  however,  a  mineral  is  said  to  be 
transparent  when  objects  can  be  distinctly  and  clearly  per- 
ceived through  it,  semi-transparent  when  they  are  imperfectly 
seen,  translucent  when  they  are  scarcely  or  not  at  all  visible ; 
but  when,  from  various  causes,  a  mineral  appears  not  to  suffer 
the  transmission  of  light,  we  may  perceive,  on  holding  it  be- 
tween the  eye  and  the  light,  that  it  is  translucent  on  the  edges ; 
when  this  does  not  exist,  the  substance  is  termed  opake. 

Lustre. 

Lustre  is  a  character  of  considerable  importance.  It  is  of 
several  kinds;  and  the  same  lustre  which  a  mineral  presents 
internally  is  usually  exhibited  throughout  the  species,  although 
in  crystallized  substances  it  often  differs  very  much  externally, 
even  on  the  same  specimen. 

That  which  is  peculiar  to  the  metals  in  their  pure  state  is 
termed  the  metallic  lustre;  this  belongs  chiefly  to  opake 
minerals,  such  as  plumbago,  among  amorphous  substances; 
and  specular  iron  and  grey  copper,  among  those  which  are 
crystallized ;  but  this  kind  of  lustre  is  not  equally  intense  in 
all  those  minerals  which  possess  it,  inasmuch  as  it  varies  from 
shining  to  dull.  In  some  minerals,  however,  there  is  a  species 
of  metallic  lustre  which  is  perceptible  only  when  the  substance 
is  held  towards  the  light  in  some  particular  direction,  as  in 
bronzite;  it  is  then  termed  pseudo-metallic. 

Adamantine  lustre  will  be  better  understood  by  a  reference 
to  those  substances  to  which  it  belongs,  than  by  any  descrip- 
tion. It  exists  in  the  diamond,  some  varieties  of  corundum, 
in  sulphate  of  lead,  &,c.  It  belongs  only  to  such  species  as 
possess  a  greater  or  less  degree  of  translucency,  and,  being 
dependent  on  their  capabilities  of  reflecting  and  of  refracting 
light,  it  is  supposed  in  some  degree  to  depend  on  their  struc- 
ture. 

Pearly  lustre,  more  or  less  distinct,  is  peculiar  to  several 
species,  though  sometimes  only  in  a  particular  direction ;  it 
rarely  exists  but  in  lamellar  minerals. 


Ixvi  COLOR. 

The  silky  lustre  is  particularly  observable  in  satin  spar, 
malachite,  and  in  other  species  of  which  the  structure  is 
fibrous;  and  the  changeable  play  of  light  sometimes  visible  on 
an  alteration  of  position  in  the  mineral,  induces  the  conclusion 
that  the  fibres  of  which  such  substances  are  composed,  are  in 
reality  regular  crystals,  from  the  surfaces  of  which  a  reflection 
may  be  supposed  to  arise.  The  chatoyement  of  the  cat's-eye 
is  believed  to  arise  from  fine  fibres  of  asbestus  or  amianthus 
included  in  it.  But  no  adequate  cause  has  been  assigned  for 
that  changeable  play  of  light  so  beautifully  displayed  in  moon- 
stone and  chrysoberyl,  or  the  still  more  beautiful  colors  of 
noble  opal  and  labradorite.* 

The  resinous  lustre  in  minerals  resembles  that  which  is  ob- 
servable on  the  fractured  surfaces  of  resins ;  the  vitreous  ex- 
hibits that  of  broken  glass  :  these  belong  chiefly  to  the  surfaces 
produced  by  fracture  in  directions  contrary  to  those  of  the 
lamina?,  if  the  mineral  possess  regular  structure;  some  varie- 
ties of  pitchstone  are  instances  of  resinous,  quartz  of  vitreous 
lustre.  Waxy  lustre  is  observable  in  leelite,  the  newly  broken 
surfaces  of  which  possess  that  lustre  which  belongs  to  bees' 
wax :  it  is  rarely,  if  ever,  observable  where  regular  structure 
exists. 

When  no  particular  lustre  is  observable,  except  such  as 
arises  from  the  mere  polish  of  the  natural  surfaces,  or  of  those 
produced  by  fracture,  a  mineral  is  described  according  to  the 
intensity,  as  being  splendent,  shining,  glistening,  or  glimmer- 
ing; but  a  glistening  or  glimmering  lustre  only,  often  arises 
from  the  fractured  surfaces  of  some  minerals,  merely  because 
those  surfaces  are  uneven,  and  consist  of  minute  irregularly 
disposed  planes,  from  which  the  light  is  unequally  reflected. 

In  the  absence  of  lustre,  a  mineral  is  described  as  being  dull. 

System  of  Colors. 

Color  is  also  a  character  of  considerable  importance  in  the 
discrimination  of  minerals,  and  it  was  one  of  the  four  princi- 
pal characters  on  which  Werner  relied  in  establishing  species. 
But  it  is  impossible  for  the  memory  to  retain,  or  the  eye  recog- 
nize, all  the  numerous  subdivisions  which  have  been  made  of 

*  Dr.  Brewster,  to  whom  we  are  so  largely  indebted  for  our  knowledge  of  the  optical 
structure  of  minerals,  has  shown  that  the  variable  colors  exhibited  by  Labradorite,  arise 
from  the  existence  of  small  crystalline  open  cavities  in  the  mass,  which  are  generally  in 
the  form  of  parallelograms,  and  arranged  with  their  homologous  sides  towards  each  other, 
forming  larger  groups  of  the  same  general  outline.  He  has  given  colored  drawings  of 
these,  as  they  appeared  when  magnified  and  under  strong  illumination,  in  a  most  inter- 
esting paper,  inserted  in  vol.  xi.  of  the  Trans,  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh.  I  am 
not  aware  that  it  has  appeared  in  any  work  more  accessible  to  the  American  reader. 
[AM.  ED.] 


COLOR.  Ixvii 

it  by  various  authors  to  express  the  ever-varying  hues  which 
we  discover  in  mineral  bodies.  Not  even  in  a  single  species, 
if  we  except  the  metals  and  metallic  oxides,  can  it  be  said  to 
possess  any  uniform  shade,  since  the  emerald  itself,  in  which 
it  is  supposed  to  be  characteristic,  exhibits  several  varieties  of 
the  same  color.  And  it  would  obviously  be  absurd  to  quote 
color  in  fluor  spar  as  one  of  the  most  characteristic  methods 
of  making  it  known  to  the  student,  as  scarcely  two  specimens 
can  be  found  in  which  it  agrees.  The  same  is  nearly  true  of 
amethyst,  in  which  the  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese  are  acci- 
dentally diffused  through  quartz,  of  which  it  is  a  variety.  In 
other  instances  we  have  varieties  of  a  mineral  under  names 
very  different  from  that  of  the  mineral  itself,  merely  from  the 
color,  as  in  prase  as  a  variety  of  quartz,  chrysophrase  of  cal- 
cedony.  The  color  of  the  former  is  by  some  supposed  to  arise 
from  an  intimate  mixture  of  another  substance  in  the  mass; 
that  of  the  latter  is  derived  from  a  metallic  oxide;  and  these 
oxides  are  the  principal  coloring  matter  of  earthy  minerals,  the 
earths  being  all  white  and  colorless  when  chemically  produced 
in  a  pure  state. 

When  a  crystallized  mineral  includes  a  metallic  oxide,  or 
any  other  substance  which  produces  no  alteration  in  the  crys- 
talline forms  assumed  by  the  mineral  in  its  pure  state,  such 
an  ingredient,  whether  it  be  the  coloring  matter  or  not,  is  con- 
sidered to  be  only  accidental,  as  in  the  instances  just  mentioned. 

In  some  of  the  metalliferous  ores,  however,  where  it  depends 
on  the  nature  of  the  mineral,  and  is  therefore  nearly  uniform, 
color  constitutes  a  very  important  characteristic. 

Werner  described  all  minerals  under  eight  colors  which  he 
called  fundamental,  and  divided  into  two  classes,  Metallic  and 
Non-metallic.  The  late  Professor  Mohs  has  given  a  systematic 
arrangement  of  them  in  his  Treatise  on  Mineralogy,  which,  in 
an  abridged  form,  selecting  the  most  characteristic,  will  be 
here  adopted.  Taken  as  a  whole,  many  of  them  would  seem 
so  nearly  alike  as  to  be  of  no  essential  practical  use. 

The  Metallic  colors  are : 

1.  Copper-red.  5.  Silver-White. 

2.  Bronze-yellow.  6.    Tin-white. 

3.  Brass-yellow.  7.  Lead-grey. 

4.  Gold-yellow.  8.  Steel-grey. 
The  Non-metallic  are  the  following : 

WHITE. 

1.  Snow-white.     Ex.  pure  White  Marble ;  Carrara  Marble. 


Ixviii  COLOR. 

2.  ReddisJi-white.      Ex.    several  varieties  of  Carbonate  of 
Lime  and  Quartz. 

3.  Yellowish-white.     Ex.  several  varieties  of  Quartz. 

4.  Greyish-white.     Ex.  Granular  Limestone  and  Common 
Quartz. 

5.  Greenish-white.     Ex.  Common  Talc. 

6.  Milk-white,  white  somewhat  blue.     Ex.  Common  White 
Opal  and  Calcedony.  » 

GREY. 

1.  Bluish-grey.     Ex.  Splintery  Hornstone. 

2.  Pearl-grey,  grey  mixed  with  red  and  blue.      Ex.  Sul- 
phate of  Barytes  and  Horn  Silver. 

3.  Smoke-grey,  grey  mixed  with  brown,  the  color  of  thick 
smoke.     It  is  seen  in  Flint. 

4.  Greenish-grey.     Ex.  several  varieties  of  Quartz,  Cat's- 
eye,  &c. 

5.  Yellowish-grey;  may  also  be  seen  in  Flint. 

6.  Ash-grey,  a  mixture  of  black  and  white.     Ex.  Zoisite. 

BLACK. 

1.  Greyish-black.     Ex.  Basalt ;  Lydian  Stone. 

2.  Velvet-black,  the   purest   black    color.      Ex.  Obsidian, 
Tourmaline,  or  Schorl. 

3.  Greenish-black.     Ex.  varieties  of  Augite. 

4.  Brownish-black.     Ex.  Bituminous  Coal. 

5.  Bluish-black.     Ex.  Earthy  Cobalt. 

BLUE. 

1.  Blackish-blue.     Blackish-blue.     Ex.  dark  colored  varie- 
ties of  Carbonate  of  Copper,  or  Malachite. 

2.  Azure-blue,   bright    blue   mixed   with  a  little  red.     Ex. 
pale  varieties  of  Malachite,  and  bright  varieties  of  Lapis  Lazuli. 

3.  Violet-blue,  blue  mixed  with   red.     Ex.  Amethyst   and 
Fluor. 

4.  Lavender-blue,  blue  with  a  little  red    and   much  grey. 
Ex.  Lithomarge  and  Porcelain  Jasper. 

5.  Plum-blue;  seen  in  some  varieties  of  Sapphire  or  Corun- 
dum. 

6.  Prussian-blue,  the  purest  blue  color.     Ex.  brightest  va- 
rieties of  Sapphire  and  Disthene. 

7.  Smalt-blue.     Ex.  varieties  of  Gypsum. 

8.  Indigo-blue.     Ex.  Phosphate  of  Iron,  or  Vivianite. 

9.  Duck-blue.     Ex.  Ceylanite. 

10.  Sky-blue.     Ex.  Sulphate  of  Strontian. 


COLOR.  Ixix 

GREEN. 

1.  Verdigris-green.     Ex.  Amazon  Stone,  or  Green  Felspar. 

2.  Cylandine-green,   green   mixed   with   blue    and    grey. 
Ex.  Green  Mica,  and  varieties  of  Talc  and  Beryl. 

3.  Mountain-green,  green  with    a   large   portion   of  blue. 
Ex.  Emerald,  and  varieties  of  Beryl. 

4.  Leek-green,  green  with  a   little   brown.     Ex.  very  dis- 
tinct in  Prase. 

5.  Emerald-green,  the  purest  green  color,  as  seen  in  Precious 
Emerald. 

6.  Apple-green,  light  green  with  a  trace  of  yellow.   Ex.  very 
distinct  in  Chrysoprase. 

7.  Grass-green.     Ex.  very  distinct  in  Green  Diallage  and 
Phosphate  of  Uranium. 

8.  Pistachio-green.     Ex.  Chrysolite. 

9.  Asparagus-green.    Ex.  varieties  of  Fluor  Spar  and  Phos- 
phate of  Lime,  or  Apatite. 

10.  Blackish-green.     Ex.  varieties  of  Serpentine. 

11.  Olive-green.     Ex.    Olivine,  Green  Garnet,  and  Pitch- 
stone. 

YELLOW. 

1.  Sulphur-yellow.     Ex.  Pure  Sulphur. 

2.  Straw-yellow.     Ex.  varieties  of  Topaz. 

3.  Wax-yellow.    Ex.  Molybdate  of  Lead  and  Common  Opal. 

4.  Honey-yellow.     Ex.  Carbonate  of  Lime  and  Fluor  Spar. 

5.  Lemon-yellow,  purest  yellow  color.      Ex.    Sulphur   and 
Oxide  of  Uranium. 

6.  Ochre-yelloio.     Ex.  variety  of  Jasper. 

7.  Wine-yelloio.     Ex.  Saxony  Topaz. 

8.  Orange-yellow.     Ex.  Molybdate  of  Lead,  from  Hungary. 

RED. 

1.  Aurora-red,  red  with  much  of  yellow.     Ex.  some  kinds 
of  Native  Sulphur. 

2.  Hyacinth-red.     Ex.  Zircon  and  Hyacinth. 

3.  Blood-red.     Ex.  variety  of  Garnet  called  Pyrope. 

4.  Flesh-red.     Ex.  variety  of  Analcime. 

5.  Rose-red.     Ex.  Rose  Quartz. 

6.  Peachblossom-red.     Ex.  Sulphuret  of  Cobalt  and  Lepido- 
lite. 

7.  Cherry-red.     Ex.  Purple  Sulphuret  of  Zinc. 

8.  Brownish-red.     Ex.  Red  Chalk  or  Reddle,  and  Jasper. 

BROWIT. 

1.  Reddish-brown,  brown  mixed  with  much  red.    Ex.  Blende 
and  Zircon. 


1XX  DOUBLE    REFRACTION. 

2.  Clove-brown.     Ex.  very  distinct  in  Axinite,  and  in  varie- 
ties of  Smoky  Quartz. 

3.  Hair-brown,  brown  with  a  little  yellow  and  grey.     Ex. 
Wood  Opal. 

4.  Chesnut-brown.     Ex.  Egyptian  Jasper. 

5.  Yellowish-brown,  brown  with  a  great  deal  of  yellow.     Ex. 
Common  Iron  Jasper. 

6.  Wood-brown,  brown  with  yellow  and  grey,  the  color  of 
rotten  wood.     Ex.  varieties  of  Augite. 

7.  Blackish-brown,  brown  with  a  great  deal  of  black.     Ex. 
Mineral  Resin  and  varieties  of  Bituminous  Coal. 

It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  color  of  a  mineral  is  deter- 
mined by  observing  the  interior  surface  presented  by  a  fresh 
fracture.  The  intensities  of  color  are  denoted  by  the  terms  dark 
or  deep,  light  or  pale.  When  a  crystal  is  perfectly  clear  and 
transparent,  it  is  said  to  be  colorless. 

Flexibility  and  Elasticity. 

Flexibility  serves  as  one  among  the  distinctive  characters  of 
the  few  minerals  which  possess  it.  That  substance  is  said  to 
be  flexible  which,  being  bent,  does  not  of  itself  resume  its  for- 
mer shape,  but  continues  in  the  form  forcibly  given  to  it. 
Talc  is  flexible,  as  is  the  Cornish  phosphate  of  iron ;  while 
that  of  New  Jersey  is  brittle.  Those  minerals,  on  the  other 
hand,  are  termed  elastic  which,  after  being  bent,  spring  back 
to  their  former  position.  Mica  is  very  elastic,  and  may  by 
this  character  alone  be  distinguished  from  talc,  which  is  only 
flexible. 

Double  Refraction. 

Recent  discoveries  have  so  widely  extended  our  information 
on  this  subject,  that  any  adequate  explanation  of  its  details 
would  be  quite  unsuitable  in  this  place.  But  the  subject  may 
be  made  to  call  forth  the  interest  of  the  student  by  a  few  illus- 
trative examples  of  double  refraction,  as  exhibited  by  transpa- 
rent carbonate  of  lime,  or  Iceland  spar.  Select  a  transparent 
rhomboid  of  this  mineral,  and  place  it,  resting  on  its  terminal 
plane,  over  a  black  line  on  white  paper.  On  looking  through 
it,  in  all  directions  excepting  that  which  is  parallel  with  its 
shorter  diagonal,  a  double  image  will  be  observed  :  —  one  by 
the  usual  refraction  of  the  light,  and  the  other  by  an  extraor- 
dinary refraction.  If  the  crystal  be  now  turned  around,  the 
latter  image  will  appear  to  revolve  on  the  former.  If  placed 


DOUBLE    REFRACTION. 


over  a  cross  in  the  direction  of  its  longer  diagonal,  the  hori- 
zontal line  of  the  cross  will  appear  as  in  fig.  1.  If  turned  45°, 
the  image  will  appear  as  in  fig.  2.  If  turned  again  45°,  it  will 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2.  Fig.  3.  Fig.  4. 


appear  as  in  fig.  3.  If  again  turned  45°,  we  have  the  same 
figure  as  that  produced  by  the  first  revolution  (fig.  2).  If  now 
carried  to  the  full  half  circle,  we  again  produce  the  first  figure 
of  one  perpendicular,  and  two  horizontal  lines;  and  if  carried 
through  the  whole  circle,  all  the  same  phenomena  are  repeated, 
the  final  view  of  the  cross  appearing  like  the  first  figure. 
In  all  doubly  refracting  bodies,  there  are  one  or  more  lines  or 
planes,  along  which  there  is  no  double  refraction,  or,  in  other 
words,  where  the  ordinary  and  extraordinary  rays  coincide,  as 
in  the  direction  of  the  shorter  diagonal  of  calcareous  spar,  just 
referred  to.  This  gives  rise  to  the  term  axes  of  double  refrac- 
tion, and  calcareous  spar  is  therefore  said  to  have  one  axis  of 
double  refraction.  As  the  ray  of  light  which  suffers  extraor- 
dinary refraction,  is  refracted  from  the  axis,  Iceland  spar  is 
said  to  have  a  negative  axis  of  double  refraction.  But  in  a 
crystal  of  quartz  it  is  refracted  towards  the  axis,  and  this  is  said 
to  have  a.  positive  axis  of  double  refraction.  The  existence  of 
this  positive  axis  in  quartz,  was  first  noticed  by  M.  Biot,  and 
was  called  by  him  the  attractive  axis,  to  distinguish  it  from 
the  other,  which  he  called  the  repulsive  axis. 

From  the  examination  of  a  great  number  of  crystallized 
minerals,  Dr.  Brewster  has  discovered  that  those  which  have 
one  axis  of  double  refraction  belong  to  the  rhomboid,  the  reg- 
ular hexahedral  prism,  the  octahedron  with  a  square  base,  and 
the  right  prism  with  a  square  base;  while  the  great  body  of 
crystallized  substances,  mineral  or  chemical,  have  two  axes  of 
double  refraction,  and  are  comprised  under  these  primary 
forms,  viz  :  the  right  prism  with  its  base  a  rectangle,  a  rhomb, 
or  an  oblique  parallelogram  ;  the  oblique  prism,  with  its  base  a 
rectangle,  a  rhomb,  or  an  oblique  parallelogram ;  or  the  rec- 
tangular and  rhomboidal  octahedron.  These  are  comprised 
under  the  prismatic  system  of  Mohs. 

The  connection  between  double  refraction  of  light,  and  the 
polarization  of  its  rays,  has  opened  a  wide  and  most  instructive 
branch  of  research,  and  is  calculated  to  have  a  most  important 
application  to  mineralogical  science.  It  has  engaged  the  at- 
tention of  some  of  the  most  eminent  philosophers  of  the  age, 


TOUCH. TASTE. ODOR. 

as  Biot,  Herschel,  Brewster,  Fresnel,  Malus,  and  Mitscherlich. 
But  we  are  especially  indebted  to  Brewster  and  Fresnel  for  the 
discovery  of  those  more  extraordinary  phenomena  which  have 
an  immediate  mineralogical  bearing,  and  particularly  for  those 
which  characterize  the  crystals  of  analcime,  apophyllite,  glau- 
berite,  and  quartz.  Nothing  can  be  more  beautiful  than  the 
single  and  double  systems  of  colored  polarized  rings,  attended 
by  their  central  crosses,  which  the  former  has  discovered  in 
the  single  and  biaxial  crystals  of  various  other  minerals  and 
artificial  bodies,  all  of  which  have  been  so  ably  and  fully  illus- 
trated, arid  the  laws  to  which  they  are  subject  explained,  in  his 
numerous  papers  published  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions, 
the  Edinburgh  Transactions*  the  Edinburgh  Journal  of  Sci- 
ence, the  article  OPTICS  in  his  Encyclopedia,  and  that  of  POLAR- 
IZATION in  the  Supplement  to  the  Encyclopedia  Britannica. 
To  these,  and  the  two  numbers  of  the  Library  of  Useful 
Knowledge,  in  which  the  subject  is  very  familiarly  treated,  the 
reader  is  referred.  He  may  also  consult  with  much  advantage 
the  introduction  to  Allan's  Manual  of  Mineralogy,  where  the 
structure  of  minerals  is  described  in  reference  to  their  double 
refraction. 

Touch.  — Taste.  — Odor. 

The  touch,  or  feel,  is  very  characteristic  in  a  few  minerals. 
Soapstone  is  unctuous  to  the  touch.  Chalk  is  said  to  be  meagre, 
being  dry  and  without  absolute  harshness.  It  is  principally  in 
these  two  respects  that  this  character  is  used  in  description. 

Taste  is  employed  as  a  discriminating  property  in  most  sa- 
line minerals,  of  which  water  is  a  solvent;  in  this  case  the 
palate  may  be  resorted  to  as  a  test  of  their  nature,  and  the  fol- 
lowing expressions  be  employed  : 

1.  Astringent  for  the  taste  of  vitriol. 

2.  Sweetish  for  the  taste  of  alum. 

3.  Saline  for  the  taste  of  common  salt. 

4.  Alkaline  for  the  taste  of  carbonate  of  soda. 

5.  Cooling  for  the  taste  of  saltpetre. 

6.  Bitter  for  the  taste  of  Epsom  salt. 

7.  Urinous  for  the  taste  of  sal  ammoniac. 

8.  Sour  for  the  taste  of  sulphuric  acid. 

The  odor  of  a  mineral  is  a  character  of  very  restricted  use. 
When  swinestone  is  struck  forcibly,  or  rubbed  against  another 
and  a  harder  substance,  it  emits  a  peculiarly  foetid  odor ;  and 

*  Philosophical  Transactions  from  1813  to  1818;  Transactions  of  the  fioyal  Society  of 
Edinburgh,  vols.  vii.,  viii.,  ix.,  and  x. 


MAGNETISM.  Ixxiii 

some  argillaceous  minerals  give  out  a  smell  of  clay  when 
breathed  upon.  Iron  pyrites  emits  a  sulphurous  odor  when 
strongly  rubbed,  and  arsenical  pyrites,  under  the  same  circum- 
stances, emits  the  odor  of  garlic. 

Streak. 

This  is  a  very  important  character.  The  color  of  a  min- 
eral and  that  of  its  powder  are  frequently  different ;  and  as 
the  particular  hue  of  the  latter  is  most  easily  obtained  by  rub- 
bing or  streaking  the  specimen  under  examination  on  a  slab  of 
porcelain  biscuit,  the  color  of  the  powder  of  a  mineral  is  thence 
denominated  its  streak.  The  streak  of  white  minerals  is  usu- 
ally white,  that  of  colored  ones  paler  than  the  mass ;  but  when 
it  corresponds  with  the  color  of  the  mineral,  it  is  said  to  be 
unchanged.  This  is  a  more  constant  property  than  color,  and 
among  the  metals  (the  two  species  of  magnetic  ore,  for  in- 
stance) is  perfectly  characteristic. 

Adhesion  to  the  Tongue. 

This  character  depends  on  the  disposition  of  a  mineral  to 
imbibe  moisture.  Lithomarge  adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue, 
as  do  some  substances  which  are  supposed  to  be  in  a  state  of 
decomposition,  as  several  varieties  of  calcedony  and  opal. 

Magnetism. 

This  character  is  confined,  with  little  exception,  to  some  of 
the  ores  of  iron,  amongst  which  there  are  very  perceptible 
degrees  of  difference  in  their  power  of  attracting  the  magnet; 
dependent  on  their  several  states  of  oxidation,  or  upon  their 
being  constituted  of  iron  differently  oxidized.  Oxidulated  iron 
is  strongly  magnetic,  and  possesses  polarity ;  the  specular  is 
magnetic  in  a  less  degree;  and  red  hematite  is  sometimes 
feebly  so.  Carbonate  of  iron  is  considerably  magnetic.  Iron, 
cobalt,  and  nickel,  are  the  only  metals  which  possess  magnet- 
ism ;  and  whenever  other  substances  possess  this  property,  it 
arises  from  the  presence  of  iron. 

A  common  magnet  has  two  poles,  a  north  and  a  south.  If 
the  north  poles  of  two  magnets  be  brought  in  contact,  they 
repel  one  another,  and  the  same  effect  ensues  if  the  south  poles 
are  presented  together.  But  the  north  pole  attracts  the  south 
pole,  and  the  south  the  north ;  and  hence,  when  a  mineral  is 
presented  to  the  magnet,  which  attracts  the  one  and  repels  the 
other,  it  is  said  to  possess  polarity. 


ELECTRICITY. 

But  in  order  to  determine  this  point,  it  is  advantageous  to 
employ  a  needle  of  feeble  power ;  for  if  the  magnetic  power  of 
the  needle  be  greatly  superior  to  that  of  the  mineral,  the  latter 
will  attract  both  poles  of  the  magnet ;  which  has  been  explained 
in  this  manner  :  it  is  said  that  the  superior  power  of  the  nee- 
dle produces  in  the  mineral  a  polarity  contrary  to  its  own. 
Haiiy  rendered  very  small  degrees  of  magnetic  attraction  in 
minerals  evident  by  the  following  method,  or  by  what  has  been 
called  double  magnetism.  When  the  magnetic  needle  is  sus- 
pended on  its  point,  and  has  taken  its  position  in  the  magnetic 
meridian,  a  magnet  is  placed  at  a  certain  distance  from  it,  its 
north  pole,  for  instance,  being  opposed  to  the  north  pole  of  the 
needle.  The  magnet  is  now  brought  towards  the  needle,  until, 
by  the  mutual  repulsion  of  the  similar  poles,  the  needle  has 
taken  a  direction  perpendicular  to  that  which  it  had  at  first. 
The  repulsion  of  the  magnet  is  now  in  equilibrium  with  the 
magnetism  of  the  earth,  and  the  least  force  acting  on  the  nee- 
dle will  overcome  it.  According  to  the  observations  of  the 
late  Col.  Gibbs,  it  appears  that  light  has  great  influence  on 
the  magnetic  property  of  protoxide  of  iron,  as  it  exists  in  the 
mine ;  for  he  found  the  upper  parts  to  be  magnetic,  and  to 
possess  polarity,  while  the  lower  parts  showed  no  magnetism 
until  after  exposure  to  the  atmosphere  and  light.  Werner  is 
said  to  have  observed  the  same. 

Electricity. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  there  are  two  kinds  of  electricity, 
which  are  called  positive  and  negative,  or  vitreous  and  resin- 
ous, according  as  they  are  produced  by  exciting  smooth  glass, 
or  any  resinous  substance.  It  will  also  be  recollected,  that 
when  two  bodies  possess  the  same  kind  of  electricity,  whether 
positive  or  negative,  they  repel  each  other ;  but  if  one  possess 
positive  electricity  and  the  other  negative,  they  attract  each 
other. 

A  considerable  number  of  minerals  may  be  rendered  elec- 
tric by  friction  with  the  hand  or  woollen  cloth  ;  and  when  thus 
excited,  they  are  capable  of  attracting  light  bodies,  or  of  moving 
a  delicate  electrometer. 

Among  the  minerals  which  are  capable  of  exhibiting  electric 
properties,  there  are  a  few  which  acquire  electricity  by  being 
heated,  either  by  simple  exposure  to  a  fire,  or  by  immersion  in 
hot  water.  But  those  substances  which  are  excited  by  heat, 
acquire  at  the  same  time  both  positive  and  negative  electricity  ; 
but  so  separated  that,  on  whatever  part  of  the  mineral  the  pos- 


ELECTRICITY. 

itive  may  appear,  the  negative  will  be  found  on  the  part  dia- 
metrically opposite.  Thus,  if  positive  electricity  appear  on 
one  side,  or  at  one  extremity  of  a  crystal,  negative  electricity 
will  exist  on  the  opposite  side,  or  at  the  other  extremity.  And 
it.  is  very  remarkable  that,  in  crystallized  minerals,  excitable 
by  heat,  the  opposite  parts  of  the  crystal  on  which  the  two 
electricities  appear,  are  almost  always  different  from  each  other 
in  their  configuration,  or  number  of  sides,  although  similarly 
situated  in  reference  to  the  crystal  itself.  Thus,  if  it  be  a 
prismatic  crystal  of  tourmaline,  and  if  the  two  electricities  ap- 
pear at  the  two  extremities  or  summits  of  the  prism,  these  two 
summits  will  differ  from  each  other  in  the  number  or  situation 
of  their  planes.*  Most  frequently  that  part  of  the  crystal  which 
possesses  positive  electricity  presents  the  greater  number  of 
faces ;  and,  on  the  contrary,  when  a  crystal  does  not  become 
electric  by  heat,  the  opposite  parts  are  usually  similar.  Some- 
times certain  angles  or  faces  possess  positive  electricity,  while 
the  opposite  angles  or  faces  exhibit  negative. 

It  may  be  stated  as  a  general  fact,  with  very  few  exceptions, 
that  earthy  minerals  and  salts,  possessing  a  considerable  de- 
gree of  purity,  and  having  their  surfaces  polished,  acquire  pos- 
itive electricity ;  but  if  their  surfaces  are  not  smooth  and  pol- 
ished, they  acquire  negative  electricity,  as  is  the  case  with 
rough  glass. 

Combustibles,  the  diamond  excepted,  become  negatively 
electric  by  friction.  The  diamond,  whether  polished  or  un- 
polished, always  becomes  positive. 

The  Metallic  ores  are  usually  conductors  of  electricity,  with 
the  exception  of  some  metallic  salts,  which  become  positive  by 
friction.  The  influence  of  electricity  in  producing  crystals, 
and  even  entire  veins  of  metallic  bodies  in  their  rocky  reposi- 
tories, has  not  until  recently  been  investigated ;  but  we  are  now 
presented  with  very  convincing  proofs  of  such  an  influence.! 

*  The  different  configuration  of  the  opposite  parts  of  a  crystal,  exhibiting  the  two  kinds 
of  electricity,  has  been  supposed  to  be  a  uniform  fact.  But  more  extensive  observations 
seem  to  show  that  it  is  not  always  the  case.  Some  tourmalines  from  Pegu  and  Ceylon, 
which  possess  both  electricities,  appear  to  have  both  summits  perfectly  regular  and  simi- 
lar. Another  exception  appears  in  the  dodecahedral  crystals  of  boracite.  (Bournon, 
quoted  by  Cleaveland.) 

t  For  these  we  are  indebted  to  the  experiments  of  Fox,  Becquerel,  and  others,  by  which 
it  is  made  to  appear  that  these  veins,  &c.  owe  their  origin  in  many  cases  to  the  electrical 
or  electro-chemical  agency  exerted  while  the  metals  were  held  in  solution  by  the  saline 
waters  which  percolate  the  rocks,  depositing  their  contents  according  to  the  electro-positive 
or  electro-negative  relations  subsisting  between  them  and  the  rock.  By  an  ingenious  arti- 
ficial contrivance,  imitating  the  conditions  which  are  supposed  to  exist  in  nature,  they  have 
produced  crystals  of  native  copper,  of  red  oxide  of  copper,  and  various  oxides  and  sulphu- 
rets,  exactly  like  those  which  are  found  deposited  in  the  regular  mineral  veins.  These 
results  most  happily  explain  several  hitherto  anomalous  facts  in  the  phenomena  of  mines, 
which  are  noticed  by  De  la  Beche,  in  his  Geological  Survey  of  Cornwall,  Devon,  &c.  pp. 
28Q,etseq.  [AM.  ED.] 


Ixxvi 


ELECTRICITY. 


For  observing  the  electricity  of  minerals,  the  electrometer  is 
the  most  convenient  instrument. 

In  this  figure,  a  b  is  a  needle  of  copper,  terminated  at  each 
extremity  by  a  small  ball,  and  moving  very  easily  on  a  pivot  at 
the  centre.  At  c  the  instrument  has  a  metallic  base.  If  a 


mineral  which  has  been  excited,  either  by  friction  or  heat,  be 
presented  near  to  one  of  the  balls,  the  needle  turns,  whether 
the  electricity  be  positive  or  negative ;  and  the  force  of  the 
electricity  may  be  estimated  by  the  distance  at  which  the  nee- 
dle begins  to  move. 

To  determine  which  kind  of  electricity  a  mineral  possesses, 
the  needle  must  previously  be  electrified,  either  positively  or 
negatively ;  which  may  be  done  in  the  following  manner.  Let 
the  instrument  be  insulated  by  placing  it  on  d,  a  plate  of  glass 
or  resin.  Having  excited  a  tube  of  glass,  or  a  stick  of  sealing- 
wax,  place  one  finger  on  the  metallic  base  c  of  the  electrome- 
ter, and  then  bring  the  excited  glass  or  sealing-wax  e  within  a 
small  distance  of  one  of  the  balls  of  the  needle.  When  the 
needle  is  sufficiently  electrified,  first  withdraw  the  finger,  and 
then  remove  the  glass  or  sealing-wax.  If  now  an  excited  min- 
eral be  presented  to  the  needle,  they  will  repel  or  attract  each 
other,  according  as  they  possess  the  same  or  opposite  kinds  of 
electricity.  But  as  the  electricity  of  the  needle  is  known,  that 
of  the  mineral  may  be  determined. 

To  ascertain  the  electric  poles,  or  those  parts  of  a  crystal 
which  possess  contrary  electricities,  let  a  thread  of  silk  about 
one  fourth  of  an  inch  in  length  be  connected  to  one  extremity 
of  a  rod  of  sealing-wax,  which  must  then  be  excited.  To  this 
thread  of  silk,  which  of  course  is  negative,  let  the  sides,  angles, 
or  summits  of  the  mineral  under  examination  be  successively 
presented ;  and  the  attraction  or  repulsion  observed  will  indi- 
cate those  parts  of  the  crystal  where  the  two  electricities  reside. 

Sealing-wax,  when  rubbed  by  most  minerals,  becomes  nega- 
tive. There  are,  however,  a  few  minerals,  of  which  sulphuret 
of  molybdena  is  one,  which,  being  rubbed  on  sealing-wax, 


SPECIFIC   GRAVITY. 

communicate  to  it  positive  electricity.  In  these  experiments 
both  the  wax  and  mineral  should  possess  smooth  surfaces  of  con- 
siderable extent.  (C leav eland' s  Mineralogy,  second  ed.  p.  65.) 

Phosphorescence. 

This  is  a  curious  property  rather  than  a  useful  character  in 
the  few  minerals  which  possess  it.  A  mineral  which  emits  a 
light,  either  by  heat  or  friction,  or  exposure  to  the  sun,  is  said 
to  be  phosphorescent.  Fluor,  and  particularly  that  variety  of 
it  termed  chlorophane,  is  an  instance  of  the  first,  and  a  variety 
of  blende  of  the  last;  if  two  pieces  of  quartz,  or  of  the  calca- 
reous spar  from  Huel  Goet  in  Brittany,  be  rubbed  together, 
they  emit  sparks  of  light. 

This  character  is  of  the  less  importance,  because  it  does  not 
seem  to  be  essential  to  all  such  minerals  as  possess  it  even  in 
the  greatest  degree ;  for,  according  to  Bournon,  some  varieties 
of  fluor  are  not  phosphorescent. 

The  light  emitted  by  phosphorescent  substances  is  extremely 
variable  in  respect  of  color.  The  best  mode  of  exhibiting  it 
in  those  which  become  so  by  heat,  is  by  first  pounding  them, 
and  then  ejecting  the  powder  on  a  shovel  not  quite  red  hot,  in 
a  dark  room.  Whatever  color  a  phosphorescent  mineral  may 
possess,  it  is  generally  lost  by  repeatedly  subjecting  it  to  heat ; 
and  the  property  of  phosphorescing  is  also  gradually  diminished, 
and  ultimately  destroyed. 

This  property,  however,  does  not  appear  to  be  dependent  on 
color,  or  even  connected  with  it,  since  the  most  perfectly  col- 
orless and  transparent  fluor,  when  powdered  and  thrown  on 
live  coal,  emits  a  brilliant  blue  light. 

Specific  Gravity. 

Two  masses  exactly  corresponding  in  size,  but  consisting  of 
different  substances,  are  found  in  most  cases  to  disagree  in 
weight.  If  the  weight  of  one  of  these  be  considered  as  unity, 
the  proportional  weight  of  the  other  is  termed  its  specific  grav- 
ity. For  example,  suppose  a  cube  of  water  to  weigh  exactly  a 
pound,  a  similar-sized  cube  of  calc-spar  will  weigh  two  pounds 
and  nearly  seven  tenths  of  a  pound,  a  sum  which  is  represented 
in  decimals  as  equal  to  2'7. 

This  is  one  of  those  physical  properties  which  are  extremely 
useful  in  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the  inorganic  productions 
of  nature,  as  it  can  not  only  be  easily  ascertained  to  a  consid- 
erable degree  of  accuracy,  but  is  constant,  or  at  least  ranges 
within  very  narrow  limits,  in  minerals  of  the  same  species. 


Ixxviii 


SPECIFIC   GRAVITY. 


The  instruments  used  for  ascertaining  the  specific  gravity 
of  solid  bodies,  are  the  hydrostatic  balance  and  the  areometer. 
The  former  allows  of  very  high  degrees  of  accuracy,  and  is 
most  conveniently  used  in  the  following  manner :  —  One  of 
the  scales  of  a  very  fine  balance  being  elevated  considerably 
above  the  other,  a  small  hook  is  attached  to  its  lower  surface, 
from  which  a  watch-glass  is  suspended  by  means  of  a  hair  or 
a  fine  fibre  of  silk.  The  mineral  is  then  placed  in  the  watch- 
glass,  and  along  with  it  immersed  in  water.  Thus  the  differ- 
ence indicated  in  the  weight  of  the  mass^  before  and  after  its 
immersion  in  the  fluid,  amounts  to  the  weight  of  the  quantity 
of  water  displaced  by  the  bulk.  When  an  experiment  is  to  be 
performed,  this  glass  is  immersed  in  water,  and  the  weight  of 
the  specimen  placed  in  the  elevated  scale  first  ascertained. 
For  instance,  a  piece  of  metal  is  found  to  weigh  in  the  ele- 
vated scale  2-645  grains;  but  when  put  into  the  watch-glass 
and  immersed  in  water,  its  weight  amounts  only  to  0*295 
grains.  Then,  as  0'295  is  to  2-645,  so  is  unity  to  the  specific 
gravity  of  the  metal,  which  in  this  case  will  be  found  to 
amount  to  8'966. 

The  delicacy  of  the  hydrostatic  balance  occasions  it  to  be 
affected  by  the  slightest  current  of  air,  and  it  therefore  requires, 
when  used,  to  be  enclosed  in  a  glass-case.  For  this  reason,  in 
performing  common  experiments,  and  in  most  cases  for  obtain- 
ing the  required  results  with  quite  sufficient  accuracy,  the  areo- 
meter will  be  found  preferable.  This  instrument  has  also  the 
advantage  of  cheapness  and  porta- 
bility. Its  form  resembles  the  ac- 
companying figure.  The  body  con- 
sists of  a  hollow  cylinder  or  tube, 
the  lower  portion  of  which  termin- 
ates in  a  point.  A  certain  quantity 
of  lead  is  melted  into  the  bottom  of 
this  at  D,  so  as  to  give  it,  when 
placed  in  water,  an  upright  position, 
and  admit  at  the  same  time  of  a  por- 
tion of  the  cylinder  rising  above  the 
snrface,  as  may  be  supposed  to  the 
line  F.  Weights  are  then  placed  in 
the  cup  A,  until  the  whole  instru- 
ment is  depressed  in  the  water  to 
the  point  B,  marked  upon  the  wire 
index  which  supports  the  cup.  This 
gives  the  normal  or  standard  weight. 
The  mineral  under  examination  is 


SPECIFIC   GRAVITY. 

then  placed  in  the  cup  A,  and  so  much  of  the  weight  at  the 
same  time  removed  from  it,  as  to  raise  the  whole  again  to  the 
index-point  B,  marked  on  the  wire.  By  this  means  the  actual 
weight  of  the  specimen  is  obtained ;  but  when  it  is  removed 
from  the  cup  A,  and  placed  on  the  top  of  the  cylinder,  which 
is  a  little  hollowed  at  c,  the  instrument  will  be  found  to  rise 
considerably  in  the  water,  and  a  certain  weight  will  then  be 
requisite  to  depress  it  to  the  above-mentioned  point  B.  This 
last  weight  then  is  required  to  counterbalance  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  the  mineral  in  water,  and  is  equivalent  to  the  weight 
of  the  volume  of  water  displaced  by  the  mineral.  The  second 
weight  subtracted  from  the  first  or  normal  weight,  leaves  the 
absolute  weight  of  the  mineral ;  the  second  weight  deducted 
from  the  third,  leaves  the  weight  of  an  equal  volume  of  water ; 
and  from  these  results,  as  on  the  former  occasion,  the  specific 
gravity  of  the  mineral  may  be  reckoned.  The  normal  weight, 
for  instance,  is  twenty  grains;  that  is,  it  requires  20*000  to 
depress  the  instrument  to  the  point  B.  Suppose  the  same  piece 
of  metal  as  in  the  former  experiment  to  be  used  :  it  is  placed 
in  the  cup  A  along  with  17*355  grains,  in  order  to  bring  the 
instrument  to  the  same  depth.  When  removed  from  the  cup 
A  to  that  at  c,  17-650  grains  are  found  requisite  to  produce 
the  same  effect.  And  now,  to  find  the  specific  gravity,  divide 
20-000— 17-355,  or  2'645,  by  17-650  — 17'355,  or  0-295, 
from  which,  as  in  the  foregoing  case,  the  specific  gravity  of 
the  mineral  will  be  found  to  amount  to  8*966. 

A  considerable  degree  of  attention  is  necessary,  both  in 
selecting  the  specimens,  and  in  performing  the  operation  of 
weighing.  The  minerals  intended  for  examination  require  to 
be  perfectly  pure;  and,  previous  to  commencing,  the  greatest 
care  must  be  taken  to  remove  whatever  foreign  matter  may 
adhere  to  the  specimen.  All  the  vacuities  or  empty  spaces 
are  to  be  carefully  opened,  or  the  mineral  broken  down,  not 
into  powder,  but  into  fragments;  and  distilled  water  must  be 
used,  of  a  temperature  not  differing  much  from  60°  Fahrenheit. 
When  the  mineral,  during  the  process,  is  supposed  to  have 
absorbed  water,  the  weight  of  what  is  imbibed  may  be  ascer- 
tained by  again  weighing  the  mineral  in  air,  and  adding  the 
amount  to  the  first  term  of  the  proportion,  or,  what  will  gen- 
erally suffice,  it  may  be  varnished  before  being  subjected  to 
such  examination.*  (Introduction  to  Allan's  Manual.) 


*  Fluid  minerals,  and  those  lighter  than  water,  are  few  in  number,  and  rare.  For  meth- 
ods of  obtaining  their  specific  gravity,  reference  may  be  had  to  the  Treatise  on  Chemical 
Manipulation,  by  Faraday. 


1XXX  PSEUDOMORPHISM. 

Pseudomorphism. 

When  the  crystals  of  one  mineral  assume  regular  imitative 
shapes  of  the  crystals  of  another,  and  in  consequence  of  the  dis- 
appearance of  the  latter,  the  places  of  which  they  now  occupy, 
they  are  said  to  be  pseudomorphous.  They  may  have  been 
formed  within  cavities  left  after  the  occupants  of  them  had 
been  removed,  or  upon  other  crystals,  which,  being  more  liable 
to  decomposition,  have  subsequently  disappeared.  The  latter 
is  probably  by  far  the  most  common  mode  of  their  formation. 
But  there  is  still  another  not  unfrequent  source  of  these 
pseudomorphs,  founded  on  the  gradual  replacement  of  the 
particles  of  one  mineral  by  those  of  another  possessing  some 
resemblance  to  it  in  chemical  constitution.  Thus  Oligisto- 
magnetic  Iron,  the  primary  form  of  which  is  a  rhomboid,  has 
been  observed  in  the  regular  octahedrons  of  Pleisto-magnetic 
Iron.  Here  the  octahedron,  without  any  change  of  external 
form,  has  assumed  the  character  of  a  new  species  by  the  addi- 
tional oxidation  of  its  iron,  the  whole  becoming  peroxide.  The 
oxides  or  salts  of  one  or  two  other  metals,  besides  several  earthy 
minerals,  show  similar  changes,  a  large  number  of  which  have 
been  described  in  a  most  interesting  memoir  on  the  subject, 
by  M.  Haidinger.* 

Crystals  of  blue  carbonate  and  red  oxide  of  copper  are 
found  changed  into  green  carbonate,  and  the  carbonate  is 
again  substituted  for  the  oxide  of  this  metal,  the  oxide  for  the 
sulphuret ;  sulphuret  of  lead  is  substituted  for  phosphate,  and 
the  carbonate  for  the  oxide,  the  original  form  in  these  cases 
not  being  changed.  These  changes  are  often  but  partially 
advanced,  being  confined  to  the  surfaces  of  the  crystals,  while 
the  central  portions  retain  the  character  of  the  original  species, 
as  has  been  observed  among  the  crystals  of  phosphate  of  lead 
which  are  passing  into  the  sulphuret. 

Several  non-metallic  minerals  also  present  the  pseudomorphs 
of  other  species.  The  most  common  of  these  are  the  quartz 
imitations  of  carbonate  of  lime  and  fluor  spar ;  those  of 
serpentine,  steatite,  prehnite  and  carbonate  of  barytes  being 
less  common.  It  is  probable  that  many  substances  have  been 
called  pseudomorphous  which  are  not  so ;  and  the  uncertainty 
which  attends  the  recognition  of  those  which  are  truly  so,  arises 
from  the  absence  of  any  half-way  stage  in  the  formation  of 
these  crystals,  or  in  the  passing  away  of  those  whose  places 

*  On  the  Parasitic  Formation  of  Mineral  Species,  depending  upon  Gradual  Changes 
•which  take  place  in  the  Interior  of  Minerals,  while  their  External  Form  remains  the 
same.  See  Transactions  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Edinburgh,  vol.  xi.,  p.  73  j  or  Brewster'a 
Edin.  Jour,  of  Science,  vols.  ix.  and  x.  [AM,  ED.] 


PSEUDOMORPHISM. 

they  are  to  occupy.  Mr.  Brooke  (Art.  Mineralogy  in  the 
Encyclopedia  Metropolitan)  has,  however,  recorded  a  single 
instance,  in  which  there  was  a  mould  in  preparation  for  a 
pseudomorphous  crystal,  from  which  a  part  only  of  the  model, 
a  cube  of  fluate  of  lime,  had  been  removed,  leaving  in  the 
cavity  only  a  small  loose  nodule  with  an  irregular  and  smooth 
surface,  like  that  of  partially  dissolved  salts.  We  have  also 
observed  precisely  the  same  appearance  in  the  beautifully 
smooth  and  regular  cavities  once  occupied  by  crystals  of 
apophyllite,  at  a  single  locality,  in  the  porous  amygdaloid  of 
Nova  Scotia.  Sometimes  nothing  more  remains  of  the  crystal 
than  a  little  powder  situated  in  one  corner  of  a  cavity,  now  and 
then  accompanied  by  the  deposition  of  a  few  silky  fibres  of 
mesotype.  Carbonate  of  lime  has  been  subsequently  infiltrated 
into  many  of  these  cavities,  but  in  none  of  them  has  it  taken  the 
complete  pseudomorphous  character,  having  only  deposited  over 
their  interior  surfaces  small  stellre  of  the  dogtooth  spar  variety.* 

Remarkable  instances  of  pseudomorphism  have  been  noticed 
in  Cornwall  by  De  la  Beche.  Carbonate  of  iron  had  covered 
cubical  crystals  of  fluor  spar  which  had  been  formed  in  bisul- 
phuret  of  copper,  and  had  disappeared,  leaving  cubical  cavities 
produced  by  the  crust  of  carbonate  of  iron.  In  these  cavities 
quartz  and  bisulphuret  of  copper  had  crystallized.  Here  we 
have  a  curious  series  of  events  :  first,  the  crystallization  of  the 
cubes  of  fluor  spar ;  second,  carbonate  of  iron  incrusting  them  ; 
third,  their  disappearance,  leaving  the  carbonate  of  iron ;  and 
fourth,  the  cubical  moulds  which  remain  have  been  filled  up  by 
quartz  and  bisulphuret  of  copper.  Many  of  the  cavities  were 
but  partially  filled. f 

Pseudomorphs  may  be  generally  distinguished  from  true 
crystals  by  the  want  of  regular  internal  structure,  or  suscepti- 
bility to  cleavage,  and  by  their  imperfect  exterior  finish ;  but 
there  are  cases  in  which  this  distinction  is  determined  with 
difficulty,  where  the  substance  possesses  all  the  characters 
of  true  crystals :  for  example,  the  cubes  of  quartz  found  at 
Rochette  were  so  perfect  as  to  be  mistaken  by  Haiiy  for  the 
primary  rhomboids  of  this  mineral.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
some  of  the  supposed  pseudomorphous  crystals  may  prove  to 
be  the  true  forms  of  the  mineral,  and  thus  be  classed  among 

*  We  should  probably  have  had  regular  pseudomorphs,  if  any  other  forms  of  calcareous 
spar  than  those  of  the  scalene  triangular-planed  dodecahedrons,  had  occurred  at  the 
locality.  We  know  that  certain  forms  of  the  same  substance  are  peculiar  to  certain  dis- 
tricts of  country,  and  even  localities  of  the  same  district:  and  hence,  perhaps,  we  are 
furnished  with  the  explanation  of  the  phenomenon  here  alluded  to.  The  partiality,  if  we 
may  so  term  it,  which  the  forms  of  crystals  thus  display  in  reference  to  locality,  offers 
one  of  the  most  singular  facts  in  the  science  of  Mineralogy.  [AM.  ED.] 

t  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Cornwall,  &c.,  p.  391. 
H 


Ixxxii 


ISOMORPHISM. 


dimorphous  bodies.     Such,  according  to  Dr.  Tamnau,  is  the 
character  of  the  serpentine,  last  named  in  the  following  table. 

Table  exhibiting  the  principal  pseudomorphous  minerals  mentioned  by  Prof. 
Johnston,  with  the  addition  of  several  others,  American  and  foreign: 


JVame. 

Form. 

Replacinff. 

Localities  and  Authorities. 

Quartz 

Cubes  and  octahedrons 

Fluor  Spar 

Cornwall,  Devonshire,  &c. 

Sulphuret  of  Copper 

Cubes 

Do. 

Do.     (DelaBeche.) 

Oalc  Soar 

Quartz  (Haytorite) 

Ob.  ?  rhombic  prism 

Sphene,  Datholite  ? 

Haytor,  Devonshire. 

Galena 

Roche  tte    (Dumont.) 



Right  rhombic  prisms 

Sulphate  of  Baryta 

Do.    '         Do. 

Oxide  of  Tin 

prisms 

Felspar  and  Quartz 

Cornwall. 

Oxide  of  Antimony 
Peroxide  of  Iron 

Right  rhombic  prism 
Octahedrons 

Sulphuret  of  Antimony 
Magnetic  Iron 

Saxony,  (Kobell.) 
Do.         Do. 

Serpentine 

Regular  Octahedrons 

Spinel 

Warwick,  N.  Y.  (Jfuttall.) 

Hydrated  Peroxide  ol 

Cubes  and  do 

Iron  Pyrites 

Do.         Do. 

Do                      [Iron 
Pyrolusite 
Sulphuret  of  Lead 

Right  rhombic  prisms 
Right  rhombic  prism 
Hexagonal  Prisms 

Carbonate  of  Iron 
Manganite 
Phosphate  of  Lead 

Styria,  Carinthia. 
Saxony. 
Cornwall.     (Fox.) 

Tungstate  of  Iron 

Regular  Octahedron 

Tungstate  of  Lime 

Monroe,T'mbull,Ct.(S/t<7>- 

Galena  (Blue  Lead) 
Mixture  of  Carbonate 

Hexagonal  prism 
Regular  Octahedrons 

Chloro  Phospate 
Galena 

Cornwall,  Brittany,    [ard. 
Do. 

and  Phosphate 

Copper  Pyrites 

Regular  octahedrons 

Lenticular  Carbonate 

Cornwall. 

and  Specular  Iron 

Green  Car.  of  Copper 
Steatite 

Oblique  rhombic  prism 
Hexahedral  prisms 

Blue  Carbonate 
Hornblende 

Chessy,  France. 
Warwick,  JN.  Y.     (Beck.) 

Malachite 

Octa.  and  rh.  dodeca. 

Red  Oxide  of  Copper 

Do. 

Hornatone 

Octahedrons 

Octa.  Fluor  Spar 

Cornwall.  (Fox.) 

Blue  Carb.  of  Copper 

Do. 

Red  Oxide  of  Copper 

Chessy. 

Gypsum 

Anhydrite 

Pesey. 

Quartz 

Cube 

Fluor  Spar 

W'th'pt'n,  Ms.(Hitchcock.) 

Sulphate  of  Baryta 

Rt.  and  ob.  rh.  prisms 

Carbonate  and  Baryto- 

Hexham,  Alston. 

Calcite 

Wolfram 

Square  prisms 

Tungstate  of  Lime 

Cornwall,  Saxony. 

Prehnite 

Icositetrahedrons 

Analcime 

Dumbarton,  (Allan.) 

Hornstone 

Rhomboids,  &.c. 

Calc  Spar 

Schneeberg,  Saxony. 

Steatite 
Serpentine 

Do 

Right  rhombic  prisms 

Do.  Quartz,  Pearl  Spar 
Olivine 

Goepfersgrlin  Bayreuth. 
Snarum,  Norway. 

Isomorphism. 

It  was  for  a  long  time  supposed  that  minerals  which  consist- 
ed of  the  same  chemical  elements,  combined  in  the  same  pro- 
portions, would  always  exhibit  the  same  crystalline  forms. 
This  was  considered  by  Haiiy  as  an  established  law.  But  it 
has  been  shown  by  Mitscherlich,  that  some  of  these  elements 
may  be  entirely  absent,  or  be  replaced  by  the  same  number 
of  atoms  of  other  elements,  without  producing  any  change  in 
the  form  of  the  crystal.  The  law  which  he  endeavors  to  estab- 
lish is  thus  stated:  —  "The  same  number  of  atoms  combined 
in  the  same  way  produces  the  same  crystalline  form,  and  the 
same  crystalline  form  is  independent  of  the  chemical  nature  of 
the  atoms,  and  is  determined  only  by  their  number  and  relative 
position."  To  the  bodies  which  are  thus  capable  of  replacing 
each  other,  he  has  given  the  name  of  isomorphous ,  distinguish- 


ISOMORPHISM.  Ixxxiii 

ing  the  character  of  form  by  the  name  of  isomorphism,  from 
i'tfog,  equal,  and  pogfpri,  shape.  By  some  writers,  those  ele- 
ments which  take  the  place  of  others,  have  been  called  vicari- 
ous—  an  expression  which  gives  a  perfect  idea  of  their  rela- 
tions to  each  other.  As  simply  stated,  the  most  important 
mineralogical  bearing  of  this  discovery  is  this :  that  however 
important  crystalline  form  may  be  regarded  by  some,  it  is 
no  indication  of  chemical  identity  in  the  character  of  species, 
and  will  not  suffice  to  distinguish  them  from  each  other.  As 
the  hardness,  specific  gravity,  comportment  before  the  blow- 
pipe, &-G.,  of  a  mineral  are  also  dependent  on  the  nature  of  the 
substances  of  which  it  consists,  it  is  obvious  that  specimens  of 
the  same  species,  from  different  localities,  may  appear  under 
characters  very  considerably  modified.  Examples  of  this  kind 
are  well  known  among  the  garnets,  and  the  minerals  now  in- 
cluded under  the  species  pyroxene  and  amphibole.  Among 
these,  there  has  been  a  remarkable  latitude  given  to  the  iso- 
morphic  influence.  In  the  former,  consisting  essentially  of 
silicate  of  alumina  and  lime,  the  alumina  is  sometimes  almost 
entirely  replaced  by  an  equivalent  quantity  of  peroxide  of  iron, 
while  the  lime  is  exchanged  for  protoxide  of  iron,  or  for  magne- 
sia, the  crystalline  form  remaining  unaltered.  The  same  substi- 
tutions are  also  found  among  the  zeolites,  and,  again,  among 
several  of  the  metallic  ores.  It  has  been  supposed  to  be  a 
necessary  inference,  that,  in  all  cases  of  isomorphous  replace- 
ment, the  atoms  of  the  acids,  bases,  and  elementary  substances, 
possess  each  the  same  ultimate  form,  and  may  therefore  be 
substituted  for  each  other  without  altering  the  form  of  the 
crystalline  compound  into  which  they  enter  as  constituent 
parts.  This  inference  seems  confirmed  by  the  more  recent 
analytical  researches  of  some  of  the  ablest  chemists,  as  Rose, 
Bonsdorf,  Abich,  and  others,  though  it  is  still  not  admitted  by 
all  to  its  fullest  extent.  Another  very  important  conclusion, 
to  which  chemistry  leads  us,  is,  that  there  is  no  limit  to  the 
proportions  in  which  these  bodies  may  be  exchanged  for  each 
other  in  forming  isomorphous  mineral  species,  as  well  as  various 
artificial  salts. 

The  following  list  comprises  the  isomorphous  bodies  which 
play  the  most  important  part  in  Mineralogy,  arranged  in  their 
several  groups,  and  to  which  we  shall  have  occasion  to  refer 
when  describing  the  species  :  * 


*  For  a  more  extended  list  of  isomorphous  bodies,  see  Second  Report  of  the  British 
Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  second  edition  j  p.  1J8,  Art.  by  Prof.  Miller  ; 
p.  425,  Art.  by  Prof.  Johnston. 


Ixxxiv 


DIMORPHISM. 
1. 


Lime. 

Protoxide  of  Manganese. 
Peroxide  of  Copper. 
Protoxide  of  Nickel. 
Protoxide  of  Lead,  in  Plumbo-calcite. 
2 

Potash,  Soda. 
Ammonia. 

4  5 

Barytes,  Lime.  Arsenic. 

Strontian.  Phosphorus. 

Protoxide  of  Lead.      Antimony. 

7  8 

Chlorine.  Sulphur. 

Bromine.  Selenium. 

Iodine.  Chromium. 

Fluorine.  Manganese. 

10 

Alumina. 
Glucina. 

Peroxide  of  Iron. 
Deutoxide  of  Manganese. 
Protoxide  of  Chromium. 
Titaniate  of  Protoxide  of  Iron. 


Magnesia. 
Oxide  of  Zinc. 
Protoxide  of  Iron. 
Protoxide  of  Cobalt. 
Oxide  of  Cadmium. 

3 

Titanic  Acid. 
Peroxide  of  Tin. 

6 

Arsenic  Acid. 
Phosphoric  Acid. 
Antirnonic  Acid. 

9 

Sulphuric  Acid. 
Selenic  Acid. 
Chromic  Acid. 
Manganic  Acid. 

11 

Sodium. 
Gold. 
Silver.* 


Dimorphism. 

The  peculiarity  which  some  substances,  of  the  same  definite 
chemical  composition,  possess  of  crystallizing  under  forms  in- 
compatible with  each  other,  or  belonging  to  different  systems, 
was  at  first  supposed  to  interfere  with  the  general  law  of  iso- 
morphism established  by  Mitscherlich,  especially  when  coupled 
with  another  fact,  that  the  corresponding  angles  of  crystals 
of  the  same  substance,  were  found  to  fluctuate  in  one  or  two 
instances  nearly  a  degree  in  their  measurements.  But  it  has 
been  shown  by  Mitscherlich  and  others,  that  these  may  all  be 
explained  without  doing  violence  to  the  doctrine  he  has  pro- 
mulgated.t  Substances  which  thus  assume  two  forms,  may  be 
simple  or  compound,  as  carbon  and  sulphur,  or  carbonate  of 

*This  group  will  probably  be  found  to  include  several  other  electro-positive  metals. 
|  See  article  by  Prof.  Johnston,  on  Dimorphous  Bodies,  Seventh  Report  of  the  British 
Association,  p.  165;  Graham's  Elements  of  Chemistry,  p.  138  j  Kane's  do,  p.  365. 


DIMORPHISM.  1XXXV 

lime  and  bisulphuret  of  iron ;  they  are  said  to  be  dimorphous, 
from  dig,  twice,  and  (togy-rj,  shape.  The  most  common  is  car- 
bonate of  lime,  which,  when  seen  in  common  Iceland  spar,  is 
in  the  form  of  an  obtuse  rhomboid,  and,  when  seen  in  arra- 
gonite,  is  in  that  of  a  right  rhombic  prism.  One  form  of  bisul- 
phuret of  iron,  or  common  iron  pyrites,  is  a  cube,  while  another, 
that  of  white  iron  pyrites,  is  a  right  rhombic  prism.  There  are 
several  other  minerals,  as  well  as  artificial  saline  compounds, 
which  present  analogous  phenomena.  Thus,  idocrase  and  one 
of  the  varieties  of  garnet  have  the  same  constituents  united  in 
the  same  atomic  proportion,  viz  :  one  atom  of  silicate  of  alumina 
and  one  atom  of  silicate  of  lime;  yet  the  former  crystallizes  in 
right  square  prisms,  and  the  latter  in  rhombic  dodecahedrons. 
Zoisite  and  meionite  also  agree  in  chemical  composition,  each 
consisting  of  two  atoms  silicate  of  alumina  and  one  atom  sili- 
cate of  lime;  but  one  has  for  its  primary  form  an  oblique 
rhombic  prism,  and  the  other  a  right  square  prism.  Among 
the  artificial  salts,  biphosphate  of  soda  and  sulphate  of  nickel 
may  be  named  as  assuming  each  two  forms.  It  is  to  be 
observed  that  these  changes  in  crystalline  form  are  usually 
accompanied  by  a  remarkable  change  in  all  the  other  physical 
properties  of  the  substance,  such  as  hardness,  specific  gravity, 
optical  characters,  &c.  as  is  the  case  with  the  minerals  above 
referred  to.  But  this  is  most  strikingly  shown  in  carbon, 
which,  in  the  form  of  the  diamond,  (regular  octahedron)  is  the 
hardest  known  substance,  and  in  the  form  of  graphite  or  plum- 
bago (regular  six-sided  prism)  is  one  of  the  softest.  The  cause 
of  this  singular  property  is  by  no  means  well  understood ;  but 
as  indicated  by  the  two  forms  assumed  by  sulphur,  it  would 
seem  to  depend  much  on  temperature,  and  the  time  allowed  for 
crystallization  to  take  place;  for  Mitscherlich  obtained  by  arti- 
ficial means,  having  regard  to  these  two  circumstances,  crys- 
tals in  the  form  of  those  occurring  in  nature,  and  of  another 
form  incompatible  with  them.  Ingenious  theoretical  explana- 
tions have  been  given,  and  the  student  is  referred  to  the  article 
already  named,  by  Prof.  Johnston.  This  gentleman  has  added 
two  new  compounds  to  the  list  of  dimorphous  bodies,  viz  :  car- 
bonate of  lead  and  chromate  of  lead  ;  the  former  in  the  mineral 
called  plumbo-calcite,  occurs  in  rhomboids,  and  in  white  lead 
ore  in  the  form  of  right  rhombic  prisms:  the  latter  occurs  na- 
tive in  oblique  rhombic  and  right  square  prisms.  As  it  thus 
replaces  carbonate  of  lime  in  plumbo-calcite,  but  without  alter- 
ing its  form,  carbonate  of  lead  possesses  the  double  character 
of  Isomorphism  and  Dimorphism,  and  has  hence  led  to  the  term 
Isodimorphism.  Mr.  Brooke  has  added  another  —  sulphato-tri- 


Ixxxvi  ACTION    OF    THE    BLOWPIPE. 

carbonate  of  lead  —  which,  like  carbonate  of  lead,  presents  the 
two  distinct  forms  of  a  rhomboid  and  a  right  rhombic  prism. 

The  number  of  dimorphous  mineral  bodies  now  amounts 
to  about  twenty.  It  is  probable  that  other  bodies  will  be 
discovered,  which  will  prove  to  be  Trimorphous,  and  even 
Polymorphous;  that  is,  possess  the  same  composition,  but 
assume  three  or  more  incompatible  forms.  Facts  seem 
already  to  lead  to  such  a  result.  The  subject  is  one 
of  very  great  interest  in  mineralogy,  and  will  undoubtedly 
continue  to  be  investigated  by  those  who  have  already  added 
so  much  to  our  knowledge  respecting  it.  No  branch  of  the 
science  is  more  deserving  of  the  student's  attention.  As  the 
former  editions  of  this  work  contained  no  reference  to  this, 
nor  to  the  subjects  presented  under  the  two  preceding  heads, 
(an  omission  scarcely  to  have  been  expected  so  late  as  1837) 
the  American  editor  has  endeavored  to  state  the  most  important 
facts  in  relation  to  them,  though  their  omission  was  not  observed 
by  him  in  season  to  be  supplied  in  an  earlier  part  of  this  intro- 
duction. 

CHEMICAL   CHARACTERS. 

Although  the  chemical  characters  of  a  mineral  are  most  fully 
and  completely  understood  by  its  analysis,  there  are  other 
means  of  arriving  at  some  knowledge  of  its  component  princi- 
ples ;  and,  therefore, although  the  methods  about  to  be  described 
do  not  make  us  well  acquainted  with  all  that  is  to  be  known, 
they  serve  now  and  then  to  detect  an  important  ingredient,  and 
therefore  add,  by  very  simple  processes,  to  the  distinctive  char- 
acters: the  means  are  chemical,  inasmuch  as  they  produce  a 
change,  or  partial  decomposition. 

• 
Action  of  the  Blowpipe. 

To  acquire  the  use  of  this  instrument  is  at  first  somewhat 
difficult,  but  it  is  indispensable  in  the  qualitative  examination 
of  minerals,  and  the  student  should  persist  in  his  trials  with  it, 
until  he  becomes  familiar  with  its  operations.  Its  effect  de- 
pends on  the  power  of  producing  a  constant  and  pretty  uniform 
stream  of  air,  and  as  this  current  is  not  supplied  at  once  from 
the  lungs,  but  is  forced  from  the  mouth  by  means  of  the  cheeks, 
the  difficulty  consists  in  inspiring  and  expiring  through  the  nose, 
while  at  the  same  time  a  constant  stream  is  kept  up  through  the 
blowpipe.  The  mouth  being  filled,  the  communication  between 
it  and  the  lungs  is  to  be  closed  by  a  peculiar  action  of  the  tongue, 


ACTION    OF    THE    BLOWPIPE. 


Ixxxvii 


which  is  to  be  drawn  back  against  the  orifice,  while  the  lungs 
are  replenished  through  the  nose;  as  the  mouth  becomes 
empty  it  is  again  to  be  filled  from  the  lungs,  and  the  communi- 
cation closed  as  before,  while  the  lungs  are  filling  through  the 
nostrils.  The  best  mode  of  attaining  the  use  of  the  blowpipe 
is,  perhaps,  to  sit  down  to  it  with  no  other  object  at  first  than 
that  of  producing  from  the  flame  of  a  common  candle  a  steady 
stream  of  flame,  directed  towards  one  point ;  taking  care  that 
the  wick  be  of  a  moderate  length,  and  the  top  of  it  bent  in  the 
direction  of  the  blast.  The  best  blowpipes  are  formed  of  silver  : 
those  made  of  brass  are  apt  to  get  out  of  order,  and  glass  does 
not  stand  the  necessary  heat.  Several  have  been  introduced, 
but  the  small  pocket  blowpipe,  in  three  parts,  contrived  by 
Wollaston,  will  be  found  the  most  convenient  for  use.  Those 
with  bulbs  in  the  middle,  are  awkward  instruments,  and  are 
now  but  seldom  used.  Voigt's  has  an  advantage  from  the  cir- 
cumstance that  its  beak  may  be  turned  round,  so  as  to  give  any 
degree  of  obliquity  to  the  flame.  Griffin's,  made  of  japanned 
tin,  is  a  very  good  instrument,  and  the  cheapest  that  has  been 
contrived.  The  annexed  figures  show  Wollaston's  blowpipe, 
with  the  three  parts  connected  and  ready  for  use,  and  with  the 


two  smaller  parts  inserted  in  the  mouthpiece,  for  carrying  in 
the  pocket  in  the  most  portable  form  possible. 

The  form  of  lamp  recommended  by  Berzelius  is  that  of 
which  the  figure  is  here  given.  It  consists  of  a  tin  plate  cyl- 
inder, one  inch  wide  and  four  inches  long.  The  wick-holder 
is  three  quarters  of  an  inch  across,  intended  for  a  flat  wick. 


I 1H*^ 

A  screw  cap  is  made  to  fit  over  this  opening,  to  prevent  the 


ACTION    OF    THE    BLOWPIPE. 

escape  of  oil  in  travelling ;  and  to  the  opposite  end  of  the  cylin- 
der a  small  ring  is  attached,  which  slides  up  and  down  the 
rod,  affixed  by  a  screw  to  a  retort  stand-bottom. 

If  fusion  be  not  in  all  cases  produced  by  the  use  of  the  blow- 
pipe, we  have  at  least  the  advantage  of  seeing  the  impression 
made  by  very  powerful  heat ;  of  noting  the  appearances  and 
consequences  which  gradually  take  place,  and  which  often  are 
very  characteristic. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  are  two  cones  of  flame  pro- 
jected from  the  pipe:  the  outer  yellow,  the  inner  blue  —  more 
properly  dssignated  as  the  oxidating  and  reducing  flames  of 
the  blowpipe.  The  heat  of  the  outer  cone  is  less  than  that  of 
the  inner,  and  the  most  intense  heat  of  the  blue  flame  is  near 
its  point. 

One  is  called  the  oxidating  flame  because  at  that  point  sub- 
stances are  rapidly  burned  or  oxidized,  and  the  other  the 
reducing  flame  because  in  consequence  of  the  excess  of  com- 
bustible matter  at  this  point,  the  oxide  of  a  metal,  if  a  metal 
be  employed,  is  made  to  part  with  its  oxygen,  or  in  other 
words  is  reduced  to  the  metallic  state.  A  metal  may  thus  be 
oxidized  and  deoxidized  as  it  is  alternately  exposed  to  the  action 
of  the  two  flames.  The  reducing  flame  is  often  called  the 
deoxidating  flame.  These  effects  are  well  shown  on  oxide  of 
copper,  which,  if  it  be  exposed  to  the  reducing  flame,  loses  its 
oxygen  and  is  converted  into  metallic  copper;  whilst,  if  the 
metallic  copper  be  heated  at  the  point  of  the  outer  cone,  it  is 
again  oxidated  by  the  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere. 

The  substance  to  be  acted  on  ought  not  to  exceed  the  size 
of  a  grain  of  pepper;  for  if  too  large,  a  part  of  it  will  be  with- 
out the  focus  of  the  heat,  to  which  every  part  ought  to  be  sub- 
jected alike.  In  most  cases  it  will  be  advantageous  to  expose 
the  mineral  at  first  to  the  heat  only  of  the  outer  flame. 

Various  methods,  depending  on  the  nature  of  the  mineral, 
must  be  employed  for  supporting  the  fragment  before  the  flame. 
Very  small  forceps  will  be  sufficient,  when  the  mineral  has  but 
little  fusibility.  For  substances  easily  fusible,  a  small  platina 
or  silver  spoon  may  be  employed.  It  is  important  that  these 
metallic  supports  should  be  very  small,  that  they  may  not  ab- 
sorb too  much  heat.  In  using  borax,  a  small  platinum  wire 
bent  up  at  the  end,  for  holding  the  substance  to  be  examined, 
is  usually  employed.  When  metallic  oxides  are  to  be  reduced, 
a  piece  of  compact  charcoal  forms  the  best  support.  A  small 
cavity  is  made  in  the  charcoal,  in  which  even  minerals  in  a 
state  of  powder  may  be  conveniently  examined,  especially  if 
the  cavity  be  partly  covered  by  another  piece  of  charcoal. 


ACTION    OF   THE    BLOWPIPE. 

Minerals,  while  exposed  to  the  action  of  the  blowpipe,  ex- 
hibit very  different  appearances,  which,  being  directly  before 
the  eye,  are  easily  observed,  and  should  be  minutely  described. 
Sometimes  their  color  is  changed,  or  entirely  disappears.  Some 
minerals  decrepitate,  others  divide  or  exfoliate,  when  exposed 
to  the  flame.  Some  indurate  and  contract  their  bulk ;  others 
effervesce,  or,  rising  in  little  blisters,  melt  with  intumescence. 

On  some  minerals  the  blowpipe  produces  no  effect  whatever ; 
others  are  partially  fused;  and  others  again  melt  with  facility. 
The  results  of  fusion  may  depend  in  some  degree  on  the 
intensity  or  continuance  of  heat,  as  well  as  on  the  nature  of 
the  substance.  Some  minerals  by  the  action  of  the  blowpipe 
are  merely  softened,  and  alter  their  shape;  or,  if  in  loose 
grains,  they  become  agglutinated.  Others  are  converted  into 
a  kind  of  porcelain,  in  which  only  a  few  points  are  vitrified. 
Some  melt  into  a  slag,  which  is  a  compact  substance,  contain- 
ing metallic  matter;  others  yield  a  tumefied  mass,  or  are  re- 
duced into  a  scoria,  which  is  light  and  porous;  and  others 
give  an  enamel,  which  has  a  vitreous  aspect,  but  is  not  trans- 
parent; sometimes  the  enamel  is  only  superficial. 

Many  minerals,  when  melted,  yield  a  globule  of  perfect 
glass,  which,  in  different  substances,  has  various  colors,  and 
possesses  different  degrees  of  transparency.  Both  enamels  and 
glasses  are  sometimes  porous  or  vesicular. 

These  and  all  similar  changes  must  be  carefully  noted,  even 
the  water  and  odor  evolved  during  the  experiment,  the  color 
which  some  minerals  communicate  to  the  flame,  their  phos- 
phorescence, and  every  other  phenomenon  which  may  lead  to 
the  detection  of  elements  whose  presence  was  not  anticipated, 
or  perhaps  even  suspected. 

Color  of  flame  is  a  character  of  much  importance.  Those  min- 
erals which  communicate  a  yellow  or  greenish-yellow  tinge,  con- 
tain soda;  those  giving  a  purple  or  crimson,  contain  lithia;  those 
giving  a  yellowish-green  or  apple-green,  contain  barytes ;  while 
red  is  produced  by  the  presence  of  strontian,  and  faint  red  or 
violet  by  that  of  potash.  To  observe  these  colors,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  produce  a  small  and  very  clear  blue  flame,  because  a  large 
ragged  yellow  flame  overpowers  or  very  much  obscures  them. 

The  presence  of  water  is  determined  by  taking  a  small  crys- 
tal, or  a  compact  piece  of  the  mineral,  of  the  size  of  half  a  pea, 
and,  heating  it  before  the  blowpipe,  or  over  a  spirit  lamp,  in  a 
small  glass  tube  closed  at  one  end,  or  in  a  narrow  glass  tube, 
one  fourth  of  an  inch  wide,  open  at  both  ends,  and  held  in 
the  flame  horizontally.  In  the  latter  case  the  water  gathers  in 
drops  in  the  cold  part  of  the  tube,  on  both  sides  of  the  assay. 


XC  ACTION    OF    THE    BLOWPIPE. 

After  having  observed  the  alteration  which  the  substance 
undergoes  by  the  mere  action  of  heat,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
examine  what  farther  change  takes  place  when  it  is  melted 
with  various  fluxes,  and  how  far  it  is  capable  of  reduction  to 
the  metallic  state.  Of  these  fluxes,  or  re-agents,  as  they  are 
termed,  the  most  invaluable  for  their  respective  purposes  are 
the  three  proposed  (we  may  truly  say)  in  the  infancy  of  the 
science  by  Cronstedt.  These  are, 

1.  The  Carbonate  of  Soda,  which  is  used  for  ascertaining 
by  its  means  whether  bodies  be  fusible  or  not,  and  for  assisting 
the  reduction  of  metallic  oxides. 

2.  Borax,  which  is  employed  in  effecting  the  fusion  of  a 
great  number  of  substances. 

3.  Salt  of  Phosphorous,  or  microcosmic  salt,  a  compound 
of  phosphoric  acid,  soda,  and  ammonia,  which,  as  it  exhibits 
the  action  of  acids  on  the  assays,  is  particularly  applicable  to 
the  examination  of  metallic  oxides. 

There  are  of  course  a  variety  of  other  uses  to  which  each  of 
these  may  be  rendered  subservient,  and  of  which  the  skilful 
operator  with  the  blowpipe  will  soon  learn  to  avail  himself; 
but  as  in  some  cases  effects  are  required  to  be  produced,  which 
do  not  come  within  the  reach  of  any  of  them,  the  test-box 
should  also  contain  compartments  for  the  following  substances  : 

4.  Oxide  of  Copper,  to  detect  the  presence  of  muriatic  acid. 

5.  Iron,  in  the  state  of  very  thin  wire,  for  ascertaining  the 
presence  of  phosphorus. 

6.  Tin,  in  the  form  of  foil,  for  promoting  reduction  in  the 
fused  vitreous  compounds. 

7.  and  8.  Gypsum  and  Fluor  Spar,  which,  when  well  dried, 
are  used  mutually  to  detect  each  other. 

9.  Bisulphate  of  Potash  and  Fluor,  mixed  in  the  proportion 
of  four  and  a  half  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter,  for  ascer- 
taining the  presence  of  boracic  acid. 

10.  Another  very  useful  re-agent  is  a  solution  of  the  Nitrate 
of  Cobalt  in  water,  which,  when  concentrated,  is  employed  to 
ascertain  the  presence  of  alumina,  magnesia,  and  oxide  of  zinc, 
affording  with  the  first  a  fine  azure  blue,  with  the  second  a 
pale  rose  color,  and  with  the  last  a  bright  green  color.     These 
effects  are  produced  by  simply  igniting  the  substances. 

It  is  unnecessary,  in  a  treatise  like  the  present,  to  enter  more 
at  length  on  the  subject  of  the  blowpipe.*  Suffice  it  to  say, 

*The  Compound  Blowpipe,  or  Oxy-hydrogen  Blowpipe,  is  not  usually  employed  in  the 
pyrognostic  examination  of  minerals,  as  the  calorific  effect  is  too  sudden  and  two  power- 
ful to  admit  of  careful  and  progressive  observations  ;  but  when  it  is  desirable  to  melt  a 
very  refractory  substance,  the  student  may  very  properly  resort  to  it.  It  was  by  means 
of  this  instrument,  first  invented  by  Dr.  Hare,  that  Prof.  Silliman  was  enabled  to  subject 


SCALE    OF    THE    FUSIBILITY    OF    MINERALS.  XCi 

that  the  above  re-agents  are  of  the  highest  importance  in  the 
examination  of  metallic  minerals.  The  ores  of  the  difficultly 
reducible  metals,  such  as  manganese,  cobalt,  chrome,  and  tita- 
nium, are  characterized  by  the  colors  which  their  oxides  give 
to  glass.  In  all  these  cases,  therefore,  glassy  fluxes  must  be 
largely  employed,  both  to  dissolve  the  earthy  matter  with  which 
the  oxides  are  generally  combined,  and  to  furnish  a  body  with 
little  or  no  color  of  its  own,  which  may  receive  and  sufficiently 
dilute  the  inherent  color  of  the  oxide.  When  the  color  thus 
produced  is  so  intense  as  to  appear  opake,  it  is  requisite  to 
flatten  the  glass,  before  it  becomes  solid,  between  a  pair  of 
forceps,  or  to  draw  it  out  into  a  thread  at  the  instant  it  begins 
to  cool. 

A  description  of  the  comportment  of  each  species,  when 
exposed  to  the  action  of  the  blowpipe,  is  given  in  the  body  of 
the  work,  under  their  respective  heads ;  and  for  further  instruc- 
tion, both  as  to  the  mode  of  performing  experiments,  the  phe- 
nomena presented,  and  the  results  afforded  by  them,  the  reader 
is  referred  to  the  excellent  work  of  Berzelius  On  the  Use  of  the 
Blowpipe  in  Chemical  Analysis,  as  translated  by  Mr.  Children, 
or  he  may  consult  a  small  treatise  by  Griffin,  on  Chemical  Man- 
ipulation and  Analysis  by  the  Blowpipe. 

Scale  of  the  Fusibility  of  Minerals. 

It  has  long  been  desirable  that  we  should  have  some  general 
standards  of  comparison  in  the  case  of  the  fusibility  of  miner- 
als, in  order  to  assist  in  their  easy  recognition  before  the  blow- 
pipe. We  are  indebted  to  a  late  Treatise  by  Von  Kobell  *  for 
a  scale  well  drawn  up,  consisting  of  the  following  minerals, 
whose  degrees  of  fusibility  are  in  a  decreasing  order ;  the  fusi- 
bility being  expressed  by  one  of  the  six  figures,  and  a  decimal 
fraction  which  marks  how  much  the  mineral  under  examina- 
tion seems  more  difficult  of  fusion  than  the  one  opposite  the 
figure,  without  equalling  the  next  succeeding  one  on  the  scale. 
Thus,  he  expresses  the  fusibility  of  Apatite  by  4'5,  meaning 
that  it  is  more  difficult  to  fuse  than  Strahlstein,  but  less  diffi- 
cult than  Adularia. 

to  fusion  substances  which  had  been  considered  as  fixed  and  infusible  :  such,  for  exam- 
ple, as  silex,  barytes,  lime,  magnesia,  glucina,  <fcc.  These  results  are  among  the  most 
brilliant  achievements  which  have  been  recorded  in  the  history  of  science  for  the  last  half 
century,  and,  in  speaking  of  them,  it  is  only  just  to  add,  that  similar  results  were  after- 
wards obtained  by  the  late  Dr.  Clarke,  of  Cambridge  University,  England,  and,  as  it  is 
said,  without  any  knowledge  of  what  Prof.  Silliman  had  done.  [AM.  Ep.] 

*  Instructions  for  the  Discrimination  of  Minerals  by  Simple  Chemical  Experiments,  by 
Franz  Von  Kobell,  Professor  of  Mineralogy  in  the  University  of  Munich.  The  work  has 
been  translated,  and  published  as  one  of  the  numbers  of  Griffin's  Scientific  Miscellany. 
Glasgow,  1841.  [An.  ED.] 


XC11  SCALE    OF    THE    FUSIBILITY    OF    MINERALS. 

SCALE. 

1.  Sulphur et  of  Antimony. 

2.  Natrolite.     (Mesotype.) 

3.  Almandine.     (Precious  Garnet.) 

4.  Strahlstein.     (Hornblende.) 

5.  Adularia.     (Moonstone,  or  Purest  Felspar.) 

6.  Diattage.     (Bronzite.) 

All  minerals  which  are  distinctly  fusible,  fall  within  the  first 
five  degrees  of  this  scale.  Those  which  range  between  five  and 
six,  may  be  considered  infusible,  either  when  the  pieces  sub- 
mitted to  trial  are  not  sufficiently  slender,  or  when  the  opera- 
tor is  not  a  complete  master  of  the  blowpipe.  Von  Kobell  ob- 
serves (page  ix)  that  one  great  advantage  of  the  scale  of  fusi- 
bility is,  that  it  facilitates  the  highly  useful  practice  of  com- 
parative experiment.  Two  persons  operating  on  the  same 
mineral  may  sometimes  differ  as  to  its  degree  of  fusibility  ; 
but  when  a  person  tries  the  fusibility  of  an  unknown  mineral 
against  another  whose  fusibility  is  well  ascertained,  he  has  the 
advantage  of  a  fixed  point  of  comparison,  which  acts  as  a  check 
upon  erroneous  experiments,  that  might  otherwise  lead  to  false 
conclusions.  The  minerals  selected  for  this  scale  belong  to 
those  which  can  be  procured  without  much  difficulty.  The 
analyst  should  be  provided  with  a  quantity  of  each,  split  into 
pieces  of  different  sizes  and  shapes,  from  which  to  select  such 
as  closely  agree  in  form  with  the  pieces  of  the  unknown  min- 
erals that  are  to  be  submitted  to  comparative  experiment. 
This  preliminary  comparison  of  the  form  of  two  essays  that  are 
to  be  tried  by  comparative  fusion,  is  the  more  necessary,  since, 
at  the  best,  the  determination  of  the  degrees  of  fusibility  of  a 
mineral,  can  only  be  considered  as  approximate  exactness. 

The  pyrognostic  characters  of  many  of  the  species  described 
in  this  volume,  will  be  given  according  to  the  determination  of 
Von  Kobell.  The  letters  B  B  signify  before  the  blowpipe. 
Examples  :  Zoisite ;  B  B  it  swells  arid  froths,  fusing  =  3  to  3'5. 
Labradorite ;  B  B  fuses  quietly  =  3,  giving  a  pretty  dense  clear 
glass.  Tungstate  of  Iron ;  B  B  fuses  =  3,  to  a  grey,  often  crys- 
talline, bead.  It  should  be  observed  that  when  the  characters 
as  given  by  Von  Kobell  are  different  from  those  which  have  been 
recorded  by  Phillips,  and  taken  from  Berzelius,  it  has  not  been 
thought  best  to  make  any  change  other  than  in  the  forms  of 
statement.  Such  differences  do  exist,  and  they  are  probably 
owing  to  the  isomorphous  or  accidental  bodies  which  the  same 
mineral  from  different  localities  is  known  to  contain,  or  perhaps 
sometimes  to  the  different  compactness  or  crystalline  arrange- 
ment among  the  particles  of  the  mineral. 


CUPELLATION   AND   ACTION    OF   ACIDS.  XClii 

Cupellation. 

Cupellation  is  an  operation  which  it  is  often  convenient  to 
resort  to  in  separating  metals  which  have  a  weak  attraction  for 
oxygen,  as  gold  and  silver,  from  those  which  readily  pass  into 
the  condition  of  oxides.  Thus,  the  silver  which  is  always  con- 
tained in  galena,  may  be  separated  by  continued  exposure  of  the 
assay  to  the  action  of  the  blowpipe  until  the  sulphur  and  lead 
have  been  driven  off.  The  silver  will  remain  in  an  extremely 
brilliant  globule  on  the  cupel.  This  cupel  should  be  about  one 
third  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  is  usually  made  of  bone  ashes, 
though  pipe  clay  will  answer  the  purpose.  It  is  placed  in  a  cav- 
ity made  in  a  piece  of  charcoal,  and  the  assay  deposited  in  the 
small  hollow  upon  its  upper  surface,  the  heat  being  applied 
gradually  at  first.  In  this  way  silver  may  be  detected  in  the 
ordinary  pig  lead  of  commerce.  The  advantage  of  the  cupel 
over  a  simple  charcoal  support  is,  that  the  assay  is  likely  to 
become  imbedded  in  the  latter,  so  that  the  result  is  not  so 
readily  observed.  On  the  cupel  successive  fragments  of  the 
ore  may  be  subjected  to  the  operation,  and  the  resulting  silver 
obtained  in  a  globule  of  considerable  size.* 

Action  of  Acids. 

Although  complete  analysis  be  not  the  object  in  subjecting 
minerals  to  the  action  of  acids,  yet  we  may  thereby  obtain 
characteristic  information  in  regard  to  many  species,  especially 
the  acidiferous,  and  some  of  the  alkalino-eartny  minerals. 

In  this  process  it  will  often  suffice  that  a  small  fragment  of 
the  mineral,  or  a  portion  of  it  reduced  to  powder,  should  be 
placed  in  a  concave  receiver,  a  watch-glass,  for  instance,  and 
that  it  be  covered  with  diluted  acid ;  for  this  purpose  the  mu- 
riatic is  commonly  used,  but  the  nitric  or  sulphuric  is  some- 
times employed.  When  effervescence  ensues,  it  is  important 
to  notice  the  rapidity  and  degree  of  effervescence ;  in  some 
minerals  it  is  great  and  rapid,  in  others  slow,  and  not  very  ap- 
parent:  sometimes  the  solution  is  complete;  sometimes  a  res- 
idue is  left,  and  occasionally,  as  in  some  of  the  alkalino-earthy 
substances,  the  mineral  becomes  gelatinous.  In  most  cases 
the  process  is  carried  on  at  the  common  temperature  of  the 
air ;  in  others,  by  the  application  of  a  gentle  heat. 

*  As  a  substitute  for  the  usual  cupels  of  clay,  or  bone  ashes,  Prof.  Mather  (Am.  Jour,  of 
Sci.  vol.  xxxv,  p.  321)  recommends  the  use  of  thin  slips  of  mica,  on  which  the  substance 
to  be  examined  is  treated  in  the  same  manner  by  oxidating  the  less  permanent  metals 
with  which  the  silver  or  gold  may  be  combined.  The  process  is  not  quite  as  expeditious 
as  the  other,  but  it  is  as  effective  ;  and  mica  being  always  at  hand,  it  may  be  often  most 
convenient  to  resort  to  it.  [AM.  ED.] 
I 


XC1V  ELEMENTARY    SUBSTANCES. 

Hence  it  will  be  concluded  that,  in  more  than  a  few  instances, 
the  consequences  of  the  action  of  acids  form  an  important  fea- 
ture among  the  characters  of  minerals. 

Elementary  Substances. 

It  forms  no  part  of  our  present  object  to  describe  the  manner 
in  which  the  chemist  pursues  his  researches.*  We  look  only 
to  the  results;  to  the  information  which  is  to  be  derived  from 
the  labors  of  the  chemist  in  regard  to  the  number  and  nature 
of  all  the  chemical  elements  of  minerals  which  have  hitherto 
been  analysed. 

Minerals  have  been  considered  as  either  simple  or  com- 
pound. Strictly  speaking,  very  few  minerals  are  found  in  a 
simple  form ;  for  if,  by  that  expression,  be  understood  the  ulti- 
mate elements  into  which  a  body  has  been  resolved,  only  a  small 
number  of  the  native  metals  will  fall  within  that  definition. 
The  true  chemical  elements  which  constitute,  by  their  various 
proportions  and  modes  of  combination,  the  immense  variety  of 
mineral,  and  all  other  bodies  belonging  to  our  globe,  so  far  as 
our  present  knowledge  of  them  extends,  amount  to  fifty-four , 
of  which  forty-two  are  metals.  They  are  the  following  : 

NON-METALLIC. 

n  *}  Mo     Chlorine.  "}  Ma     Sulphur. 

Oxygen.       I  ft     j^  I  ft    Phosphorus. 

Hydrogen.  >  8=?     •„        .        >  g'S      „    , r 
Nitrogen.    (  P     Bromine.  (  If     £arbon- 

•  2,     Fluorine.  )  •  2,     Boron. 
Selenium.  Silicium. 

METALLIC. 

ORDER  1.  —  Bases  of  the  Alkalies  and  Earths. 
Potassium.  \  >»         Strontium.  Glucinium. 

Sodium.       >  |f          Calcium.  Yttrium. 

Lithium.     J  » 2,         Magnesium.  Thorium. 

Barium.  Aluminum.  Zirconium. 

ORDER  2.  —  Metals  which  decompose  Water,  and  retain  Oxy- 
gen, at  a  red  heat. 

Manganese.  Tin.  Cobalt. 

Zinc.  Cadmium.  Nickel. 

Iron. 

*On  this  subject  reference  should  be  had  to  the  Treatise  on  Analytic  Chemistry,  by  H. 
Rose  ;  to  Part  Third  of  Thomson's  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  Geology,  &c. ;  "  On  the 
Method  of  Analyzing  Minerals  ; "  and  also  to  a  very  recent  and  valuable  Treatise  on 
"Chemical  Analysis,  Inorganic  and  Organic,"  by  Edward  Andrew  Farnell.  London, 
1842.  [AM.  ED.] 


ELEMENTARY    SUBSTANCES.  XCV 

ORDER  3.  —  Metals  which  do  not  decompose  Water  at  any  tem- 
perature, and  whose  Oxides  are  not  reducible  by  heat. 
Arsenic.  Columbium.  Titanium. 

Chromium.  Antimony.  Tellurium. 

Vanadium.  Uranium.  Copper. 

Molybdenum.         Cerium.  Lead. 

Tungsten.  Bismuth. 

ORDER  4.  —  Metals  whose  Oxides  are  reducible  by  a  red  heat. 
Mercury.  Platinum.  Osmium. 

Silver.  Palladium.  Indium.* 

Gold.  Rhodium. 

It  is  not  within  the  province  of  this  work  to  give  any  thing 
more  than  a  brief  account  of  the  history  and  general  properties 
of  the  substances  here  enumerated.  For  further  information 
of  this  kind,  the  student  must  consult  the  latest  treatises  on 
Chemistry.  The  object  is  rather  to  make  known  the  atomic 
weights  of  their  leading  combinations  with  each  other,  as  min- 
eral constituents,  and  to  give  the  symbols  by  which  their  com- 
position will  be  expressed  in  the  formulae  employed  for  this 
purpose  in  the  subsequent  part  of  this  treatise.  The  atomic 
weights  are  given,  both  according  to  the  oxygen  and  hydrogen 
scale;  in  all  cases,  however,  in  accordance  with  the  doctrine 
originally  advanced  by  Prout,  and  which  Dr.  Thomson  endeav- 
ored to  establish  experimentally,  that  they  are  all  simple  multi- 
ples of  the  atomic  weight  of  hydrogen.^  For  more  convenient 
reference,  a  list  of  the  various  substances,  with  their  equivalents 
and  symbols,  will  be  given  after  the  conclusion  of  the  following 
descriptions,  containing  also  the  weights  as  determined  by  Ber- 
zelius ;  and  the  student  will  be  shown  in  what  way  the  several 
members  of  it  are  to  be  employed  in  calculating  the  atomic 
constitution  of  minerals  from  analysis.  Oxygen,  instead  of 
hydrogen,  being  taken  as  unity,  the  atomic  weights  of  bodies 
are  represented  by  a  number  which  is  eight  times  less  than  it 
would  be  were  we  to  adopt  the  latter;  it  is  therefore  the  sim- 
plest and  most  convenient  for  practical  purposes,  and  has  hence 
been  preferred. 

*  To  the  above  list  of  elementary  bodies  must  now  be  added  the  new  metal  Lantha- 
nium,  lately  discovered  by  M.  Mosamler,  though  at  present  little  is  known  of  its  combi- 
nations in  the  mineral  kingdom,  nor  has  its  exact  place  been  assigned  among  the  metals. 
It  has  only  been  found  associated  with,  or  concealed  in,  Cerite,  or  Oxide  of  Cerium ; 
whence  its  name  from  the  Greek,  to  conceal,  it  forms  two  oxides,  and  seems  closely 
allied  to  Yttrium  and  Zirconium.  They  are  also  combined  with  a  third  new  element 
(Didymium)  from  which  as  yet  they  have  not  been  entirely  separated.  [AM.  ED.] 

t  More  recent  experiments,  by  several  distinguished  chemists,  may  now  be  adduced  in 
favor  of  Dr.  Prout's  idea,  as  those  by  Dumas,  Marchand,  and  Erdmann,  instituted  on  wa- 
ter, carbon,  and  several  of  the  gases  and  metals.  It  is  remarked  by  Kane,  "that  the 


XCV1  NON-METALLIC    BODIES. 

I. NON-METALLIC    BODIES. 

OXYGEN  has  never  yet  been  obtained  in  a  state  of  complete 
insulation.  Its  most  simple  form  is  that  of  an  elastic  fluid  or 
gas,  resembling,  in  mechanical  properties,  the  air  of  our 
atmosphere,  and  not  condensible  into  a  liquid  by  any  known 
degree  of  cold.  Oxygen  gas  was  first  obtained  by  Priestly,  in 
1774,  and  may  be  separated  by  heat  from  black  oxide  of  man- 
ganese, chlorate  of  potassa,  &c.  Its  specific  gravity,  that  of 
air  being  1  at  mean  temperature  and  pressure,  is  mil  ; 
hence  100  cubic  inches  weigh  34.60  grains.  Oxygen  unites 
with  some  bodies  slowly  and  imperceptibly ;  with  others 
rapidly,  and  with  the  extrication  of  heat  and  light ;  and  the 
resulting  compounds  are  sometimes  gaseous,  sometimes  fluid, 
at  others  solid.  In  the  compounds  thus  generated  new  prop- 
erties are  apparent ;  some  being  acid,  others  alkaline,  others, 
which  are  neither  acid  nor  alkaline,  being  called  oxides. 
Among  the  non-metallic  bodies,  hydrogen,  carbon,  and  silicon, 
are  those,  in  union  with  which  oxygen  is  most  abundantly  dif- 
fused through  the  mineral  kingdom,  under  the  forms  of  water, 
carbonic  acid,  and  silica.  Of  its  combinations  with  metals, 
the  most  universal  are  those  with  calcium,  aluminum,  and  iron. 
Oxygen  gas  constitutes  about  four  fifths  in  volume  of  the  air 
of  our  atmosphere,  to  which  it  imparts  the  property  of  being 
respirable,  and  supporting  combustion.  Its  combining  propor- 
tion, or  equivalent  number,  that  of  hydrogen  being  taken  as 
unity,  is  8  ;  its  symbol  O.  But  oxygen  is  now  usually  made  the 
standard  to  which  all  atomic  weights  refer,  and  is  expressed  as 
either  1  or  100,  hydrogen  being  either  0-125  or  12-5. 

CHLORINE,  discovered  by  Scheele  in  1774,  is  a  gas  of  a  yel- 
lowish-green color,  not  capable  of  being  permanent  over  water, 
which  absorbs  twice  its  volume.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2'5, 
which  gives  75'67  as  the  weight  of  100  cubic  inches.  It  is 
condensible  by  a  pressure  of  four  atmospheres,  into  a  yellow- 
ish liquid;  is  not  respirable,  and,  if  breathed  unmixed,  pro- 
duces suffocation.  It  unites  with  an  equal  volume  of  hydrogen 
gas,  giving  two  volumes  of  hydro-chloric  or  muriatic  acid,  which 
acid  is  absorbed  to  a  great  extent  by  water.  Chlorine  com- 
bines also  with  most  of  the  metals,  with  some  exhibiting  the 
appearance  of  a  brilliant  inflammation.  In  nature  it  exists 
most  abundantly  in  common  salt  (chloride  of  sodium),  which 

equivalent  numbers  of  Berzelius  must  be  looked  upon  as  being,  in  a  slight  degree,  still 
open  to  revision.  Phillips  has  lately  reopened  the  discussion  in  England,  and  Dumas  ia 
inclined  to  consider  the  original  views  of  Prout  as  being  probably  correct."  Elements  of 
Chemistry  by  Robert  Kane,  M.  D.,  p.  333.  (Dublin  Edition,  1842.)  [AM.  ED.] 


NON-METALLIC   BODIES.  XCvii 

contains  it  in  the  proportion  of  about  60  per  cent.  Its  equiv- 
alent number  is  4'5,  oxygen  being  reckoned  as  unity,  or  36 
by  the  hydrogen  scale ;  its  symbol  Chi. 

IODINE  was  discovered  in  1812,  by  M.  Courtois  of  Paris.  It 
may  be  ranked  among  mineral  products,  inasmuch  as  it  exists 
in  sea-water,  and  in  the  water  of  several  natural  springs.  The 
process  for  obtaining  it  is  too  complicated  to  be  described 
here;  and  it  may  be  purchased  ready  prepared.  It  occurs  in 
shining  scales,  having  the  lustre  and  color  of  steel,  or  rather 
of  micaceous  iron  ore,  the  specific  gravity  of  which  is  4'948. 
It  is  crystallizable;  and  the  crystals  have,  for  their  primitive 
form,  a  rhombic  octahedron.  At  225°  Fahrenheit  it  fuses, 
and  at  347°  forms  a  rich  violet-colored  vapor,  of  specific  grav- 
ity 8'7012;  hence  100  cubic  inches  must  weigh  269*84  grains. 
Iodine  possesses  an  exclusive  range  of  combination,  and  forms 
acids  both  with  oxygen,  hydrogen,  and  chlorine ;  but,  compared 
with  any  of  these  elements,  it  is  a  very  rare  production  of  na- 
ture. Its  equivalent,  oxygen  being  unity,  is  15'75,  or  126 
by  the  hydrogen  scale.  Its  symbol  is  I. 

BROMINE,  discovered  by  M.  Balard  of  Montpellier  in  1826, 
exists  in  sea-water  in  the  state  of  bromide  of  sodium  or  bromide 
of  magnesium,  but  in  very  minute  quantity  ;  and  sparingly  also 
in  several  mineral  springs.  At  common  temperatures  it  is 
liquid ;  dark  red  by  reflected,  hyacinth-red  by  transmitted 
light ;  its  odor  is  strong  and  unpleasant,  its  taste  acrid.  At 
116°  Fahrenheit  it  boils;  between  0  Fahrenheit  and  — 4°  it 
congeals.  The  density  of  its  gas  is  5'54.  It  acts  powerfully 
on  animal  substances,  and  is  extremely  poisonous.  It  unites 
with  all  the  simple  bodies  that  have  been  enumerated,  and  with 
the  metals,  forming,  with  the  latter  a  class  of  compounds  called 
bromides.  Its  equivalent  is  9'75  by  the  oxygen  scale,  or  78 
by  the  hydrogen ;  its  symbol  Br. 

FLUORINE  has  never  yet  been  obtained  insulated.  From 
analogy  it  is  believed  to  constitute,  with  hydrogen,  hydro-fluoric 
acid,  which  was  first  described  by  Gay-Lussac  and  Thenard  in 
1810.  The  estimated  proportion  is  1  by  weight  of  hydrogen 
to  18-  fluorine,  which  number  therefore  expresses  its  equiva- 
lent. The  great  repository  of  this  element  in  nature  is  the 
mineral  called  fluor  spar,  from  which  hydro-fluoric  acid  is 
obtained  by  distillation  with  sulphuric  acid  in  a  leaden  vessel. 
The  acid  is  gaseous  over  mercury,  but  acts  powerfully  in  glass 
vessels,  which,  to  contain  it,  must  be  coated  internally  with 


XCV111  NON-METALLIC    BODIES. 

bees'  wax.  The  gas  is  copiously  absorbed  by  water ;  and  the 
liquid  may  be  kept  in  leaden  vessels  well  stopped,  at  tempera- 
tures under  60°  Fahrenheit.  A  strong  solution  corrodes  and 
destroys  animal  substances;  and,  when  applied  to  the  human 
skin,  produces  deep  ulcerations.  The  gas  unites  with  silica, 
and  forms  fluo-silicic  acid.  The  equivalent  of  fluoric,  or  hydro- 
fluoric acid,  (oxygen  being  1)  is  2.375.  Its  symbol  is  Fl. 

NITROGEN,  or  AZOTE,  is  not  known  to  us  separately  in  a 
solid  or  liquid  form.  The  great  repository  of  it  is  the  atmos- 
phere, of  the  whole  volume  of  which  it  forms  about  four  fifths. 
It  was  discovered  by  Professor  Rutherford  of  Edinburgh,  in 
1772,  and  may  be  obtained  by  several  processes,  the  object  of 
most  of  which  is  to  take  away  the  oxygen  gas  from  atmospheric 
air.  It  is  a  colorless  gas,  incapable  of  supporting  respiration 
or  combustion ;  tasteless,  and  free  from  smell ;  its  specific 
gravity  0.972 ;  sparingly  absorbable  by  water ;  and  in  its 
gaseous  state  not  disposed  to  enter  readily  into  combinations. 
It  is  the  base  of  nitric  acid,  an  acid  which  enters  into  the  com- 
position of  nitrate  of  potassa  and  nitrate  of  soda,  both  found  in 
the  mineral  kingdom.  The  combining  number  of  nitrogen  is 
considered  by  some  chemists  to  be  14-00,  hydrogen  being 
unity;  or  1*75,  oxygen  being  unity.  Its  symbol  is  N,  that  of 
nitric  acid  Nt. 

HYDROGEN,  in  its  simplest  form,  is  a  gas.  It  is  obtained  by 
the  action  of  iron  or  zinc  on  dilute  sulphuric  acid.  It  is  per- 
manent over  water,  destitute  of  color,  and,  when  pure,  of 
smell;  combustible,  and  the  lightest  of  all  known  bodies,  its 
specific  gravity  being  to  air  as  0.0687  to  1.  With  half  its 
volume  of  oxygen  gas  it  combines  and  forms  water ;  with  an 
equal  volume  of  chlorine  gas  it  forms  hydrochloric  acid ;  and 
it  composes  analogous  acids  with  iodine,  bromine,  and  fluorine. 
Its  presence  in  the  mineral  kingdom  is  therefore  very  exten- 
sive, perhaps  more  so  than  that  of  any  other  element  except 
oxygen.  Its  equivalent,  or  atomic  weight,  (oxygen  being  1)  is 
0'125,  or  8  times  less  than  unity,  making  the  atomic  weight  of 
water  1'125.  But  by  many  chemists  hydrogen  is  expressed  as 
unity,  and  oxygen  8,  the  equivalent  for  water  thus  being  9. 
Its  symbol  is  H.  The  symbol  for  water  is  HO,  or  Aq. 

BORON  is  an  artificial  product,  obtained  by  the  action  of 
potassium  on  boracic  acid,  which  acid  is  found  in  nature  both 
separate  and  in  union  with  soda.  Boron  is  a  dark  olive-colored 
solid,  possessing  neither  taste  nor  odor ;  about  twice  the  weight 


NON-METALLIC   BODIES. 

of  water;  not  fusible  when  intensely  heated  in  a  close  vessel, 
but,  when  exposed  at  the  temperature  of  600°  to  the  atmos- 
phere, taking  fire,  burning,  and  being  converted  into  boracic 
acid.  Chemists  differ  in  stating  the  atomic  weight  of  boron ; 
Dr.  Thomson,  from  data  furnished  by  himself  and  Davy,  fixes 
it  at  8,  or  the  same  as  oxygen,  according  to  which  the  atomic 
weight  of  boracic  acid  (1  eq.  base,  2  eq.  oxygen)  is  24.  Or 
oxygen  being  unity,  the  former  is  1  and  the  latter  3.  Sym- 
bols :  boron  B,  boracic  acid  B. 

CARBON.  In  its  ordinary  form  this  substance  is  best  repre- 
sented by  pure  anthracite  coal,  or  by  charcoal  obtained  from 
the  most  solid  kinds  of  wood.  But  in  the  diamond  it  exists 
in  perfect  purity.  It  is  highly  combustible,  and  has  exten- 
sive powers  of  combination.  When  burned  in  oxygen  gas,  it 
does  not,  under  circumstances  favorable  to  such  a  result,  alter 
the  volume  of  the  gas,  but  gives  precisely  an  equal  bulk  of  car- 
bonic acid  gas.  This  acid  gas,  if  pure,  has  the  specific  gravity 
1*5277;  hence  100  cubic  inches  47*262  grains,  a  specific 
weight  which,  in  some  subterraneous  places,  occasions  it  to 
occupy  a  situation  nearest  the  ground.  It  is  non-respirable, 
and  is  incapable  of  supporting  combustion.  Carbon  is  most 
extensively  diffused  through  the  mineral  kingdom,  especially, 
as  will  afterwards  appear,  in  the  compounds  of  carbonic  acid 
with  various  bodies,  and  in  the  several  varieties  of  coal.  Its 
equivalent  is  6 ;  that  of  carbonic  acid  22 ;  or,  by  the  oxygen 
scale,  carbon,  0*75;  carbonic  acid  (1  atom  carbon -(-2  atoms 
oxygen)  ==  2*75.  Its  symbol  is  C ;  that  of  carbonic  acid  C. 

SILICON,  or  SILICIUM,  is  also  an  artificial  product,  obtainable 
from  the  earth  called  silex,  or  silica,  which  enters  into  a  very 
great  number  of  mineral  bodies,  and  in  large  proportions.  It 
was  discovered  by  Berzelius  in  1824.  At  first  it  was  consid- 
ered to  be  a  metal,  but  it  has  since  been  thought  to  bear  a 
more  striking  analogy  to  boron,  carbon,  &,c.  It  is  of  a  dark 
nut-brown  color,  without  any  metallic  lustre ;  incombustible  in 
air  or  in  oxygen  gas,  but  oxidizable  by  circuitous  methods, 
which  convert  it  into  silica,  now  more  properly  called  silicic 
acid,  which  is  the  only  known  oxide  of  silicon,  and  constitutes 
a  number  of  minerals,  as  quartz,  calcedony,  amethyst,  opal, 
&c.  It  performs  the  part  of  an  acid,  uniting  with  several 
bases,  forming  silicates,  among  which  the  zeolite  minerals 
may  be  mentioned.  Silicon  resembles  boron  very  closely  in 
some  of  its  properties,  and  it  has  the  same  atomic  weight  with 
that  body.  Its  equivalent,  by  the  hydrogen  scale,  is  8 ;  that  of 


C  NON-METALLIC    BODIES. 

silica  or  silicic  acid,  16.  The  equivalent  for  silica  is  thus  2 
by  the  oxygen  scale,  and,  in  stating  the  composition  of  miner- 
als, it  will  be  denoted  simply  by  the  initial  S. 

SULPHUR  is  an  abundant  product  of  the  mineral  kingdom, 
not  only  in  a  nearly  pure  state,  but  also  in  combination.  As 
met  with  in  commerce,  it  is  chiefly  the  product  of  volcanos; 
and  it  is  also  obtained  from  pyrites,  a  compound  of  iron  or 
copper,  and  sulphur.  Its  color  is  yellow ;  its  specific  gravity 
1'99 ;  it  begins  to  fuse  at  216°  F.,  and  becomes  more  and  more 
fluid  up  to  280°.  At  550°  or  600°  F.,  it  is  volatilized,  and 
gives  a  vapor,  the  specific  gravity  of  which  is  between  6'5  and 
6'6.  This  vapor,  when  condensed,  forms  flowers  of  sulphur ; 
and  the  flowers,  when  melted  and  cooled,  become  roll  or  stick 
sulphur.  By  slow  cooling,  sulphur  takes  a  regular  crystalline 
form.  When  heated  to  300°,  or  a  little  more,  in  the  open  air, 
it  takes  fire  and  burns,  with  a  blue  flame  of  suffocating  smell. 

Sulphur  unites  with  oxygen  in  various  proportions;  but  its 
most  important  compound  with  that  basis  is  sulphuric  acid,  in 
which,  in  combination  with  various  substances,  it  is  very  com- 
mon in  the  mineral  kingdom.  With  hydrogen  it  forms  sul- 
phuretted hydrogen  gas,  a  natural  product ;  and  with  the  met- 
als it  constitutes  the  important  class  of  mineral  compounds 
called  sulphurets.  Its  equivalent  number  by  the  hydrogen 
scale  is  16;  that  of  the  acid  is  40.  Reckoning  oxygen  as 
unity,  the  equivalent  of  the  former  is  2,  of  the  latter  5. 
Symbols :  sulphur,  SI ;  the  acid,  SI. 

SELENIUM,  first  made  known  by  Berzelius  in  1818,  is  rather 
a  rare  substance.  It  was  first  obtained  from  some  varieties  of 
Swedish  iron  pyrites,  and  has  since  been  found  combined  with 
lead,  cobalt,  silver,  mercury,  and  copper.  Its  chemical  habi- 
tudes approach  most  nearly  to  those  of  sulphur,  from  which, 
however,  it  is  readily  distinguishable.  It  has,  when  in  mass, 
a  metallic  lustre  and  the  aspect  of  lead  ;  and,  when  pulver- 
ized, exhibits  a  deep  red  color;  its  specific  gravity  is  4'3;  at 
212°  F.  it  softens,  and  may  be  drawn  into  fine  threads,  which 
are  red  by  transmitted  light.  It  becomes  fluid  a  little  above 
212°,  and  at  650°  is  converted  into  a  deep  yellow  vapor.  It 
unites  with  oxygen  in  three  portions,  forming  oxide  of  sele- 
nium, selenious  acid,  and  selenic  acid  ;  the  latter,  consisting  of 
1  equivalent  base  and  1  of  oxygen,  occur  in  combination  with 
several  metals.  Its  equivalent  by  the  hydrogen  scale  is  40  ;  by 
the  oxygen  scale,  5 ;  that  of  selenic  acid  is  64  and  8.  Sym- 
bols :  selenium,  Sel ;  selenic  acid,  Sel. 


METALS.  Ci 

PHOSPHORUS  is  an  artificial  solid,  obtained  most  abundantly, 
by  a  circuitous  process,  from  bones,  but  also  derivable  from 
the  mineral  kingdom.  It  is  fusible  at  108°  F. ;  volatile  at 
550°.  It  is  highly  combustible,  both  in  air,  in  oxygen  gas, 
and  in  chlorine.  According  to  the  proportion  of  oxygen,  it 
forms  different  acids;  and  one  of  these,  the  phosphoric  acid, 
in  union  with  lime,  exists  in  the  mineral  kingdom.  It  unites 
also  with  hydrogen.  Its  equivalent  by  the  hydrogen  scale  is 
16;  by  the  oxygen,  2;  that  of  the  acid,  36,  3*5.  The  sym- 
bol for  phosphorus  is  Ph ;  that  for  the  acid  is  Ph. 

II. METALS. 


POTASSIUM  was  discovered  by  Sir  H.  Davy  in  1807.  It  does 
not  exist  in  nature  as  a  metal,  but  is  obtained  by  artificial 
methods,  all  of  which  have  in  view  the  decomposition  of  pot- 
ash or  potassa.  It  is  soft  and  solid  at  common  temperatures, 
and  yields  like  wax  to  pressure;  it  begins  to  melt  at  70°,  and 
is  quite  fluid  at  150°  F.  It  rises  into  vapor  when  heated  in  a 
vessel  from  which  atmospheric  air  is  excluded.  In  color  and 
lustre  it  resembles  quicksilver;  is  quite  opake;  conducts  heat 
and  electricity,  and  has  the  specific  gravity  0'865,  or  it  is  con- 
siderably lighter  than  water.  It  is  highly  oxidable,  and  even 
takes  oxygen  from  water,  on  the  surface  of  which  it  burns 
with  a  bright  flame  by  a  succession  of  explosions.  Its  equiva- 
lent is  5,  which,  uniting  with  one  equivalent  of  oxygen,  forms 
protoxide  of  potassium,  or  potash,  a  substance  which  enters 
into  the  composition  of  a  large  number  of  minerals.  The 
symbol  is  K,  the  first  letter  of  Kalium,  by  which  name  it  has 
been  distinguished  by  foreign  chemists. 

SODIUM,  in  its  external  properties,  resembles  potassium  ;  but 
it  has  greater  specific  gravity,  viz :  0*972.  It  fuses  at  200° 
F.,  and  is  not  volatilized  by  a  heat  under  redness.  When 
united  with  oxygen  in  the  proportion  of  3  by  weight  to  1  oxy- 
gen, it  constitutes  soda,  also  an  important  ingredient  of  several 
mineral  substances,  such  as  the  chloride  and  the  carbonate, 
and  in  several  of  the  varieties  of  zeolite.  Its  symbol  is  N, 
from  Natrium,  the  name  given  to  it  by  German  chemists. 

LITHIUM.  The  oxide  of  this  metal,  litlda,  was  discovered 
by  M.  Arfvvedson  in  1818,  in  the  mineral  called  petalite ;  and 
it  has  since  been  extracted  from  spodumene,  lepidolite,  and 
some  kinds  of  mica,  and  also  from  the  waters  of  Carlsbad,  by 


Cll  METALS. 

Berzelius.  From  lithia,  the  metal  is  obtained  by  deoxidizing 
processes;  but  if  placed  in  contact  with  air,  it  returns  to  the 
state  of  lithia  too  rapidly  to  admit  its  accurate  examination. 
In  its  obvious  properties,  lithia  approaches  to  potassa  and  soda, 
but  has  a  greater  neutralizing  power,  and  its  salts  tinge  the 
flame  of  the  blowpipe  of  a  red  color.  It  attacks  platinum 
when  fused  upon  it,  leaving  a  yellowish  trace.  The  equivalent 
of  lithium,  as  given  by  Thomson,  is  O75;  Lithia,  1*75.  The 
symbol  is  L. 

BARIUM.  Barytes,  the  source  of  barium,  a  metal  which  can 
only  be  got  by  chemical  operations,  was  discovered  by  Scheele 
in  1774.  Barium  has  a  dark  grey  color,  and  a  lustre  resem- 
bling that  of  cast  iron.  It  is  much  denser  than  water,  and 
even  than  sulphuric  acid.  It  attracts  oxygen  with  avidity,  and 
is  reconverted  into  barytes,  which  is  the  protoxide,  and  the  only 
oxide  which  concerns  us  as  mineralogists ;  the  equivalent  of 
which  is  9-5,  that  of  barium  being  8'5.  The  symbol  for  the 
metal  is  Ba. ;  that  of  barytes  Br. 

Barytes  is  pretty  extensively  diffused  through  the  mineral 
kingdom,  chiefly  in  combination  with  the  carbonic  and  sul- 
phuric acids,  as  witherite  and  heavy  spar. 

STRONTIUM.  The  source  of  this  metal,  which  does  not  exist 
as  such  in  nature,  is  strontian.  The  carbonate  of  that  earth 
was  first  accurately  examined,  and  the  peculiarities  of  its  earthy 
base  established,  by  Professor  Hope  of  Edinburgh,  in  1792. 
Little  is  known  of  the  properties  of  strontium  in  its  metallic 
form ;  but  it  is  white,  solid,  harder  than  potassium  or  sodium, 
according  to  Prof.  Hare ;  much  heavier  than  water,  and  bears  a 
close  resemblance  to  boron.  When  exposed  to  air  or  water  it 
absorbs  oxygen  and  is  converted  into  strontian,  which  consists 
of  one  atom  metal,  55,  and  one  atom  oxygen,  I,  =  (r5.  The 
combining  proportions  are  therefore  5'5,  strontium;  6'5, 
strontian.  The  symbol  of  strontian,  which  alone  concerns 
mineralogy,  is  Str.  In  nature,  the  carbonate  and  sulphate  of 
strontia  are  not  very  uncommon  productions. 

CALCIUM,  the  metallic  base  of  the  well-known  earth  lime, 
has  been  obtained  only  in  very  small  quantities,  and  its  prop- 
erties have  not  been  accurately  investigated.*  It  is  of  a  whiter 
color  than  barium  or  strontium,  and  is  rapidly  converted  back 
again  into  lime,  or  protoxide  of  calcium,  composed  of  1  atom 

*Prof.  Hare,  of  Philadelphia,  by  an  improved  process,  has  been  able  to  obtain  this,  and 
the  two  preceding  metals,  in  quantities  sufficient  to  show  with  much  more  distinctness 
their  characteristic  properties.  See  Am.  Jour,  of  Science,  vol.  xxxvii,  p.  67.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALS.  ciii 

oxygen,  1  atom  base.  This  oxide  forms  a  very  large  propor- 
tion of  the  crust  of  our  globe,  chiefly  in  the  shape  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  which  constitutes  whole  mountains  and  extensive 
strata ;  and  also  of  sulphate  of  lime.  Lime,  it  is  well  known, 
heats  violently  on  the  addition  of  water;  is  sparingly  soluble 
in  that  fluid ;  has  an  alkaline  re-agency,  and  enters  into  ener- 
getic combination  with  a  great  variety  of  bodies.  It  forms  an 
essential  ingredient  in  a  large  number  of  simple  crystallized 
minerals.  The  symbol  for  lime  is  Cal ;  its  equivalent  3'5. 

MAGNESIUM  was  discovered  by  Black,  1775.  Its  oxide, 
magnesia,  is  pretty  extensively  diffused  as  a  constituent  of  min- 
eral bodies.  *  The  chief  natural  compounds  of  magnesia  are 
with  sulphuric,  muriatic,  silicic,  and  carbonic  acids ;  arid  with 
alumina  and  other  earths.  It  forms  an  atomic  combination 
with  water,  or  a  hydrate,  which  occurs  in  the  native  state. 
The  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  1-5;  that  of  its  only  oxide, 
magnesia,  2'5,  of  which  the  symbol  is  Mg. 

ALUMINUM,  discovered  by  Magraff,  1754,  is  the  metallic 
base  of  alumina,  or  pure  argillaceous  earth  or  clay,  than  which, 
few  substances  are  more  extensively  diffused  throughout  the 
mineral  kingdom.  Aluminum  was  first  artificially  obtained  by 
Wohler;  it  presents  the  appearance  of  a  grey  powder,  very 
similar  to  that  of  platinum.  It  requires  an  intense  heat  for  its 
fusion,  and  shows  a  feeble  affinity  for  oxygen,  so  far  as  is  indi- 
cated by  direct  combination.  Alumina  is  viewed  by  Berzelius 
and  others  as  a  sesqui-oxide,  consisting  of  two  equivalents 
aluminum,  and  three  of  oxygen;  but  Dr.  Thomson  makes  it 
to  consist  of  one  atom  of  each;  its  equivalent  being  225.  Its 
symbol  is  Al.  In  its  purest  crystallized  form,  alumina  consti- 
tutes sapphire  and  ruby,  two  of  the  hardest  gems.  Like  silex, 
though  in  but  few  instances,  it  acts  the  part  of  an  acid  in  min- 
eral combinations,  and  forms  aluminates. 

GLUCINIUM.  Its  source,  glucina,  was  identified  as  a  distinct 
earth  by  Vauquelin  in  the  year  1798.  At  first  it  was  found 
only  in  euclase,  beryl,  and  emerald,  and  may  still  be  consid- 
ered a  very  rare  product  of  nature.  Its  name  was  derived 
from  a  Greek  word  signifying  sweet,  a  property  observed  in 
all  its  salts.  Glucina  itself  is  white,  insipid,  and  insoluble  in 
water.  By  some  it  is  regarded  as  a  sesqui-oxide ;  but  by 
Thomson  and  Brande  its  equivalent  is  put  down  at  3-25,  the 
metal  being  2  25 ;  or  it  consists  of  only  one  equivalent  metal, 
and  one  of  oxygen.  Its  symbol  is  G. 


CIV  METALS. 

YTTRIUM  is  the  base  of  the  earth  yttria,  which  was  discov- 
ered by  Professor  Gadolin  in  1794,  in  a  mineral  found  at 
Ytterby  in  Sweden,  since  called  gadolinite.  Yttria  bears  a 
considerable  resemblance  in  its  properties  to  glucina.  It  is  a 
protoxide,  and  exists  in  one  or  two  other  minerals  besides 
gadolinite,  which  are  mentioned  in  this  volume.  Its  symbol 
is  Y,  its  equivalent  5-5 ;  yttrium  45. 

THORIUM.  The  earth  thorina  has  only  been  obtained  by 
Berzelius  from  a  rare  Swedish  mineral  now  called  thorite. 
The  high  specific  gravity  of  this  earth,  9'042,  is  its  most 
remarkable  characteristic.  Its  equivalent  is  not  known,  but  is 
supposed  to  be  about  68,  hydrogen  being  unity,  or  8*5,  oxygen 
being  unity.  Its  symbol  is  Th. 

ZIRCONIUM  is  the  base  of  the  earth  zirconia,  which  was  dis- 
covered in  1789  by  Klaproth  in  the  jargon  or  zircon  of  Ceylon, 
in  the  hyacinth  of  France,  and  more  recently  by  Dr.  Muir,  in 
Sillimanite  of  the  United  States.  The  nearest  approximation  to 
its  equivalent  is  probably,  according  to  Berzelius,  between  30 
and  33 ;  that  of  zirconia,  which  is  concerned  in  mineralogy, 
oxygen  being  unity,  is  stated  at  3'75 ;  its  symbol,  Zr. 


ORDER    II. 


MANGANESE,  discovered  by  Scheele  in  1774,  was  first  reduced 
to  the  metallic  form  by  Gahn,  (same  year)  from  the  black  oxide 
of  manganese,  a  substance  first  investigated  by  Scheele.  As  a 
metal,  it  possesses  so  powerful  an  affinity  for  oxygen  that  it 
never  occurs  native.  It  is  of  a  grey  color;  has  a  granular 
texture;  a  specific  gravity  of  about  8;  is  hard  and  brittle;  and 
is  very  difficult  of  fusion.  Its  oxides  are,  1st,  the  protoxide, 
which  is  the  base  of  all  the  salts  of  manganese.  This  is  of  a 
light  green  color,  is  composed  of  28  parts  by  weight  of  metal, 
and  8  of  oxygen;  and  has  so  strong  an  attraction  for  a  further 
proportion  of  that  basis,  as  to  take  fire  and  burn  when  heated 
to  about  600°  F.  in  the  open  air.  %d,  the  sesqui-oxide,  which 
may  be  obtained  artificially,  is  also  found  in  nature,  combined 
only  with  water,  and  constituting  prismatic  crystals.  It  is  the 
sesqui-oxide  which  remains  after  heating  the  next  oxide  to  red- 
ness; it  consists  of  two  equivalents  of  manganese  and  three  of 
oxygen.  3d,  the  bin-oxide,  the  well-known  black  ore  (pyrolu- 
site)  used  in  preparing  chlorine,  consists  of  28  manganese 
and  16  oxygen,  or  of  one  equivalent  of  metal  and  two  equiva- 
lents of  oxygen,  Besides  these  well-characterized  oxides, 


METALS.  CV 

there  are  three  others,  two  of  which  occur  native,  and  may, 
perhaps,  more  properly  be  regarded  as  compounded  of  two  of 
those  already  described :  these  are  the  mineral  called  varvi- 
cite,  and  the  red  oxide,  or  oxidum  manganeso-manganicum  of 
Arfwedson.  The  other  possesses  acid  properties,  and  is  called 
manganesic  acid,  composed,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  of  one 
equivalent  of  the  sesqui-oxide,  and  one  equivalent  oxygen,  or, 
which  is  the  same  thing,  of  one  equivalent  manganese,  and  two 
and  a  half  equivalents  oxygen.  Stated  by  the  oxygen  scale, 
the  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  3-5 ;  that  of  the  protoxide  (one 
atom  manganese,  one  atom  oxygen)  is  4'5;  that  of  the  sesqui- 
oxide  (one  atom  metal  to  one  and  a  half  atom  oxygen)  is  5 ; 
that  of  the  bin-oxide  (one  atom  metal  to  two  atoms  oxygen)  is 
55.  The  symbol  of  the  metal  is  Mn. ;  that  of  the  protoxide, 
Mn;  of  the  sesqui-oxide,  Mn;  of  the  bin-oxide,  Mn. 

ZINC  was  first  mentioned  by  Paracelsus,  but  its  ores  were 
known  at  a  much  earlier  period.  In  commerce  it  is  commonly 
known  under  the  name  of  spelter,  which  is  a  very  impure  form 
of  the  substance,  and  is  obtained  from  the  native  carbonate  of 
zinc,  called  calamine,  or  from  the  sulphuret  (blende)  by  distil- 
lation per  descensum,  it  being  a  very  volatile  metal.  It  has  a 
bluish  white  color,  with  a  brilliant  lustre ;  its  specific  gravity 
is  about  7.  At  common  temperatures  it  is  tough  and  intracti- 
ble  under  the  hammer  ;  but  when  heated  to  above  500°  it  be- 
comes brittle,  and  fuses  at  770°.  In  this  state  it  combines 
rapidly  with  oxygen,  producing  greyish  white  flocculi,  which 
were  called  by  the  ancients  pompholyx  and  philosopher's  wool — 
but  are  now  known  as  flowers  of  zinc,  or  the  white  oxide  of 
zinc.  This  is  a  protoxide,  and  the  only  known  combination 
of  oxygen  and  this  rnetal,  consisting  of  zinc  80'95,  oxygen 
19*04,  or  one  equivalent  of  each.  This  oxide  enters  into  the 
composition  of  several  mineral  species,  as  zinciferous  spinel 
and  franklinite.  The  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  4-25,  that  of 
its  oxide  5  25.  Its  symbol  is  Z,  that  of  the  oxide  Z 

IRON  is  a  metal  too  well  known  to  need  description.  Of  all 
the  metals,  it  is  the  one  which  is  most  abundant  in  the  mineral 
kingdom.  It  is  malleable  and  ductile ;  its  specific  gravity, 
which  varies  according  to  the  processes  it  has  undergone,  is 
about  7*7 ;  it  powerfully  attracts  oxygen,  and  in  oxygen  gas 
even  burns  with  brilliant  corruscations.  There  are  two  dis- 
tinctly characterized  oxides  of  iron ;  the  one,  which  is  black, 
but  affords  green  salts  with  acids,  is  constituted  of  twenty-eight 
parts  of  iron  and  eight  of  oxygen,  and  is  called  the  protoxide ; 

K 


CV1  METALS. 

the  other,  named  peroxide,  may  be  viewed  as  composed  either 
of  two  equivalents  (28  X  2)  —  56  of  iron,  and  three  equivalents 
of  oxygen,  or  of  one,  and  one  and  a  half.  The  color  of  the 
peroxide  is  red,  and  it  imparts  that  color  to  its  saline  combina- 
tions. Combined  with  water,  it  forms  an  important  class  of 
ores,  the  hydrated  peroxides,  or  hematites.  Besides  these  two 
oxides,  there  is  a  native  black  compound  of  iron  and  oxygen, 
composed  of  the  protoxide  and  peroxide  in  atomic  proportions, 
and  called  by  Berzelius  oxydum  ferroso-ferricum.  This  is  the 
common  magnetic  iron  ore  of  mineralogists,  described  in  this 
work  under  the  title  of  pleisto-magnetic  iron.  There  are  also 
three  other  definite  combinations  of  these  two  oxides.  The 
magnetic  ore  is  found  in  regular  octahedral  crystals,  which  not 
only  affect  the  magnet,  but  are  sometimes  magnetic.  Iron  also 
enters  very  extensively  into  combinations  with  other  simple  and 
compound  bodies.  Its  compounds  with  sulphur  are,  next  to 
its  oxides,  the  most  important  to  the  mineralogist.  The  proto- 
sulphuret,  both  artificially  prepared  and  occurring  native,  con- 
sists of  28  iron  and  16  sulphur ;  the  sesqui-sulphuret  is  an  arti- 
ficial product,  of  56  iron  and  48  sulphur;  and  the  bi-sulphuret 
(native  iron  pyrites)  consists  of  28  iron  and  32  sulphur.  Be- 
sides these,  there  are  other  sulphurets,  formed  by  the  union  of 
the  preceding  ones  in  different  proportions.  With  carbon,  iron 
forms  that  useful  mineral  product  plumbago,  or  graphite,  which 
is  also  an  artificial  production.  The  symbol  of  iron  is  F;  of 
the  protoxide,  F ;  for  the  peroxide,  F  Oxygen  being  reck- 
oned as  unity,  the  combining  proportion  of  iron  is  3'5;  of 
protoxide,  (I  atom  iron,  I  atom  oxygen)  —  4'5;  of  peroxide, 
1  atom  iron  1£  atom  oxygen )  —  5. 

TIN,  in  the  form  of  pure  grain  tin,  is  of  a  white  color, 
resembling  silver,  and  has  a  similar  lustre.  It  is  malleable 
and  ductile,  the  latter  in  a  less  degree  than  some  other  metals. 
Its  specific  gravity  is  about  7'9 ;  it  fuses  at  442°  F. ;  and, 
when  more  strongly  heated,  takes  fire  and  burns  into  protoxide, 
which  consists  of  one  equivalent  (7*25)  of  metal,  one  of  oxygen. 
This  oxide  is  combustible,  and,  when  touched  by  a  red-hot  body, 
burns  in  the  air  with  peroxide,  consisting  of  the  same  weight 
of  metal  and  2  atoms  oxygen.  The  equivalent  of  the  protoxide 
is  therefore  8'25,  of  the  peroxide  9-25.  Besides  these,  an  arti- 
ficial compound  may  be  formed  of  two  equivalents  of  tin  and 
three  of  oxygen,  called  the  sesqui-oxide.  Analogous  to  these 
are  the  three  sulphurets,  the  proto-sulphurct,  bi-sulphuret,  and 
sesqui-sulphuret.  The  symbol  of  tin  is  Sta.,  from  its  Latin 
name  Stannum ;  that  of  the  peroxide  is  Sta. 


METALS.  Cvii 

CADMIUM  was  discovered  by  Stromeyer  in  1817,  in  an  oxide 
of  zinc.  It  may  be  obtained  from  the  sublimate  which  rises 
from  calamine.  Cadmium  is  both  ductile  and  malleable;  re- 
sembles tin  in  appearance  and  fusibility  ;  is  nearly  as  volatile 
as  mercury,  and  its  vapor,  which  is  free  from  odor,  condenses 
into  shining  drops.  Its  specific  gravity  is  about  8'6.  When 
heated  in  the  open  air  it  is  readily  oxidized.  Its  only  oxide  is 
of  an  orange-yellow,  arid  consists  of  5'6  cadmium  and  8  oxy- 
gen, or  one  equivalent  cadmium  and  one  of  oxygen.  In  the 
oxygen  scale  of  proportions,  7  will  represent  the  metal,  and  8 
the  oxide.  Its  symbol  is  Cd.  It  does  not  exist  as  a  distinct 
mineral  species. 


COBALT,  discovered  by  Brandt  in  1733,  is  principally  ob- 
tained from  an  ore  of  arsenic,  and  is  found  in  small  proportion 
in  meteoric  iron.  It  is  a  brittle  metal,  of  a  reddish-grey  color, 
and  feeble  lustre  ;  its  specific  gravity  about  8'7;  fusible  at  a 
heat  rather  below  that  at  which  iron  melts  ;  attractible  by  the 
magnet,  and  readily  oxidable.  It  constitutes  with  oxygen  two 
distinct  oxides,  the  protoxide  and  the  sesqui-oxide,  the  first 
composed  of  1  atom  cobalt  and  1  atom  oxygen,  the  last  com- 
posed of  1  atom  cobalt  and  1^  atom  oxygen.  According  to 
Gmelin,  there  is  also  a  third  oxide,  which  possesses  acid  prop- 
erties, and  is  called  by  him  cobaltic  acid.  This  is  the  perox- 
ide, or  a  compound  of  I  atom  metal,  2  atoms  oxygen.  The 
distinguishing  character  of  this  metal  is,  that  in  solution  it 
forms  the  basis  of  the  best  sympathetic  inks.  Sulphur  also 
unites  with  cobalt  in  three  proportions.  Its  symbol  is  Cb.  ; 
its  equivalent  30,  hydrogen  being  unity,  or  3-75  by  the  oxygen 
scale.  Symbol  for  the  native  oxide,  Cb 

NICKEL.  This  metal  was  discovered  by  Cronstedt  in  1751. 
It  has  the  specific  gravity  of  about  8*5  to  9;  is  ductile  and 
malleable,  and  is  not  only  attracted  by  the  magnet,  but  capable 
of  being  itself  rendered  magnetic.  It  is  very  infusible  ;  is  not 
altered  by  the  air  at  common  temperatures,  but  absorbs  oxygen 
at  a  red  heat.  The  solutions  of  this  metal  in  acids  have,  for 
the  most  part,  a  beautiful  green  color.  Nickel  occurs  in  the 
metallic  state  with  meteoric  iron.  But  the  nickel  of  commerce 
is  obtained  from  the  ore  of  cobalt.  When  pure,  it  is  of  a  color 
resembling  silver.  It  combines  with  two  proportions  of  oxygen, 
forming  the  protoxide  and  sesqui-oxide.  Its  equivalent  is  the 
same  as  that  of  cobalt,  above  mentioned.  Symbols  :  Nk  for 
the  metal  ;  Nk  for  the  native  oxide. 


CV111  METALS. 

ORDER    III. 

ARSENIC,  in  its  metallic  form,  has  a  strong  metallic  lustre; 
is  brittle,  and  reducible  to  powder;  is  volatilized,  without 
fusing,  at  365°  F. ;  and,  in  close  vessels,  condenses  into  a 
brilliant  solid.  The  specific  gravity  of  metallic  arsenic  is  5'88. 
Its  vapor  is  characterized  by  a  strong  odor,  resembling  that  of 
garlic.  Arsenic  readily  combines  with  oxygen,  and  forms  two 
compounds.  The  first,  known  as  common  arsenic,  or  white 
oxide  of  arsenic,  but  now  more  properly  termed  arsenious  acid, 
is  of  a  white  color,  sparingly  soluble  in  water,  and  intensely 
poisonous.  It  consists  of  38  arsenic  and  12  oxygen  =.  50. 
The  second,  arsenic  acid,  is  the  result  of  chemical  operations, 
but  is  also  found  native  in  combination.  It  consists  of  38 
metal  and  20  oxygen  —  58.  Or  if  oxygen  be  unity,  the  equiv- 
alent of  the  former  will  be  6'25,  of  the  latter  7'25,  the  metal 
being  4'75.  Of  the  sulphurets  there  are  three,  constituted  of 
one  equivalent  of  arsenic,  with  one,  three,  and  five  equivalents 
of  sulphur  respectively.  Symbols:  arsenic,  As;  arsenious 
acid,  As;  arsenic  acid,  As. 

CHROMIUM  was  discovered  by  Vauquelin  in  1797,  in  a  beau- 
tiful red  mineral,  then  called  chromate,  more  properly  dickro- 
mate,  of  lead.  Chromium  is  a  brittle  infusible  metal,  of  specific 
gravity  about  5,  capable  of  uniting  with  oxygen,  and  of  form- 
ing two  distinct  compounds.  The  green  sesqui-ozide  consists 
of  56  chromium  (two  equivalents)  and  24  oxygen  (three  equiv- 
alents). The  chromic  acid  of  28  (one  equivalent)  of  metal, 
and  24  (three  equivalents)  of  oxygen.  But  Dr.  Thomson  has 
given  evidence  to  prove  that  the  equivalent  of  chromium,  by 
the  hydrogen  scale,  should  be  32,  and  this  has  been  adopted 
by  Henry  and  others.  Thus,  by  the  oxygen  scale,  the  metal  is 
4,  that  of  the  green  oxide  5,  that  of  the  acid  6'5.  (Inorganic 
Chemistry,  vol.  ii.,  p.  331.)  All  the  compounds  of  chro- 
mium are  distinguished  by  their  brilliant  colors,  whence  is 
derived  the  name  of  the  metal.  Symbols:  chromium,  Ch; 
oxide  of  chromium,  Ch ;  chromic  acid,  Ch. 

VANADIUM  was  discovered  in  1830,  by  Sefstrom,  and  has 
since  been  found  by  Professor  Johnston  in  vanadiate  of  lead. 
It  is  extracted  by  complicated  processes,  and  is  but  indistinctly 
characterized  as  a  metal.  In  color  it  resembles  silver,  or  rather 
molybdenum ;  it  is  extremely  brittle,  and  unites  with  oxygen, 
according  to  Berzelius,  in  three  proportions,  forming  the 
protoxide,  the  deutoxide,  and  the  peroxide,  or  vanadic  acid, 


METALS.  C1X 

composed  respectively  of  1  atom  of  vanadium,  and  1,  2,  and  3 
of  oxygen.  The  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  about  68-,  or  85  of 
the  oxygen  scale.  Its  symbol  is  Vn ;  that  of  the  acid,  Vn. 

MOLYBDENUM,  discovered  by  Scheele  in  1778,  is  a  white, 
brittle,  and  very  infusible  metal ;  its  specific  gravity  about  8'6; 
it  is  easily  oxidizable,  and  has  three  degrees  of  oxidation,  one 
of  which  is  acid.  In  the  protoxide,  peroxide,  and  molybdic 
acid,  48  molybdenum  are  respectively  united  with  8,  16,  and 
24  oxygen.  It  combines  also  in  three  proportions  with  sul- 
phur; and  the  bisulphate,  composed  of  2  atoms  sulphur  and  1 
atom  molybdenum,  is  the  common  ore  of  the  metal.  Molybdic 
acid  is  represented  by  the  equivalent  72,  or  by  9,  according  to 
the  oxygen  scale.  It  forms  a  native  combination  with  lead. 
The  equivalent  of  the  metal,  by  the  oxygen  scale,  is  6;  sym- 
bol, Ml;  that  of  the  acid,  Ml. 

TUNGSTEN,  discovered  by  Scheele  in  1781,  is  a  metal,  not 
found  pure  in  nature,  but  obtainable  by  chemical  operations ; 
it  is  of  a  greyish-white  color;  has  considerable  lustre;  is  brit- 
tle, and  infusible  except  at  an  intense  heat.  It  has  the  high 
specific  gravity  of  17'5.  With  oxygen  it  forms  two  com- 
pounds, the  dark  brown  oxide,  consisting  of  100  tungsten  and 
16  oxygen,  and  the  yellow,  or  tungstic  acid,  constituted  of  the 
same  proportion  of  metal  and  24  oxygen ;  or,  according  to  the 
oxygen  scale,  the  former  consists  of  1  proportion  of  metal  (12  5) 
united  with  2  proportions  of  oxygen,  and  the  latter  of  the  same 
proportion  of  metal  with  3  of  oxygen.  This  last  forms  a  native 
combination  with  lime,  and  also  with  iron  and  manganese. 
Its  equivalent  is  15  5 ;  its  symbol  Tn ;  that  of  the  metal  Tn. 

COLUMBIUM,  or  TANTALUM,  discovered  by  Hatchett  in  1801, 
is  a  very  rare  metal,  existing  chiefly  in  tantalite  and  yttro-tan- 
talite.  When  extracted  by  chemical  processes,  it  has  the  form 
of  a  grey  powder,  which,  by  pressure,  acquires  a  metallic  lus- 
tre, and  then  exhibits  an  iron-grey  color.  This  metal  takes 
fire  when  heated  in  contact  with  air,  and  burns  into  columbic 
acid,  which  is  constituted  of  182  metal  and  24  oxygen.  There 
is  also  an  oxide,  composed  of  the  same  proportion  of  columbium 
united  with  16  oxygen.  The  equivalent  of  the  metal,  by  the 
oxygen  scale,  is  therefore  22*75.  The  symbol  for  the  metal  is 
Cl. ;  for  the  acid,  Cl. 

ANTIMONY  has  been  known  ever  since  the  fifteenth  century, 
when  it  was  discovered  by  Basil  Valentine.  It  is  principally 


CX  METALS. 

obtained  from  the  native  sulphuret  called  crude  antimony.  It 
is  brittle,  of  a  white  color,  with  a  shade  of  bluish  grey.  Its 
specific  gravity  is  6*7;  it  is  fusible  at  810  F.,  and,  on  cooling, 
sometimes  forms  crystals.  If  heated  out  of  contact  with  atmos- 
pheric air,  it  is  not  volatile ;  but  when  air  is  present,  it  inflames 
at  a  white  heat,  and  forms  an  oxide,  which  condenses  in  white 
needles,  formerly  called  flowers  of  antimony.  It  forms  three 
oxides.  The  first,  protoxide,  consists  of  64  metal  -|-  12  oxy- 
gen. The  other  two,  from  combining  with  certain  bases, 
have  been  called  antimonious  and  antimonic  acids,  consisting 
respectively  of  64  metal  -j-  16  oxygen,  and  64-J-20.  By  the 
oxygen  scale  the  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  8;  that  of  the 
oxide  combinations,  in  the  order  above  named,  as  follows :  1 
atom  metal  -f- 1^  atom  oxygen  =  9'5 ;  1  atom  metal  -(-  2  atoms 
oxygen  —  10;  1  atom  metal  -j-2'5  atoms  oxygen  =.  10'5.  The 
symbol  of  antimony  is  St  (Stibium) ;  that  of  the  protoxide,  St; 
that  of  the  deutoxide,  St. 

URANIUM.  Klaproth  in  1789  first  pointed  out  this  metal  in 
a  mineral  found  in  Saxony,  called  pitchblende,  from  which  it 
may  be  extracted  by  chemical  processes.  Its  metallic  proper- 
ties are  faintly  marked,  but  it  has  some  lustre.  It  is  not 
changed  by  air  at  common  temperatures ;  but,  when  heated  in 
an  open  vessel,  it  absorbs  oxygen,  and  is  converted  into  pro- 
toxide. The  equivalent  number  of  the  metal,  arrived  at  by 
indirect  processes,  is  not  made  the  same  by  different  chemists. 
The  result  obtained  by  Dr.  Thomson  is  208,  or  26,  if  oxygen 
be  unity,  —  which,  with  one  atom  oxygen,  forms  the  protoxide, 
equivalent  27,  and  with  2  atoms  oxygen,  the  peroxide,  equiva- 
lent 28.  Symbols  :  for  the  metal,  Ur ;  for  the  protoxide,  Ur  ; 
for  the  peroxide,  Ur. 

CERIUM  was  discovered  in  1803,  by  Hisinger  and  Berzelius, 
in  a  rare  mineral  called  cerite,  and  subsequently  by  Dr.  Thom- 
son, in  a  mineral  called  allanite,  in  honor  of  the  late  Mr.  Allan, 
who  first  showed  it  to  be  a  distinct  species.  In  a  metallic 
state,  the  properties  of  cerium  are  very  imperfectly  known. 
Its  equivalent  number  has  been  stated  at  48,  and  it  forms  two 
oxides  —  the  protoxide,  of  a  white  color;  the  peroxide,  of  a 
fawn  red.  By  the  oxygen  scale  the  equivalent  of  the  metal  is 
6;  that  of  the  peroxide  7;  that  of  the  protoxide  65.  The 
oxides  enter  into  the  composition  of  several  mineral  species.* 

*  As  the  compounds  of  cerium,  which  have  been  hitherto  examined,  probably  contained 
lanthanium  and  didymium,  (the  new  elements  alluded  to  on  page  xcv)  it  is  doubtful  whether 
its  received  atomic  weight  is  the  true  one,  and  the  former  experiments  now  seem  to  re- 
quire revision.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALS  cxi 

Symbols:  for  the  metal,  Cr;    for  the  peroxide,  Cr;  for  the 
protoxide,  Cr. 

BISMUTH  is  a  well-characterized  metal,  and  can  be  obtained 
in  considerable  quantity.  It  is  brittle  when  cold.  Its  color 
is  reddish  white,  and  it  has  considerable  lustre ;  its  density 
about  10.  It  fuses  at  476°  F.,  and,  when  slowly  cooled,  crys- 
tallizes in  octahedrons.  In  close  vessels  it  sublimes,  but  not 
under  a  red  heat.  In  open  vessels  it  burns  at  that  tempera- 
ture into  a  white  volatile  oxide,  in  which  72  of  metal  are  united 
with  8  of  oxygen.  By  circuitous  processes,  2  equivalents  of 
bismuth  (=.  144)  may  be  brought  to  unite  with  3  equivalents 
of  oxygen.  The  sulphuret  is  a  compound  of  1  equivalent  of 
each  of  its  elements,  and  is  found  native.  The  equivalent  of 
bismuth,  by  the  oxygen  scale,  is  9;  symbol,  Bs. 

TITANIUM  was  first  found  by  Mr.  Gregor  of  Cornwall,  in 
1791,  in  a  mineral  called  menaccanite,  and  has  since  been 
detected  in  several  other  minerals.  In  1822  Dr.  Wollaston 
remarked  it  forming  very  small  but  perfect  cubes  in  an  iron 
slag,  and  it  appears  not  to  be  uncommon  in  the  refuse  of  iron 
furnaces.  These  small  cubes  have  a  specific  gravity  of  5'3 ; 
they  are  exceedingly  hard  and  infusible,  and  of  a  copper-red 
color.  They  resist  the  action  of  solvents  applied  in  the  usual 
way,  but,  by  particular  management,  the  metal  may  be  oxidized. 
The  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  24.  It  appears  to  be  suscepti- 
ble of  uniting  with  1  equivalent  of  oxygen,  and  also  with  2, 
the  latter  constituting  titanic  acid,  the  equivalent  of  which,  by 
the  oxygen  scale,  (the  metal  being  3)  is  5.  Its  symbol  is  Tt  ; 
that  of  the  metal,  Tt. 


TELLURIUM  was  discovered  by  Klaproth,  about  the  year 
1798,  in  an  ore  of  gold.  When  extracted  by  artificial  meth- 
ods, and  metallized,  it  is  of  a  tin-white  color,  verging  to  lead- 
grey  ;  has  considerable  lustre,  and  a  foliated  or  scaly  fracture. 
It  is  very  brittle ;  fusible  below  ignition  ;  and,  excepting  osmium 
and  mercury,  is  the  most  volatile  of  all  metals.  Its  specific 
gravity  does  not  exceed  6*1 85.  It  is  susceptible  of  two  degrees 
of  oxidation,  both  of  which  exhibit  acid  properties.  The  one, 
consisting  of  1  equivalent  of  tellurium  and  1  of  oxygen, 
(32  -f-  8)  and  the  other,  or  peroxide,  of  1  equivalent  metal  and 
!£  of  oxygen,  (32  -(-12.)  They  are  usually  called  tellurous 
and  telluric  acids.  The  symbol  for  the  metal  is  Tl.  The 
equivalent,  by  the  oxygen  scale,  4.  The  acids  do  not  occur 


CX11  METALS 

native.     The  sulphurets  of  tellurium  are  analogous  compounds 
in  the  proportions  in  which  the  metal  and  sulphur  are  united. 

COPPER  has  been  known  from  the  most  ancient  times,  and, 
next  to  iron,  constitutes  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  abundant 
mineral  treasures.  In  its  metallic  state  it  is  of  a  fine  red  color. 
It  is  capable  of  considerable  lustre;  is  both  malleable  and  duc- 
tile, and  has  a  specific  gravity,  varying  with  its  purity  and  the 
processes  it  has  undergone,  from  8*434  to  9'0.  At  27°  of 
Wedgewood's  pyrometer  it  melts,  and  emits  fumes.  It  has  a 
great  affinity  for  oxygen,  and  may  be  converted  into  black  or 
protoxide  by  long  exposure  to  a  sufficient  heat  with  contact  of 
air.  This  compound  consists  of  32,  or  1  equivalent  of  metal 
with  8,  or  1  equivalent  of  oxygen,  and  constitutes  the  bases  of 
the  salts  of  copper.  There  is  also  a  native  orange-red  oxide  of 
copper,  in  form  of  octahedral  crystals,  in  Cornwall  and  else- 
where, and  also  obtainable  artificially,  which  is  regarded  as  a 
suboxide.  This  is  permanent  at  ordinary  temperatures,  but  at 
a  red  heat  it  is  converted  into  the  black  oxide.  There  are 
also  chlorides  and  sulphurets  of  copper,  analogous  in  atomic 
proportions  to  the  oxides.  Copper  glance  (the  equivalent  of 
copper  being  taken  at  32)  is  a  disulphuret,  consisting  of  two 
atoms  of  base  and  one  atom  of  sulphur.  The  true  sulphuret, 
consisting  of  one  equivalent  of  each  element,  is  one  of  the 
ingredients  of  copper  pyrites,  in  which  it  exists  along  with 
protosulphuret  of  iron.  The  equivalent  of  copper,  by  the  oxy- 
gen scale,  is  4;  that  of  its  black  oxide,  composed  of  one  equiv- 
alent of  copper  and  one  of  oxygen,  is  5 ;  and  that  of  the  red 
oxide,  consisting  of  two  equivalents  of  copper  with  one  of 
oxygen,  is  9.  Symbol  for  copper,  Cp;  red  oxide,  Cp;  black 
oxide,  Cp. 

LEAD.  This  well-known  metal  is  of  a  bluish-grey  color,  of 
specific  gravity  11*381,  very  malleable,  and  ductile  in  a  small 
degree.  It  melts  at  612°  F.,  and,  when  slowly  cooled,  shoots 
into  octahedral  crystals,  and  sometimes  into  perfect  cubes.  It 
is  readily  oxidized  when  exposed  at  high  temperatures  to  the 
air.  Its  protoxide,  which  is  yellow,  and  known  under  the 
name  of  massicot,  is  constituted  of  104  lead  and  8  oxygen. 
The  peroxide  is  of  a  puce  color,  and  is  constituted  of  the  same 
proportion  of  metal  with  16  oxygen.  The  beautiful  red  com- 
pound, called  minium,  or  red  lead,  is  not  a  true  atomic  com- 
pound ;  but  is  variable  as  to  the  proportions  of  protoxide  and 
peroxide  which  constitute  it.  The  sulphuret,  which  is  the 
most  abundant  source  of  the  lead  of  commerce,  consists  of  one 


METALS.  Cxiii 


equivalent  of  lead  and  one  of  sulphur.  The  equivalent  of  lead 
by  the  oxygen  scale  is  13,  which  combines  with  1  proportion 
of  oxygen  to  form  the  protoxide,  (eq.  14)  and  with  2  of  oxygen 
to  form  the  peroxide  (eq.  1.5).  The  symbol  of  the  metal  is  PI 
(plumbum) ;  of  the  protoxide,  PI ;  and  of  the  peroxide,  PI. 


ORDER    IV. 


MERCURY  or  QUICKSILVER,  as  is  well  known,  is  fluid  at 
common  temperatures.  Its  specific  gravity  at  47°  F.  is  13'545. 
At  39°  or  40°  below  0  F.  it  becomes  a  solid,  which  may  be 
flattened  by  the  hammer  or  cut  with  a  knife,  and  has  the  spe- 
cific gravity  15'612.  At  a  temperature  variously  stated  between 
656°  and  680°  F.  it  boils,  and  is  convertible  into  a  vapor,  the 
specific  gravity  of  which  exceeds,  by  very  nearly  seven  times, 
that  of  atmospheric  air.  Mercury  has  two  distinct  oxides ;  the 
protoxide,  of  a  black  color,  consisting  of  200  (1  equivalent)  of 
mercury  and  8  oxygen ;  the  second,  or  peroxide,  of  a  fine  red 
color,  is  obtained  by  long-continued  calcination,  and  consists 
of  200  mercury  and  16  oxygen.  Dr.  Thomson  makes  the 
equivalent  of  mercury  one  half  less,  or  12'5  (100  of  the  oxy- 
gen scale) ;  so  that  the  equivalent  of  the  oxide  is  13'5  for  the 
protoxide,  and  14*5  for  the  peroxide.  Mercury  also  forms  two 
definite  compounds  with  sulphur,  one  of  which,  cinnabar,  which 
is  of  a  beautiful  red  color  when  powdered,  and  is  then  called 
vermilion,  occurs  native.  It  is  a  simple  sulphuret,  or  a  com- 
bination of  1  atom  sulphur  and  1  atom  mercury.  The  symbol 
for  mercury  is  H  (Hydrargyrum). 

SILVER  has  a  beautifully  white  color,  and  is  inferior  in  lustre 
only  to  polished  steel.  Its  specific  gravity,  after  being  ham- 
mered, is  10-51.  In  malleability  and  ductility  it  is  superior  to 
all  the  metals  except  gold.  At  22°  of  Wedgewood's  pyrome- 
ter it  fuses,  and  by  slow  cooling  forms  crystals.  It  does  not, 
like  most  other  metals,  enter  in  several  proportions  into  union 
with  oxygen,  chlorine,  or  sulphur,  but  forms  only  one  com- 
pound with  each  of  those  elements.  In  the  proportion  of  110 
by  weight  to  8  oxygen,  it  constitutes  the  oxide  of  silver ;  with 
36  chlorine,  the  chloride;  and  with  16  sulphur,  the  sulphuret. 
The  chloride  and  sulphuret  are  native  productions,  and  are 
known  familiarly  as  horn  silver,  and  silver  glance.  Silver  is 
represented  in  the  formulae  by  the  symbol  Ag  (Argentum). 
The  equivalent  of  the  metal  is  13'75;  of  horn  silver,  18*25;  of 
the  sulphuret,  1575,  by  the  oxygen  scale.  The  atomic  weight 
of  silver  has  been  put  down  at  108  by  Berzelius  and  others,  but 
the  experiments  of  Dr.  Thomson  led  him  to  fix  it  at  110,  or 


CX1V  METALS. 

13*75  of  the  oxygen  scale :  a  result  now  confirmed  by  the 
experiments  of  other  chemists,  who  have  recently  been  investi- 
gating the  atomic  weight  of  this  and  several  other  metals.* 

GOLD  is  the  only  metal  which  has  a  yellow  color.  Its  spe- 
cific gravity  varies  with  the  processes  which  it  has  undergone, 
but  may  be  stated,  on  an  average,  at  19'3.  It  surpasses  all 
metals  in  malleability  and  ductility.  At  a  heat  of  about  32° 
Wedgewood  it  fuses,  and,  on  cooling  slowly,  shoots  into  quad- 
rilateral pyramids.  It  is  not  volatile  at  any  known  tempera- 
ture. One  of  its  most  valuable  properties  is,  that  it  may  be 
exposed  to  the  air  for  ages  without  change.  It  may,  however, 
be  oxidized  by  chemical  processes,  and  unites  in  the  proportion 
of  200  gold  to  8  oxygen,  forming  protoxide;  and  of  the  same 
proportion  of  gold  to  24  oxygen,  constituting  the  peroxide  of 
gold.  The  intermediate  compound,  or  deutoxide,  is  supposed 
to  be  the  purple  substance  which  is  formed  when  gold  is  burnt 
by  intense  heat  or  galvanic  electricity.  Only  one  sulpliuret  is 
known,  constituted  of  200  gold  and  48  (3  equivalents)  of  sul- 
phur. Dr.  Thomson  makes  the  equivalent  of  gold,  by  the 
oxygen  scale,  12'5,  or  100  by  the  hydrogen  scale.  (Inorganic 
Chemistry,  vol.  i.,  p.  643.)  The  symbol  is  Au  (Aurum). 

PLATINUM.  This  metal  was  known  to  Wood,  assay-master, 
as  early  as  1741,  although  its  properties  had  not  been  investi- 
gated at  a  much  later  period.  If  it  were  more  plentiful  and 
cheap,  it  would  be  applicable,  on  account  of  its  infusibility  and 
property  of  resisting  most  chemical  agents,  to  a  variety  of  val- 
uable purposes;  it  is  inferior  in  beauty  and  lustre  to  silver,  but 
exceeds  that  metal  and  all  others  in  specific  gravity,  which  is 
between  21  and  22.  Among  the  metals  it  is  one  of  the  slowest 
conductors  of  heat,  and  is  less  expansible  than  most  of  them 
by  that  agent.  It  is  both  highly  malleable  and  ductile.  It  is 
not  oxidizable,  even  by  the  long-continued  action  of  heat  and 
air,  but  may  be  brought  to  combine  with  oxygen  by  circuitous 
processes,  which  afford  two  well-characterized  oxides.  The 
protoxide  consists  of  96  (I  equivalent)  of  platinum  and  8  oxy- 
gen ;  the  peroxide,  of  the  same  weight  of  metal  and  16  oxygen  ; 
and  there  appears  also  to  be  an  intermediate  oxide,  consisting 
of  2  equivalents  of  platinum  and  3  equivalents  of  oxygen. 
There  are  also  chlorides  and  sulphurets  of  platinum  corres- 
ponding with  the  above  as  to  equivalent  proportions  of  their 
elements.  By  the  oxygen  scale,  12  is  the  equivalent  of  the 

*See  London  Chemical  Gazette  and  Journal  of  Practical  Chemiitry,  (Part  I,  Decem- 
ber, 1842)  conducted  by  Messrs.  W.  Francis  and  H.  Croft,  late  students  in  the  Universi- 
ties of  Berlin  and  Giessen. 


METALS.  CXV 

metal,  14  of  the  peroxide,  and  13  of  the  protoxide.     The  sym- 
bol for  platinum  is  Pit. 

PALLADIUM  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Wollaston  in  1803,  form- 
ing distinct  small  fragments  in  the  native  ore  of  platinum.  He 
extracted  it  also  by  complex  chemical  processes,  which  he  has 
described  in  the  Philosophical  Transactions  for  1804.  In  color 
it  resembles  platinum,  but  is  of  a  duller  white.  It  is  malleable 
and  ductile;  its  specific  gravity  varies  from  10'972  to  11 '482. 
It  is  not  fusible  or  oxidizable  at  a  degree  of  heat  sufficient  to 
melt  gold,  but  at  a  stronger  heat  melts,  and,  on  cooling,  affords 
a  mass,  of  specific  gravity  11*871.  By  indirect  methods  it 
combines  with  oxygen.  Its  protoxide  is  black,  and  consists  of 
54  (1  equivalent)  of  palladium,  and  8  (1  equivalent)  of  oxy- 
gen ;  its  peroxide,  also  black,  is  constituted  of  1  equivalent  of 
metal  and  2  equivalents  of  oxygen ;  it  combines  with  chlorine, 
and  forms  two  chlorides.  The  equivalent  of  palladium,  by  the 
oxygen  scale,  is  6*75 ;  its  symbol  is  Pal. 

RHODIUM  is  also  a  discovery  of  Dr.  Wollaston,  made  in 
1804,  and  from  the  same  source,  as  palladium.  It  has  a  white 
color,  a  metallic  lustre,  is  brittle,  extremely  hard,  and  has  a 
specific  gravity  of  about  11.  It  attracts  oxygen  from  the  air 
when  heated  to  redness,  but  it  has  the  remarkable  property  of 
being  insoluble  in  all  acids,  unless  alloyed  with  other  metals. 
Like  palladium,  it  combines  with  two  proportions  of  oxygen. 
The  protoxide,  which  is  black,  and  enters  into  the  salts  of 
rhodium,  is  constituted  of  54  (1  equivalent)  of  metal,  and  8 
(1  equivalent)  of  oxygen;  the  peroxide,  of  2  equivalents  of 
metal  and  3  equivalents  of  oxygen.  By  some  chemists  the 
equivalent  of  this  metal  is  given  as  52'2,  and  Prof.  Brande,  in 
the  table  of  equivalents  given  in  his  valuable  Dictionary  of 
Science,  records  it  as  45.  But  the  experiments  both  of  Berze- 
lius  and  Dr.  Thomson  seem  to  fix  it  at  54,  or  6'75  of  the  oxy- 
gen scale.  Its  symbol  is  R. 

OSMIUM  is  another  ingredient  of  the  ore  of  platinum,  in 
which  it  was  discovered  in  1803  by  Mr.  Smithson  Tennant. 
It  can  only  be  extracted  by  complicated  methods,  which  pre- 
sent it  in  the  form  of  a  black  powder,  susceptible  of  metallic 
lustre  by  friction ;  of  the  specific  gravity  of  about  7.  It  takes 
fire  in  the  open  air,  and  its  oxide,  which  is  volatile,  has  an  acrid 
and  suffocating  odor.  From  the  experiments  of  Berzelius, 
it  seems  to  be  capable  of  entering  into  combination  with  sev- 
eral proportions  of  oxygen.  Its  equivalent  number  is  about 


CXV1  METALS. 

1 00  of  the  hydrogen  scale,  or  12*50  of  the  oxygen.     Its  sym- 
bol is  Os. 

IRIDIUM  is  another  elementary  metal  (the  fifth)  which  enters 
into  the  crude  ore  of  platinum.  It  is  evolved  in  the  process  by 
which  osmium  is  separated  from  the  same  ore,  and  was  dis- 
covered at  about  the  same  time  in  1803,  by  Descotils  in 
France,  and  Tennant  in  England.  Its  distinguishing  property 
is  the  variety  of  colors  which  it  exhibits  (from  iris,  the  rain- 
bow). It  is  a  very  brittle  metal,  susceptible,  when  carefully 
burnished,  of  considerable  polish.  It  is  very  difficult  of  fusion  ; 
but  when  fused  in  Mr.  Children's  experiments,  with  the  aid  of 
a  powerful  galvanic  battery,  it  had  the  specific  gravity  of  18'68. 
It  is  oxidized  by  a  red  heat,  but  only  when  finely  divided ;  and 
it  is  not  easily  acted  upon  by  acids.  From  the  researches  of 
Berzelius,  the  equivalent  of  iridium  is  98,  or  12*25  of  the  oxy- 
gen scale ;  and  it  appears  to  have  3  degrees  of  oxidation.  The 
rapid  transition  of  these  oxides  into  each  other  occasions  the 
variable  tints  of  iridium.  Its  symbol  is  Ir. 


SYSTEMATIC   ARRANGEMENT 


ADOPTED    IN    THE 


DESCRIPTION    OF    SPECIES. 


IN  the  absence  of  that  organization  which  so  admirably  serves 
as  a  guide  to  the  generic  differences  in  animals  and  plants,  we 
must  seek  for  some  other  basis  on  which  to  found  an  arrange- 
ment of  minerals.  No  one  has  yet  been,  nor  does  it  seem  pos- 
sible that  one  should  be,  constructed,  that  is  altogether  satis- 
factory ;  —  one  in  which  there  is  not  much  that  is  arbitrary. 

The  characters  of  minerals  are  of  two  kinds,  Physical  and 
Chemical  :  every  system  must  be  founded  on  one  or  other  of 
these,  or  upon  their  combination. 

Of  the  Physical  characters,  the  most  valuable,  because  the 
most  certain,  when  it  exists,  is  Structure  ;  and  since  by  it  alone 
we  may  often  recognise  a  mineral,  it  is  highly  deserving  of  the 
earliest  attention  of  the  student.  There  are,  however,  many 
minerals  in  which  no  regular  structure  is  visible.  If,  therefore, 
we  would  depend  on  the  physical  characters,  we  must  look  for 
some  other  amongst  them  ;  but  there  is  none  so  invariable  as 
structure.  Therefore,  any  arrangement  that  is  made  to  depend 
on  the  physical  characters,  can  only  be  founded  on  a  compari- 
son of  a  number  of  them  ;  but  many,  if  not  most,  of  these  cha- 
racters, are  subject  to  some,  and  often  to  a  considerable  degree 
of  variation,  even  in  the  same  substance. 

The  physical  characters,  therefore,  are  not  of  that  precise, 
invariable,  and  universal  application  which  alone  would  justify 
their  adoption  as  the  basis  of  an  arrangement. 


CXV111  SYSTEMATIC    ARRANGEMENT    ADOPTED 

One  of  the  chief  difficulties  attendant  on  the  plan  of  arrang- 
ing minerals  according  to  their  composition  is,  the  uncertainty 
which  exists  in  particular  substances,  as  to  what  their  absolutely 
essential  constituents  are.  It  may,  however,  be  understood, 
that  whatsoever  enters  into  the  composition  of  a  mineral,  that 
does  not  alter  the  external  form  and  internal  structure  of  that 
substance  in  its  purer  state,  is  not  an  essential  element,  but  an 
accidental  ingredient.  Thus,  among  earthy  minerals,  the 
various  coloring  matters  of  quartz,  and  in  the  rhombic  calca- 
reous spar  of  Fontainbleau,  the  sand  it  encloses,  which  is  said 
to  amount  to  one-fifth  of  the  whole  weight  of  the  mineral,  are 
only  accidental  ingredients.  Among  metalliferous  minerals, 
grey  copper  or  fahlerz  may  be  cited  as  an  instance  of  remark- 
able diversity  of  composition,  without  any  alteration  of  external 
form ;  for,  besides  copper,  iron,  and  sulphur,  it  sometimes 
includes  a  proportion  of  arsenic,  lead,  silver,  or  antimony. 
Many  other  instances  might  be  cited.* 

Another  difficulty  arises  from  the  still  progressive  state  of 
chemistry.  Hence  new  analyses,  whenever  they  offer  new 
results,  tend  to  a  perplexity  of  choice,  which  can  only  be  termi- 
nated by  selecting  those  which  have  been  obtained  by  the 
labors  of  the  most  eminent  analysts,  and  are  founded  on  the 
superior  resources  of  modern  analytic  chemistry. 

But  although  these  difficulties  are  attendant  upon  a  reliance 
on  the  chemical  characters  as  the  basis  of  an  arrangement, 
such  an  arrangement  appears  to  be  equally  certain,  more 
instructive,  of  more  universal  application,  and  therefore  far 
more  intelligible  to  the  beginner,  than  one  founded  upon  phy- 
sical characters. 

Assuming,  then,  a  chemical  basis  for  the  arrangement, 
another  point  is  still  open  for  determination,  namely,  where  to 
begin.  Hence  it  becomes  requisite  to  seek  a  sufficient  reason 
for  establishing  (instead  of  beginning  arbitrarily  without  any 
apparent  motive)  some  precise  order  of  description,  founded 
upon  an  intelligible  principle,  and  such  a  one  as  should  begin 
with  the  most  simple,  and  terminate  with  the  most  compound 
substances.  And  viewing  the  intimate  connection  existing 
between  mineralogy  and  geology,  it  seemed  that  a  sufficient 
motive  might  be  found  in  this  connection  to  determine  a  pre- 
ference. 

The  localities  of  minerals  tend  to  show  that  there  does  exist 

*The  above  remarks  now  require  some  qualification,  in  consequence  of  the  new  light 
shed  upon  those  combinations,  by  isomorphism  :  a  subject  not  understood  when  the  author 
wrote.  Thus,  in  grey  copper,  the  antimony  and  arsenic,  are  as  essential  as  the  iron,  and 
are  united  as  isomorphous  constituents.  (AM.  ED.) 


IN    THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    SPECIES. 

a  more  or  less  certain  criterion  for  determining  the  relative 
ages  of  the  earths  and  the  metals. 

Some  of  the  earths  chiefly  constitute  those  rocks  which  are 
esteemed  to  be  of  the  oldest  formation,  while  others  do  not 
enter  into  the  composition  of  rocks,  being  found  only  in  the 
veins  which  traverse  them ;  these  therefore  may  be  estimated 
as  of  later  origin  than  the  former. 

Of  the  alkalies  and  acids  as  mineral  constituents,  either  com- 
bined with  the  earths  or  with  each  other,  the  former  claim  the 
precedence,  as  entering  into  the  composition  of  the  oldest  rocks. 

Two  or  three  of  the  metals  occur  in  small  quantity  in  the 
masses  of  some  of  the  earlier  rocks  ;  but  in  general  the  metals 
are  found  in  veins;  some  in  veins  traversing  the  older  rocks, 
and  rarely  or  never  in  those  of  a  more  recent  description ; 
others  most  abundantly  or  only  in  those  of  newer  formation. 

As  rocks  are  constituted  chiefly  of  earths,  and  metals  are 
principally  found  in  veins,  earthy  minerals  may  be  assumed  to 
be  of  earlier  origin  than  the  metalliferous ;  hence  minerals 
appear  to  possess  a  claim  to  a  somewhat  natural  order  of  suc- 
cession in  our  cabinets. 

Thus  siliceous  minerals  are  first  described,  because  it  is  esti- 
mated that  silica  forms  the  largest  proportion  of  the  oldest  arid 
most  abundant  primitive  rocks,  and  all  earthy  minerals  of  which 
silica  is  the  largest  ingredient,  are  arranged  under  that  head ; 
beginning,  chemically,  with  silica  in  its  purest  form,  and  pro- 
ceeding to  such  as  consist  of  this  acid  combined  with  some 
earth,  as  magnesia,  alumina,  or  lime,  —  formilfig  a  silicate  ^f 
alumina,  magnesia,  or  lime,- — and  afterwards  to  such  minerals 
as  are  chiefly  constituted  of  three  or  more  earths,  terminating 
with  the  most  compound  ;  regarding  the  iron,  manganese,  &c. 
involved  in  many  of  these  combinations,  sometimes  as  acciden- 
tally present,  and  at  others  as  essential,  or  combined  as  isomor- 
phous  constituents,  according  as  they  are  represented  by  the 
formulas.  The  other  earthy  minerals,  are  proceeded  with  in 
like  manner ;  arbitrarily  selecting  such  as  contain  the  rare 
earth  glucina,  and  placing  them  under  that  head,  except  that 
the  gadolinite,  which  also  contains  the  still  more  rare  earth 
yttria,  is  placed  under  the  latter. 

Next  after  those  minerals  which  consist  only  of  one  or  more 
of  the  earths,  succeed  those  in  which  one  or  other  of  the  alka- 
lies is  found ;  to  these,  such  of  the  acids  as  occur  in  the  con- 
crete state ;  then  those  minerals  which  are  primarily  constituted 
of  one  or  more  earths  and  an  acid ;  and  after  these  those  con- 
sisting of  an  alkali  and  an  acid  ;  and,  finally,  the  very  few  in 
which  an  earth,  an  alkali,  and  an  acid,  are  combined  together. 


CXX  SYSTEMATIC   ARRANGEMENT   ADOPTED 

The  native  metals  and  metalliferous  minerals  succeed,  ar- 
ranged according  to  the  order  of  age  and  formation,  subordi- 
nately  beginning  with  the  metal  in  its  native  state,  when  it  so 
occurs;  then  its  combination  with  other  metals,  when  in  the 
state  of  a  natural  alloy  ;  then  combined  with  sulphur,  with 
oxygen,  and  finally,  as  an  oxide  combined  with  an  acid. 

The  combustibles  follow,  beginning  with  sulphur,  to  which 
succeeds  carbon  in  its  purest  form,  and  afterwards  its  several 
combinations  with  other  bodies,  as  the  base  of  the  greater  part 
of  all  the  substances  belonging  to  this  class. 

The  order  of  arrangement  is  therefore  as  follows  : 

EARTHY  MINERALS. 

ALKALINO-EARTHY  MINERALS. 

ACIDS. 

ACIDIFEROUS  EARTHY  MINERALS. 

ACIDIFEROUS  ALKALINE  MINERALS. 

ACIDIFEROUS  ALKALINO-EAUTHY  MINERALS. 

NATIVE  METALS  AND  METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS. 

COMBUSTIBLES. 


ATOMIC    CONSTITUTION    OF    MINERALS. 

WE  have  spoken  of  the  atomic  relations  of  those  substances 
which  enter  into  the  composition  of  minerals,  in  a  previous 
part  of  this  Introduction.  We  shall  now  introduce  the  Table 
of  Atomic  Weights,  &,c.,  and  offer  a  few  examples  to  exemplify 
to  the  student,  the  processes  by  which  we  arrive  at  the  atomic 
Constitution  of  minerals  from  the  results  of  analysis.  One 
method  of  ascertaining  this,  is  by  determining  the  relative 
quantities  of  oxygen  contained  in  the  substances,  and,  by  con- 
sequence, the  relative  quantities  of  the  substances  themselves, 
from  the  known  proportions  in  which  they  contain  it.  Tables 
have  been  drawn  up  by  Poggendorff,  which  render  this  a  very 
simple  process  ;  but  these  are  not  generally  accessible  to  stu- 
dents.* The  method  adopted  in  the  following  pages,  is  simply 
to  divide  the  quantities  of  the  substances  obtained,  by  their 
atomic  weights,  as  given  in  the  first  column  of  figures  in  the  sub- 
joined table.  We  will  take,  for  an  example,  Wachtmeister's 
analysis  of  green  garnet,  mentioned  at  page  21. 

*See  Analytical  Chemistry,  by  Prof.  H.  Rose,  vol.  ii.,  French  Translation. 


IN    THE    DESCRIPTION    OF    SPECIES.  CXX1 

Atoms.        Ratio. 

40-55  Silica,  divided  by  2-       give  20-27 2 

20-10  Alumina,  "     2-25     "      8-93  )    o  m    , 

5-00  Peroxide  of  iron,  «     5-         "      1-00      J'y'3-'L 

34-86  Lime,  "     3-5       «      9-95    in «-     , 

0-48  Protoxide  of  manganese,     "     4-5       "      0-10  \  1U 

In  calculating  from  the  quantities  of  oxygen,  we  obtain  the 
same  result,  as  here  shown  : 

40-55  Silica,  contain  of  oxygen,  21-06 2 

20-10  Alumina,  "  "  9-38)1ftl71  , 

5-00  Peroxide  of  iron,  «  «  1-33  1  10'71"1 

34-86  Lime,  "  "  9-79  {  0  Oft  , 

0-48  Protoxide  of  manganese,    "  "  11  5 

It  has  already  been  shown  in  the  table  of  isomorphous  bodies, 
page  Ixxxiv,  that  peroxide  of  iron  is  isomorphous  with  alumina, 
and  protoxide  of  manganese  with  lime.  These  substances  are 
therefore  united  in  the  above  calculations.  The  atoms  of  silica 
are  very  nearly  twice  those  of  all  the  bases,  and  the  sums  of 
these  last  are  nearly  equal  to  each  other.  The  mineral,  there- 
fore, consists  of  simple  silicates,  or  one  atom  silicate  of  alumi- 
na, one  atom  silicate  of  lime.  Formula  :  AlS+CalS.  Some- 
times the  atoms  of  silica,  or  other  acids,  amount  to  more  than 
those  of  the  bases,  in  which  cases  we  have  bisilicates  and  ter- 
silicates  ;  and  sometimes  they  are  less,  in  which  cases  we  have 
disilicates,  trisilicates,  Sfc.  Numerous  examples  of  these  will 
be  shown  in  the  body  of  the  work  ;  but  we  will  here  refer  to 
one  or  two.  Wiegmann's  analysis  of  axinite,  page  47,  gives  of 

Atoms. 

Silica 22-50 

Alumina 8-44 

Lime 3-57 

Protoxide  of  iron .' 2-72 

Protoxide  of  manganese 2-00 

Magnesia 0-1 

Boracic  acid 0-66 

Here  the  atoms  of  silica  and  boracic  acid,  are  23'16,  while 
those  of  the  bases,  are  16'83,  showing  that  some  of  the  latter 
must  be  in  the  state  of  bisilicates.  If  8*44  atoms  of  silica  are 
combined  with  the  alumina  to  form  a  simple  silicate,  there  will 
remain  14-72  atoms  alumina,  to  be  divided  among  the  other 
bases.  These  amount  to  8'39  atoms ;  but  the  boracic  acid  is 
supposed  to  be  united  with  the  lime  and  magnesia,  and  thus 
we  have  only  7'73  atoms  remaining.  The  atoms  of  silica  are 
now  so  nearly  twice  those  of  these  bases,  that  it  is  evident  the 
latter  exist  as  bisilicates.  We  have  then,  one  atom  simple 
silicate  of  alumina,  one  atom  bisilicate  of  lime,  iron  and  man- 
ganese. Formula  :  AlS+(Cal,  £,  Mn)S2. 

Berthier's  analysis  of  Adularia  (page  193),  divided  by  the 
atomic  weights,  gives  these  numbers  : 

Atoms. 

Silica 32-1 11-3 

Alumina 8-17 2-9 

Potash 2-82 1- 


CXX11 

Here  the  atoms  of  silica  are  almost  exactly  three  times  as 
numerous  as  those  of  the  bases,  while  those  of  the  potash,  are 
to  those  of  the  alumina,  nearly  as  1  to  3.  Pure  felspar,  there- 
fore, consists  of  three  atoms  tersilicate  of  alumina,  one  atom 
tersilicate  of  potash.  Formula:  3A1S3+KS3. 

If  we  take  Andalusite  (page  118),  we  have  very  nearly  two 
atoms  of  alumina  to  one  atom  of  silica,  or  a  disilicate  of  alumina. 
And  if  we  take  Arfvvedsori's  analysis  of  sappare  (page  10(5), 
we  have  18*50  atoms  of  silica,  27*77  atoms  alumina ;  or  silica 
1  atom,  alumina  T5  atoms.  This,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson, 
is  a  subsesquisilicatfi  of  alumina.  Formulas:  A12S.  Al^S. 

Among  the  metals,  if  we  take  the  four  analyses  of  sulphuret 
of  copper  (page  475),  the  mean  atoms  of  the  metal,  are  19'66, 
while  those  of  sulphur,  are  9'52.  The  proportions  here  being 
nearly  as  two  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter,  the  mineral  is 
a  disulphurct.  Formula:  Cp2Sl. 

R.  Phillips7  analysis  of  Varvacite  (page  391),  divided  by  the 
atomic  weights,  gives  18  02  atoms  protoxide  of  manganese, 
13-48  atoms  oxygen,  4*8  atoms  water ;  equivalent  to  8*96  atoms 
binoxide  of  manganese,  9  08  atoms  sesquioxide,  4-8  atoms 
water.  Or,  the  mineral  consists  of  two  atoms  binoxide,  two 
atoms  sesquioxide,  one  atom  water.  Formula  :  2Mn2Mn-f  Aq. 

These  are  some  of  the  simplest  examples.  There  are  others 
which  are  rendered  more  difficult  in  apportioning  the  silica,  or 
other  acids,  among  the  bases,  when  the  latter  are  numerous, 
and  from  the  uncertainty  of  knowing  which  are  to  betaken  as 
essential,  or  rejected  as  accidental.  This  renders  the  subject 
of  formulas  somewhat  arbitrary  ;  and  hence,  both  in  the  chemi- 
cal and  mineralogical,  we  find  them  to  vary  considerably  as 
stated  by  different  chemists.  Yet  it  is  certain,  that  every  pure 
crystallized  mineral,  is  a  chemical  compound  of  the  same  con- 
stituents, united  in  the  same  definite  proportions  ;  and  it  is  the 
province  of  analysis,  guided  and  corrected  by  the  laws  of 
atomic  combination,  to  determine  what  these  constituents  are, 
and  how  they  are  united. 

It  will  be  observed,  that  if  the  weights  in  the  first  column  be 
multiplied  by  100,  they  will  nearly  agree  with  the  equivalents 
obtained  by  the  experimental  researches  of  Berzelius,  except- 
ing in  those  cases  where  he  doubles  or  changes  the  equivalents, 
to  avoid  the  expression  of  half  atoms,  as  shown  by  the  formulae 
added  to  his  numbers.  It  is  evident  that  these  small  differences 
can  offer  no  serious  objections  to  the  use  of  either  in  calculat- 
ing the  atomic  constitution  of  minerals  from  analysis ;  but  the 
formulas  given  in  this  work,  have  generally  been  obtained  by 
employing  the  simple  numbers  in  the  first  column. 


A   TABLE 


Comprising  the  Names  of  the  Substances  which  enter  into  the 

Composition  of  Minerals ;  with  their  Symbols  and  Atomic 

Weights,  or  Combining  Equivalents. 


NAMES 

ATOMIC  WEIGHTS.* 

OF 

SUBSTANCES. 

SYMBOLS. 

Thomson.                        Berzelius. 

6xygen=l                   Oxygen—  100. 

Gold  (Aurum) 

Au 

125 

124301 

Silver  (Argentum) 

Ag 

1375 

1351-61 

Arsenic 

As 

475 

470-04 

Arsenious  acid 

As 

6-25 

1240-08  As2O3  or  As 

Arsenic  acid 

As 

725 

1  440-08  As2O5  or  As 

Ammonia 

Am 

2-125 

214-47 

Alumina 

Al 

225 

642-33  A12O3  or  Al 

Boron 

B 

1 

*  136-25 

Boracic  acid 

B 

3 

436-20  BO3  or  B 

Barytes 

Br  or  Ba 

9-5 

956-88 

Bismuth 

Bs  or  Bi 

9 

886-92 

Oxide  of  Bismuth 

Bs 

10 

986-92 

Bromine 

Bro 

45    . 

48915 

Cadmium 

Ca  or  Cd 

7 

696-77 

Carbon 

C 

0-75 

76-44 

Carbonic  acid 

c 

275 

276-44 

Chromium 

Ch  or  Cr 

4 

35182 

Oxide  of  Chromium 

Ch 

5 

1003-63  Cr2O3  or  €r 

Chromic  acid 

Ch 

6-5 

651-81 

Columbium  (Tanta.) 

Cl  or  Ta 

2275 

230743 

Columbic  acid 

Cl 

2575 

2607-43 

Lime  (Calx) 

Cal 

3-5 

356-02 

Cerium 

Cr  or  Ce 

55 

574-70 

Protoxide  of  Cerium 

Cr 

6-5 

674-70 

Peroxide  of     do. 

Cr 

7 

1449-49  Ce2O3  or  €e 

*  These  atomic  weights  have  been  selected  from  Dr.  Thomson's  System  of  Inorganic 
Chemistry,  vol.  i.  p.  713,  seventh  edition,  1831 ;  and  from  Berzelius'  Theorie  des  Propor- 
tions Chimiques,  edition  for  1835.  They  represent  only  those  substances  which  most 


directly  concern  mineralogy.     (AM.  ED.) 


CXX1V 


SYMBOLS   AND   ATOMIC   WEIGHTS. 


NAMES 

OF 

SUBSTANCES. 

SYMBOLS 

ATOMIC  WEIGHTS. 

Thomson. 

Berzelius. 

Oxygen=l 

Oxysren=100. 

Cobalt 

Cb  or  Co 

3-25 

368-99 

Oxide  of  Cobalt 

Cb 

425 

468-99 

Copper 

Cp  or  Cu 

4 

395-70 

Red  or  suboxide    ) 
of  Copper           J 

CP 

9 

891-39 

Black  or  protox-   ) 
ide  of  Copper     ) 

CP 

5 

495-70 

Chlorine 

Chi  or  C 

45 

442-65 

Iron  (Ferrum) 

ForFe 

35 

33921 

Protoxide  of  Iron 

F 

4-5 

43921 

Peroxide  of  Iron 

F 

5 

978-41  Fe2O30rJPe 

Fluoric  acid 

Fl 

2375 

246-30 

Glucina 

G 

325 

962-52  G2O3  or  €" 

Mercury  (Hydrar.) 

Hor  Hg 

125 

1265-82 

Iridium 

lorlr 

1225 

123350 

Potash  (Kali) 

K 

6 

589-92 

Lithia 

L 

1-75 

18033 

Mellitic  acid 

Mel 

6-5? 

Molybdenum 

Ml  or  Mo 

6 

598-52 

Molybdic  acid 

Ml 

9 

898-52 

Magnesia 

Mg 

2-5 

25835 

Manganese 

Mn 

3-5 

345-89 

Protoxide  of  do. 

Mn 

4-5 

44589 

Sesquioxide  of  do. 

Mn 

5 

991-77  Mn2O3orMn 

Binoxide  of  do. 

Mn 

55 

545-89 

Muriatic  acid 

M* 

4-625 

455-12 

Soda  (Natron) 

N 

4 

390-90 

Nickel 

NkorNi 

325 

369-68 

Oxide  of  Nickel 

Nk 

425 

469-68 

Oxalic  acid 

6 

45 

452-87 

Nitric  acid 

Nt 

6-75 

677-04 

Phosphorous 

Ph 

2 

196-14 

*  Phosphoric  acid 

Ph 

4-5 

89228P2O5orfi 

Lead  (Plumbum) 

PI  or  Pb 

13 

129450 

Protoxide  of  do. 

PI 

14 

139450 

Peroxide  of  do. 

PI 

15 

1494-50 

Palladium 

Pal  or  Pd 

6-75 

665-90 

Platinum 

Pit  or  Pt 

12 

123350 

SYMBOLS    AND    ATOMIC    WEIGHTS. 


cxxv 


NAMES 

OF 

SUBSTANCES. 

SYMBOLS. 

ATOMIC  WEIGHTS. 

Thomson. 

Berzelius. 

Oxygen=l 

Oxygen=100. 

Rhodium 

R 

675 

651-39 

Silica 

S  or  Si 

2* 

577-31  SiO3orSi 

Sulphur 

SI  or  S 

2 

201-17 

Sulphuric  acid 

SI 

5 

501-16 

Selenium 

Sel  or  Se 

5 

494-58 

Selenic  acid 

Sel 

8 

794-58 

Antimony  (Stibium) 

St  or  Sb 

8 

806-45 

Protoxide  of  do. 

St 

9-5 

1912-90  Sb2O3  or  Sb 

Deutoxide  of  do. 

St 

JO 

2012-90  Sb2O±  orSb 

Tin  (Stannum) 

StaorSn 

725 

735-29 

Oxide  of  Tin 

Sta 

8-25 

835-29 

Strontian 

Str 

6-5 

64729 

Tellurium 

Tl  or  Te 

8 

801-76 

Tungsten  (Wolfm.) 

TuorW 

12-5 

1183-00 

Tungstic  acid 

tu 

155 

1483-00 

Titanium 

Tt  or  Ti 

325 

303-66 

Titanic  acid 

tt 

525 

503-66 

Thorina 

Th 

8-5 

844-90 

Vanadium 

Vn 

8-5 

856-89 

Vanadic  acid 

Vn     - 

1156-89  VO3orV 

Uranium 

UrorU 

26 

2711-36 

Protoxide  of  do. 

Ur 

27 

2811-36 

Peroxide  of  do. 

Ur 

28 

5722-72  U2O3  or  F 

Water 

AqorH 

M25 

112-48 

Zinc 

Z  or  Zn 

425 

40323 

Oxide  of  Zinc 

Z 

525 

50323 

Zirconia 

Zr 

3-75t 

1  140-40  Zr203  or  Zr| 

Yttria. 

Y 

5-5§ 

502-51 

*The  atomic  weight  of  silicium  being  regarded  as  1,  and  silica  as  a  protoxide,  or  con- 
sisting of  single  atoms  of  its  elements.  But  Berzelius'  numbers  answer  to  one  atom  base 
and  three  atoms  oxygen.  In  dividing,  therefore,  by  his  atomic  weights,  these  differences, 
as  noted  by  the  formulae,  must  be  observed. 

|  Considered  as  a  protoxide,  the  eq.  of  the  metal  being  2'75. 
J  The  equivalent  for  the  metal,  by  this  scale,  being  420-20. 

§  The  equivalent  numbers  answering  to  hydrogen  as  unity,  may  be  obtained  by  multi- 
plying any  of  the  numbers  in  the  first  column  of  weights  by  8. 


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DESCRIPTIVE  MINERALOGY 


PART    II. 


CLASS    I. 

EARTHY   MINERALS 


THIS  class  includes  those  minerals  which  consist  of  one 
earth  or  more,  united  with  definite  proportions  of  water,  and 
sometimes  with  common  metallic  ox.des,  as  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese, and  rarely  with  an  acid.  These  latter  substances,  how- 
ever, are  frequently  to  be  regarded  as  mere  mixtures,  or  acci- 
dental and  variable  constituents  of  the  species  described.  We 
shall  begin  with  silica  in  its  purest  form,  as  being  the  oldest 
and  most  abundant  mineral,  and  as  affording  the  most  simple 
arrangement ;  and  then  proceed  to  such  as,  by  the  most  au- 
thentic analyses,  appear  to  consist  chiefly  of  silica.  Those  of 
which  alumina  forms  the  greatest  proportion  succeed,  as  being 
the  earth  next  in  age  and  abundance.  Magnesia  follows;  then 
such  minerals  as  consist  primarily  or  in  part  of  zirconia,  or 
glucina,  or  lastly  of  yttria  and  thorina.* 

QUARTZ. 

Quarz,  W.  and  H.     Rhombohedral  Quartz,  M.     Hyatus  Rhombohedrus,  D. 

Pure  silica  accidentally  mixed  with  minute  proportions  of 
metallic  oxides,  —  from  whence  the  fine  colors  of  this  species 
are  derived. 

Rock  Crystal.  Amethyst. 

Silica 99-375  97-50 

with  a  trace  of  alumina  and  Oxide  of  iron. ..  .0-.*>0 

manganese.  Alumina 0-2.") 

Ox.  of  manganese    25 

99-375  Buchok.  98  50  Rose. 

Sp.  Gr.  26.  H.=7-0. 

*  It  is  to  be  understood  that  nearly  all  the  minerals  included  under  this  clasp,  are  those 
In  which  silica  performs  the  part  of  an  acid,  and  is  combined  in  atomic  proportion!  with 
several  bases,  as  shown  by  the  formulse.    It  would  have  been  more  in  accordance  with 
1 


a  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Pure  silica,  which  thus  constitutes  all  but  a  minute  portion 
of  rock  crystal  and  amethyst,  is  composed  of  silicium  and  oxy- 
gen in  the  proportion  of  48'05  parts  of  the  former,  and  5 1 'Do 
of  the  latter.  By  some  it  is  regarded  as  a  protoxide,  and  by 
others  as  consisting  of  1  atom  silicium  arid  3  atoms  oxygen. 
(See  the  table  of  atomic  weights.) 

Of  quartz  there  are  many  varieties,  most  of  which  the  older 
mineralogists  described  as  distinct  species.  Some  of  these 
differ  considerably  in  their  external  characters :  others  nearly 
agree:  they  are  all  sufficiently  hard  to  scratch  glass,  and, 
when  compact  enough,  they  give  fire  with  steel ;  they  do  not 
yield  to  the  knife,  and  alone  are  infusible  B  B,  by  exposure  to 
which  the  colored  varieties  generally  lose  their  color;  with 
carbonate  of  soda  they  fuse  with  effervescence  into  a  transpa- 
rent glass. 

Quartz  occurs  massive  and  crystallized;  also  stalactitic, 
pseudomorphous,  spongiform,  granular,  compact,  &,c.  Its 
crystals  possess  double  refraction  with  one  positive  axis,  and 
have  the  property  of  polarizing  the  rays  of  light  into  a  system 
of  single  rings,  first  observed  by  M.  Arago. 

CRYSTALLIZED  QUARTZ.  Berg-crystal,  Gemeiner  Quarz,  W. 
Quarz  Haylin,*  H.  There  is  no  specific  difference  between 
common  quartz  and  rock  crystal.  The  latter  term  was  formerly 
confined  to  the  large  transparent  crystals  of  Madagascar,  the 
Alps,  &/c. ;  but  the  small  and  even  minute  transparent  crystals 
occurring  in  almost  all  metalliferous  veins  do  not  differ  from 
rock  crystal,  either  in  chemical  or  external  characters. 

The  common  form  of  crystallized  quartz  is  a  six-sided  prism 
terminated  by  six-sided  pyramids  (fig.  6);  the  two  pyramids 
joined  base  to  base  (fig.  3)  without  an  intervening  prism  are 
less  frequent.  The  crystals  may  be  cleaved,  presenting  bril- 
liant surfaces,  parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  the  six-sided  pyramid 
(fig.  3),  which  might  therefore  be  considered  as  the  primary 
form  of  quartz,  but  the  obtuse  rhomboid  has  been  adopted  as 
more  simple :  the  connection  between  this  rhomboid  and  the 
six-sided  pyramids  will  be  perceived  by  consulting  figs.  1,2, 
and  3.  The  angles  of  the  primary  rhomboid  are  94°  15'  and 
85°  45',  according  to  coinciding  measurements  by  the  reflect- 
ing goniometer,  taken  both  on  cleavages  and  natural  planes. 
The  cross  fracture  is  often  perfectly  conchoidal.  From  two 


the  purely  chemical  arrangement  adopted  in  this  work,  had  such  combinations  been 
placed  under  a  distinct  head  ;  hut,  as  this  would  occasion  a  radical  change  in  the  author's 
plan,  and  almost  entirely  abolish  the  present  class,  I  have  concluded,  with  this  explana- 
tion, not  to  alter  the  arrangement  in  the  present  edition.  [AM.  ED.] 

*  The  meaning  of  the  term  Quartz  is  not  known ;  Hyalin,  from  its  vitreous  aspect. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


3 


pieces  rubbed  together  in  the  dark,  a  phosphorescent  light  is 
produced,  and  a  faint  empyreumatic  odor  is  at  the  same  time 
emitted. 


JO. 


11. 


12. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  rhomboid.  Fig.  2,  the  lateral  angles 
replaced  by  triangular  planes,  which  are  complete  in  fig.  3, 
having  converted  the  rhomboid  into  a  dodecahedron  with  tri- 
angular planes.  Fig.  4  shows  the  small  triangular  plane  con- 
nected with  four-sided  planes,  which  are  parallel  with  the  axis 
of  the  crystal.  Fig.  5,  the  four-sided  plane  complete.  Fig. 
6,  the  four-sided  plane  elongated,  being  the  common  crystal  of 
quartz.  Fig.  7  shows  a  rhombic  plane  on  each  of  the  lateral 
angles  of  the  dodecahedron  ;  this  very  rare  form  has  been 
observed  among  the  Bornholm  diamonds.  Fig.  8  exhibits  an 
irregular  four-sided  plane  on  the  upper  left  corner  of  each  plane 
of  the  prism  of  a  common  crystal ;  if  the  crystal  were  dr  iwn 
complete,  the  same  plane  would  be  shown  on  the  lower  right 
corner.  Fig.  9.  presents  the  same  plane  on  the  upper  right 
corner,  which  frequently  occurs:  these  planes  are  mostly  seen 
in  combination  with  the  rhombic  planes  of  fig.  7.  Fig.  10 
shows  the  replacement  of  the  edges  between  the  lateral  and 
terminal  planes,  by  four  planes:  these  mostly  occur  in  combi- 
nations of  figs.  8  and  9.  Fig.  11  presents  one  of  the  four 
planes  increased,  tending  to  a  very  acute  six-sided  pyramid 
capped  by  the  common  pyramid.  Fig.  12  shows  the  replace- 
ment of  the  apex  of  the  common  pyramid  by  six  planes,  forming 
a  very  obtuse  pyramid. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


P  on  P 94°  15' 

g  I 133  48  H. 

P  on  k  1  or  g  1  on  g  2  160     5 

k  2 g  3  156  30 

k  3 g  4  152  20 

/c4 g5  J49  20 

P  or  g  I  on  e 141  40  H. 

e  on  e 120 

P  on  i  1  or  g  1  on   hi  165      e.g. 
P  or  g  1  on  i  2    ....  151  20 
P  on  h  3  or  g  I  on  t  4  .  151   16 

h4 t  5  .  148  50 

ft  5 t  6  .  142  20 

b  on  b 125  10 

P  on  b  or  g  1  on  t .  .  .  160  15 

d  2  on  d  2 179  15 

d  2  on  g  1 179  30 

The  planes  b  b  tend  to  an  obtuse  rhomboid,  or,  in  connection 
with  c,  to  an  obtuse  six-sided  prism. 

The  planes  k  1  to  4  to  acute  rhomboids,  or,  in  connection 
with  g  2  to  5,  to  six-sided  pyramids  more  acute  than  the  com- 
mon one. 

The  planes  A  1  to  5  and  t  1  to  6  occasionally,  though  rarely, 
occur  on  the  same  crystal. 

The  planes  n  and  o  are  always  convex :  del  are  always  minute 
and  rough. 

The  planes  oo  sometimes  replace  only  the  alternate  edges 
of  the  prism. 

The  finest  specimens  of  crystallized  quartz,  or  rock  crystal,  occur  in 
Savoy,  Dauphine,  and  elsewhere  among  the  Alps,  forming  drusy  cavi'ies 
in  mica  slate;  gigantic  crystals  have  been  brought  from  Madagascar  and 
the  Brazils;  while  the  smaller,  but  often  most  transparent  and  perfect,  are 
of  frequent  occurrence  in  metalliferous  veins.  Beautifully  limpid  crystals 
occur  imbedded  in  primitive  marble  at  Carrara,  and  very  brilliant  speci- 
mens at  Cape  Diamond,  near  Quebec.  The  species  quartz  does  not  by 
any  means  abound  in  varieties  of  crystalline  form,  and  yet,  owing  to  the 
disproportionate  size  of  the  faces,  its  crystals  offer  considerable  diversity  of 
appearance.  Rock  crystals  sometimes  present  beautiful  iridescences,  both 
superficially  and  internally;  when  external,  it  is  supposed  to  arise  from 
the  deposit  of  some  metallic  oxide,  probably  of  iron;  when  internal,  it  is 
the  refraction  of  light  in  consequence  of  fissures  in  the  crystal ;  and  it  will 
often  be  found  that  these  fissures  are  straight,  and  parallel  with  one  or 
other  of  the  planes  of  the  pyramid.  This  appearance  may  be  produced  by 
plunging  a  heated  crystal  into  cold  water;  the  laminae  then  partially  sep- 
arate parallel  to  the  natural  joints.  Another  interesting  peculiarity  of 
quartz  is  its  frequent  occurrence  in pseudomorphous  crystals;  at  Schnee- 
burg,  in  Saxony,  it  assumes  the  forms  of  various  calc-spars ;  at  Beeralstone, 
in  Devonshire,  those  of  certain  fluors;  at  Montmartre,  near  Paris,  that  of 
lenticular  gypsum,  &c.  (See  table,  p.  Ixxxii.  of  the  Introduction.) 

In  Cornwall  rock  crystals  are  abundant ;  but  the  clearest  as  well  as  the 
largest  specimens  have  hitherto  been  obtained  from  the  slate  quarries  of 
Delabole  and  the  vicinity  of  Tintagel.  They  were  esteemed  and  used  for 
personal  ornaments  in  the  time  of  Queen  Elizabeth;  and  Carew,  in  his 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Survey  of  Cornwall  (1602),  thus  notices  them:  "In  blacknesse  and  in 
hardnesse  they  come  behind  the  true  ones;  yet  I  have  knowne  some  of 
them  set  on  so  good  a  foile,  as  at  first  sight  they  might  appose  a  not  unskil- 
full  lapidarie."  (De  la  Beche,  Report  on  Cornwall,  Devon,  &c.,  p.  497.) 

Jn  the  United  States  the  localities  of  this  species  are  numerous,  but  New 
York  has  furnished  the  most  beautiful  and  interesting  crystalline  forms, 
particularly  Herkimer  County.  These  have  been  described  with  great 
particularity,  and  numerous  figures  of  them  given,  in  the  elaborate  report 
of  Professor  Beck  on  the  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  recently  published,  to 
which  the  reader  is  referred.  They  occur  in  the  cavities  of  calciferous 
sandstone,  and  not  unfrequently  contain  cavities  themselves,  which  are 
occupied  by  small  concretions  of  anthracite,  and  also  by  a  bituminous  fluid 
and  drops  of  limpid  water.  These  are  sometimes  contained  in  the  same 
cavity,  and  their  presence  is  rendered  the  more  obvious  by  small  bubbles 
of  air,  which  move  to  and  fro,  as  in  a  spirit  level,  by  alternately  changing 
the  position  of  the  crystal. 

Crystals  of  quartz  are  occasionally  found  enclosing  foreign  crystallized 
substances — as  schorl,  asbestus,  actynolite,  crystallized  titanite,  and  spec- 
ular oxide  of  iron.  The  most  remarkable  specimen  containing  titanium 
which  has  hitherto  been  found  in  the  United  States,  was  discovered  in 
New  Hampshire,  in  a  detached  mass,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Prof. 
Hubbard,  of  Dartmouth  College.  *  Crystals  scarcely  less  remarkable,  but  of 
a  smoky  color  or  topaz  yellow  (Caringorm),  and  enclosing  long,  slender, 
prismatic  crystals  of  schorl,  have  been  found  in  Nova  Scotia.  One  of  this 
character,  in  the  collection  of  the  American  editor,  weighs  90  pounds. 

The  crystals  from  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  as  well  as  some  of  those 
from  Herkimer,  present  the  common  pyramids,  without  the  intervention  of 
the  prism,  forming  the  doddcaedra  of  Hau'y,  the  derivation  of  which  from 
the  primary,  is  shown  in  fig.  2.  In  a  few  instances,  individuals  from  the 
former  locality  present  the  primary  rhomboid  almost  perfect,  or  having  its 
lateral  angles  replaced  by  tangent  planes  r,  and  also  by  the  small  triangular 
planes  z  resting  on  the  upper  edges  of  the  rhomboid,  as  seen  in  fig.  ]3,  and 
also  in  small  fig.  4.  A  remarkable  specimen  of  this  form,  upwards  of  one 
inch  in  length,  was  in  the  collection  of  Mr.  Lukins  of  Philadelphia.  It  came 
from  Lake  George.  A  form  yet  more  rare  from  this  locality,  the  unibibi- 
naire  of  Haiiy,  was  described  several  years  since  by  Dr.  Troost,  in  vol.  ii. 
Jour.  Jlcad.  Nat.  Sci.,  and  is  now  figured  by  Prof.  Beck  as  having  the 
alternate  solid  angles  of  the  prism  replaced  by  rhomboidai  faces,  as  in  the 

Fig.  13. 


*  Since  discovered  in  place  by  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson  in  the  lime  quarries  of  Orford  and 
Lyme,  N.  H.    See  his  lleport  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State. 


G 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


rhombifere  of  Haiiy.  But  a  single  example  of  this  combination  has  been 
observed  by  them.  (See  fig.  14.)  P,  and  the  adjoining  planes  z,  incline  upon 
o  at  an  angle  of  128°  20',  P  or  z  on  s,  151°  7'.  Shepard  (Mineralogy,  p. 


Fig  15. 


Fig.  16. 


142)  has  cited  American  localities  of  one  or  two  rare  forms  to  which  dis- 
tinctive names  have  been  given  by  Haiiy,  two  of  which  are  here  repre- 
sented in  figs.  15  and  16,  the  latter  having  the  edges  of  the  pyramids 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  7 

truncated  (dmargind  of  Haiiy).  P  on  o  160°  15',  o  on  o  125°  1(X:  cor- 
responding to  P  on  b,  or  g  I  on  c,  and  6  on  b  of  the  large  figure  by  Phillips. 
P  on/or  z  on/  141°  40'.  Fig.  17  is  a  rare  example  from  Middleville, 
Herkimer  County,  N.  Y.,  cited  by  Professors  Beck  and  Shepard ;  P  on 
a  145°  22',  c  on  a  159°  50",  c  on  P  165°  30',  z"  on  a  111°  15',  z  on  a  137° 
61',  z  on  c  145°  30',  a  on  c  175°  30'.*  Examples  of  the  form  of  fig.  13 
have  been  found  at  Chesterfield,  Mass. ;  they  have  also  been  brought 
from  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Holland,  in  both  instances  attached  to  masses 
of  trap  rock.  Perfectly  transparent  crystals  of  the  dodecahedral  form  have 
also  been  found  in  Nova  Scotia.  Many  of  the  specimens  from  Herkimer, 
N.  Y.,  offer  beautiful  examples  of  the  postnatal  compositions  mentioned  in 
the  Introduction,  p.  liii.,  and  their  appearance  is  sometimes  most  unique 
and  fantastical.  Interesting  examples  are  presented  in  figs.  18  and  19,  in 
which  it  will  be  observed  that  the  small  crystals  are  united  to  the  larger 
ones  by  the  contact  of  similar  planes,  and  that  the  similar  planes  of  both  are 
parallel  with  each  other.  Rarely  has  a  small  crystal  deeply  penetrated 
the  side  of  a  larger  one,  and  may  be  removed,  leaving  a  perfect  impression 
of  its  form.  Fig.  20  represents  a  form  but  rarely  found  at  Middleville,  in 
which  the  planes  P'  and  z'  are  unduly  extended,  thus  nearly  approximating 
to  the  prismi  sphallolde  as  figured  by  Haiiy. t  P  on  r  141°  40',  P  on  z 
138°  48',  r  on  z  141°  40',  r  on  s  142°,  P  or  z  on  s  151°  7'. 

The  following  sub-species  have  been  distinguished: 

1.  AVANTURINE.    Quarz  hyalin  avanturine,  H.    A  variety  of 
quartz  rock,  including  small  laminaB  of  mica,  which,  when 
polished,  presents  a  shining  spangle-like  appearance.      The 
most  common  color  of  the  base  is  brown,  or  reddish  brown, 
enclosing  spangles  of  a  gold  color,  as  in  the  variety  from  Cape 
de  Gatte  in  Spain;  occasionally  it  exhibits  a  fine  green  tint. 

2.  PRASE.    Quarz  hyalin  vert-obscur,  H.     This  variety  pos- 
sesses a  dark  leek-green  color   (whence  its  name  from  the 
Greek).     It  only  occurs  massive,  with  amphibole,  principally 
in  the  iron  mines  of  Breitenbrunn,  in  Saxony.     In  the  U.  S. 
it  is  abundant  at  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  and  encloses  acicular  and 
asbestiform  actyriolite,  to  which  it  appears  to  owe  its  fine  color. 

3.  MILK  QUARTZ.     Quarz   hyalin  laiteux,  H.,  and   ROSE 
QUARTZ.     Quarz  hyalin  Rose,  H.     Occur  massive,  and  are 
only  distinguished   by  their  color;    the  former,  as  its  name 
denotes,  presents  a  milky  aspect,  while  the  latter  has  frequently 
a  fine  rose-red  tint,  which  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  a  mi- 
nute admixture  of  manganese.     It  occurs  in  granite  at  Raben- 
stein  in  Bavaria,  at  Abo  in  Finland,  and  has  numerous  locali- 
ties in  the  United  States. 

4.  VIOLET  QUARTZ.     AMETHYST.     Quarz  hyalin  violet,  H. 
Amethyst  chiefly  differs  from  common  quartz  in  its  color,  which 
is  purplish  violet,  supposed  to  be  derived  from  a  minute  propor- 

*  Several  of  the  measurements  by  Haiiy  do  not  exactly  correspond  with  those  of  similar 
planes  by  Phillips,  but  the  latter  are  to  be  regarded  as  the  most  accurate,  having  been 
obtained  by  means  of  the  reflecting  goniometer.  [AM.  ED.] 

t  Fig.  18  is  given  on  the  authority  of  Prof.  Beck.  Figs.  19  and  20  are  drawn  from  crys- 
tals in  the  possession  of  the  editor.  The  former  is  about  six  inches  in  length. 


8  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

tion  of  iron  and  manganese,  which  it  contains ;  it  becomes 
white  and  opalescent  by  long  exposure  to  heat.  The  best 
amethysts  are  brought  from  Cambay  in  India,  from  Siberia, 
Ceylon,  and  Persia,  where  they  are  found  both  lining  the  cav- 
ities of  geodes,  and  in  rolled  masses.  Of  inferior  transparency 
and  hue,  they  occur  in  Sweden,  the  Hartz,  Bohemia,  Transyl- 
vania, in  agate  balls  at  Oberstein  in  Germany,  in  large  crystal- 
line groups  near  Cork,  and  in  Brazil.  Amethyst  is  a  very 
common  mineral  in  the  trap  rocks  of  Nova  Scotia,  as  at  Par- 
tridge Island  and  Cape  Blomidon,  where  it  frequently  forms 
geodes  of  projecting  crystals,  over  which  are  implanted  very 
perfect  crystals  of  heulandite  and  apophyllite.  The  finest 
purple  variety  is  found  on  Digby  Neck  in  rolled  masses  on  the 
shore  of  St.  Mary's  Bay.  In  the  United  States,  the  trap  rocks 
of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  also  furnish  specimens.  At 
Bristol,  R.  I.,  pale  colored  crystals  of  amethyst  are  found  in 
decomposing  granite,  and  contain  cavities  partially  filled  with 
a  fluid  substance.  Fine  crystals  have  also  been  found  in 
Delaware  County,  Pa.  But  amethyst,  in  crystals  of  large  size 
and  deep  color,  is  comparatively  rare  in  the  United  States.  A 
crystal  in  the  cabinet  of  Mr.  Allen  contained  four  cavities  par- 
tially filled  with  a  fluid  resembling  naphtha,  which,  on  being 
heated  to  83°,  would  entirely  fill  the  cavities,  and,  on  cooling, 
reappear,  accompanied  by  apparent  ebullition. 

5.  YELLOW  QUARTZ.    Quarz  hyalin  jaune,  H.    Is  of  various 
shades  of  yellow,  and  nearly  transparent.     Splendid  specimens 
have  been  found  at  Cairngorum,  in  Inverness-shire,  whence  the 
trivial  name  frequently  applied  by  lapidaries  to  this  variety. 

6.  BROWN  QUARTZ.     Quarz  hyalin  enfume,  H.      Closely 
allied  to  the  last,  but  less  transparent,  and  more  common. 

7.  FERRUGINOUS  QUARTZ.     Eisenkiesel,  W.    Quarz  hyalin 
rubiginex,  H.     Iron  flint,  J.     This  variety  presents  several 
shades  of  yellow  and  red,  and  occurs  both  massive  and  crystal- 
lized.    It  is  opake,  gives  sparks  with  steel,  and  consists  chiefly 
of  silica,  with  about  5  per  cent,  of  iron.     Eisenkiesel  is  found 
in  Bohemia,  in  iron-stone  veins  in  the  Hartz,  and  at  Altenberg 
in  Upper  Saxony. 

8.  RADIATED  QUARTZ  occurs  in  crystals  which  are  closely 
aggregated,  and  which  radiate  from  a  point. 

9.  FIBROUS  QUARTZ  is  produced  when  the  composition  pre- 
sents thin  columnar  particles.    The  cat's-eye  is  a  variety  of  this, 
interspersed  with  thin  filaments  of  asbestus,  which,  when  the 
stone  is  cut  en  caborhon,  presents  a  peculiar  opalescent,  or  (as 
the  French  term  it)  chatoyant  streak  of  light.     It  is  usually  of 
a  greyish  or  greenish  color,  but  often  brown  and  red  ;  it  con- 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  9 

tains  small  portions  of  alumina  and  lime,  derived  from  the  as- 
bestus  which  traverses  its  mass;  is  generally  translucent,  and 
is  frequently  employed  as  an  ornamental  stone.  Its  principal 
localities  are  Ceylon  arid  the  Malabar  coast. 

10.  SPONGIFORM  QUARTZ.    Schwimmstein,  W.    Float-stone, 
J.     The  quartz  ncctique  of  Haiiy  is  described  as  occurring  in 
beds  of  flint  in  chalk,  at  St.  Ouen  near  Paris.     It  presents  a 
spongy  or  porous  appearance;   consists  of  numerous  minute 
white  or  greyish-white  crystals;  scratches  glass;  and,  as  its 
name  indicates,  possesses  the  property  of  swimming  on  water, 
at  least  until  the  air  contained  in  its  numerous  cavities  is  dis- 
placed.    It  has  also  been  observed  under  different  forms  in 
some  of  the  Cornish  mines.    It  consists,  according  to  Vauque- 
lin,  of  98  silica,  and  2  carbonate  of  lime. 

In  the  massive  state,  quartz  is  a  most  abundant  mineral, 
forming  extensive  veins  in  primitive  and  transition  rocks,  and 
being  consequently  diffused  over  almost  every  quarter  of  the 
globe.  White  silica  sandstone,  or  granular  quartz,  is  almost 
pure  silica,  or  contains  only  minute  portions  of  foreign  matter 
united  with  it  as  a  mechanical  admixture.  Near  Villa  Ricca 
in  Brazil,  a  variety  of  sandstone  occurs  in  thin  strata,  which 
is  remarkable  for  its  flexibility,  a  property  apparently  arising 
from  small  scales  of  mica  disposed  throughout  its  mass.  The 
minute  particles  of  pure  white  sand  are  likewise  quartz  in  a 
state  of  disintegration,  resulting  from  the  destruction  of  this 
species.  Such  are  the  sands  of  the  coast  of  Norfolk,  and  of 
Alum  Bay  in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  so  largely  used  in  the  making 
of  glass:  a  somewhat  similar  sand  is  found  in  the  caverns  of 
Reigate  in  Surrey. 

11.  FLINT  consists  of  about  98  per  cent,  of  silica,  with  minute 
proportions  of  oxide  of  iron,  lirne,  alumina,  and  water. — Kla- 
proth.     Specific  gravity  about  259.     It  is  of  various  shades  of 
grey,  yellow,  and  black.     It  is  somewhat  harder  than  common 
quartz,  which  it  scratches;  is  rarely  laminated,  and  therefore 
may  be  broken  with  nearly  equal  ease  in  every  direction :  is 
brittle  when  first  taken  from  the  native  bed,  but  becomes  harder 
by  exposure;   has  a  flat  conchoidal  fracture,  and  feeble  lustre: 
thin  fragments  of  the  black  varieties  are  very  translucent  and 
sharp.     It  is  infusible,  but  whitens  and  becomes  opake  when 
exposed  to  heat. 

In  the  chalk  formation  it  occurs  in  regular  beds,  and  con- 
sists either  of  nodules  or  flat  tabular  masses;  the  cliffs  near 
Dover  present  fine  examples  of  this.  Flint  is  also  abundant 
in  alluvial  deposits  in  the  neighborhood  of  chalk,  as  in  France 
and  the  north  of  Ireland.  It  is  often  found  enclosing  sponges, 


10  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

alcyonia,  echinites,  and  other  fossil  remains.  By  exposure  to 
the  action  of  air  and  water  it  becomes  yellow,  and  is  then 
termed  ferruginous  flint ;  such  for  the  most  part  are  the  flints 
of  our  gravel  beds,  which  have  been  rounded  by  attrition. 

12.  CALCEDONY  *  presents  various  shades  of  white,  grey,  yel- 
low, brown,  green,  and  blue,  —  the  color  for  the  most  part  being 
uniform.     It  occurs  massive:  forming  veins;  in  nodules;  and 
also  botryoidal  and  stalactitic;  but  never  crystallized.     It  is 
commonly   semi-transparent;   has   an  even   or   very  flat  con- 
choidal  fracture ;   is  harder  than  flint,  and  is  infusible ;  con- 
sists of  silica  84'0,  alumina  10,  by  the  analysis  of  Bergman. 
Specific  Gravity  2'6. 

Splendid  stalactitic  specimens  of  this  mineral  were  at  one 
time  found  in  Trevascus  mine  in  Cornwall;  Iceland  and  the 
Faroe  Isles  are  now,  however,  its  best  known  localities.  It 
also  occurs  in  Ceylon,  in  several  parts  of  India,  in  Siberia,  in 
Carinthia,  Hungary,  and  many  of  the  Hebrides.  Pednandras 
mine  in  Cornwall  has  yielded  it  of  a  smalt-blue  color;  and  a 
variety  presenting  the  form  of  hexahedral  crystals,  which,  how- 
ever, are  certainly  pseudomorphous,  has  been  brought  from 
Tresztyan  in  Transylvania. 

The  most  splendid  masses  of  calcedony  hitherto  brought  to 
the  United  States  are  those  collected  in  great  abundance  on  the 
shores  of  Desolation  Island  in  the  South  Indian  Ocean  by  the 
whale  fishermen.  They  are  hollow,  consisting  of  thin  crusts, 
which  are  oftentimes  pure  white  and  nearly  transparent,  and 
have  their  interior  surfaces  covered  with  botryoidal  projections 
of  the  same  color  and  appearance. 

The  following  are  considered  varieties  of  calcedony. 

13.  ONYX.!    Consists  of  alternate  layers  of  brown  and  opake 
white   calcedony,   and  is  that  variety  specially  used   in   the 
formation  of  cameos. 

14.  PLASMA  |  is  grass-green   and  semi-transparent,  with  a 
glistening  lustre.    It  occurs  principally  in  India  and  China,  and 
is  brought  to  this  country  in  the  shape  of  beads  and  other  orna- 
ments; occasional  specimens  are  found  among  the  ruins  of 
Rome. 

15.  HELIOTROPE  or  BLOODSTONE  is  usually  deep  green  and 
translucent,  with  yellow  or  blood-red  spots  interspersed  through 


*  So  named  from  the  town  of  Calcedon  in  Upper  Asia,  where  it  was  collected  by  the 
ancients. 

|  According  to  Brongniart,  "  onyx  veut-dire  angle  "  (the  nail)  ;  inferring  that  this  stone 
received  its  name  from  the  two  colors  sometimes  observable  on  the  human  nail. 

£  Plasma,  Greek,  engraving  j  tho  stone  having  been  used  by  the  ancients  for  that 
purpose. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  11 

the  mass.  Its  color  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  green  earth. 
It  is  found  in  Siberia,  Iceland,  in  the  Isle  of  Rum,  and  else- 
where. Well-characterized  heliotrope,  consisting  of  a  ground 
of  green  calcedony  abundantly  suffused  with  blood-red  dots 
and  delicate  thread-like  ramifications  of  jasper,  has  been 
obtained  among  the  trap  rocks  of  Nova  Scotia.  Among  lapi- 
daries it  is  in  considerable  request. 

16.  CHRYSOPRASE  is  of  an  apple-green  color;  translucent; 
massive;  internally  somewhat  glimmering,  or  not  quite  dull; 
and  its  fracture  is  even,  rarely  approaching  the  conchoidal ;  B  B 
it  loses  its  color,  becomes  opake,  but  is  infusible  without  addi- 
tion.    According  to  Klaproth  it  consists  of  silica  96'16,  oxide 
of  nickel  TO,  and  minute  portions  of  lime,  magnesia,  alumina, 
and  oxide  of  iron,  —  its  color  being  attributed  to  the  nickel. 
It  has  been  found  extensively  at  Kosemutz  in  Silesia,  in  veins 
traversing  serpentine,   and  accompanied   by  calcedony,  opal, 
quartz,  and  pimelite.     It  is  much  prized  by  jewellers,  and  is 
usually-  cut  into  a  convex  form. 

17.  CACHOLONG  is  opake,  of  a  milk  or  yellowish-white  color ; 
externally  dull,  but  internally  of  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre ;  it 
sometimes  disintegrates  by  exposure,  when  it  adheres  to  the 
tongue  ;  and  B  B  is  infusible.     Its  specific  gravity  is  about  2*2, 
and  it  appears  to  be  closely  allied  to  hydrophane. 

It  occurs  in  loose  masses  on  the  borders  of  the  river  Cach,* 
in  Bucharia  ;  also  with  calcedony  in  the  trap  rocks  of  Iceland  ; 
in  the  Faroe  Islands;  in  Nova  Scotia,  and  in  Greenland. 

18.  CARNELiAN.f   Karneol,  W.   Quartz  agathe  cornaline,  H. 
Carnelian  and  agate  do  not  materially  differ.     The  former  is 
principally  from  Arabia,  India,  and  Surinam,  where  it  is  found 
in  nodules  of  a  dark  grey  color.     These  are  first  exposed  to 
the  sun  for  some  weeks,  and  then  placed  in  earthen  pots  and 
subjected  to  heat,  which  gives  them  those  hues  which  consti- 
tute their  value  in  jewelry. 

19.  AGATR  is  an  impure  variety  of  calcedony,  of  frequent  oc- 
currence in  the  vesicular  cavities  of  amygdaloidal  rocks.     It 
presents  the  most  brilliant  and  the  most  varied  colors,  and,  from 
its  hardness  and  compact  structure,  being  capable  of  receiving 
a  high  polish,  occupies  a  distinguished  position  in  most  collec- 
tions.    The  parallel  lines  which  some  agates  exhibit,  when  cut 
and  polished,  much  resemble  those  of  a  fortification.     In  oth- 
ers the  colors  alternate,  as  in  certain  ribbons.    A  variety  from 
Saxony  presents  a  brecciated  structure;  and  so  forth.     When 
,-. , -*-  - 

*  Hence  its  name  of  Oacholong. 

•f  From  the  resemblance  of  its  color  to  that  of  flesh. 


12  EARTHS'    MINERALS. 

translucent,  and  containing  appearances  of  aborization,  or 
vegetable  filaments,  but  which  are  ascribed  to  the  infiltration 
of  iron  or  manganese,  it  is  termed  Mocha-stone;  this  is  princi- 
pally brought  from  Arabia.  Moss  agate  is  calcedony  contain- 
ing delicate  vegetable  ramifications  of  different  shades,  and  oc- 
casionally traversed  by  irregular  veins  of  red  jasper. 

The  most  beautiful  agates  are  found  in  the  trap  rocks  of 
Oberstein ;  some  are  hollow,  and  are  lined  with  crystals  of 
amethyst;  others  also  include  harmotome.  Agate  is  also 
found  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Silesia,  Italy,  Siberia,  and  India. 
The  Hill  of  Kinnoull  and  the  Isle  of  Skye  are  well-known 
Scotch  localities.  Specimens  recently  brought  from  Nova 
Scotia  will  vie  in  beauty  with  any  from  the  most  noted  Euro- 
pean localities.  A  collection  was  also  brought,  a  few  years 
since,  from  New  Holland,  which  comprised  rare  and  beautiful 
forms  of  moss  agate,  with  botryoidal  green  and  white  calcedony. 
Agate  is  used  both  as  an  ornamental  stone,  and  for  cups  and 
mortars  by  the  chemist.  The  facility  with  which  certain  of 
its  lines  imbibe  moisture  enables  the  lapidary,  by  boiling  it  first 
in  oil  and  then  in  sulphuric  acid,  to  give  it  much  the  resem- 
blance of  the  onyx. 

20.  COMMON  JASPER,  in  a  chemical  point  of  view,  only  differs 
from  agate  in  containing  a  larger  portion  of  iron;  mineralogi- 
cally,  it  is  for  the  most  part  readily  distinguished  by  its  opacity. 
Its  prevalent  colors  are  yellow,  brown,  and  red  of  various 
shades,  and  sometimes  green;  occasionally  intermixed,  or  in 
spots  and  irregular  veins.  It  has  often  a  resinous  lustre,  but 
is  sometimes  dull;  its  fragments  are  rarely  translucent  on  the 
edges;  is  hard,  and  frequently  brittle,  and  does  not  fuse  B  B. 
It  occurs  in  many  parts  of  the  Continent,  in  veins  and  beds 
both  in  primitive  and  secondary  mountains;  also  in  Cornwall, 
in  the  Pent!  and  and  Moorfoot  Hills,  and  in  other  parts  of  Scot- 
land; also  in  Nova  Scotia. 

21  STRIPED  JASPER,  or  RIBBON  JASPER,  presents  green,  yel- 
low, and  red  colors,  of  various  shades,  the  most  beautiful  variety 
being  composed  of  equal  and  parallel  layers  of  these  colors. 
It  occurs  principally  in  the  Ural  Mountains  of  Siberia,  in  Sax- 
ony, and  in  Devonshire.  Variously  colored  varieties  are  found 
in  Nova  Scotia. 

22.  EGYPTIAN  JASPER,  or  EGYPTIAN  PEBBLE,  occurs  in  round- 
ish masses  which  are  externally  rough,  and  generally  of  a  brown 
color.  Internally  it  exhibits  a  lighter  hue,  which  sometimes 
approaches  to  that  of  cream,  around  which  are  disposed  irreg- 
ular zones  or  bands  of  brown,  sometimes  intermixed  with 
nearly  black  spots,  and  also  with  dentritic  appearances.  It  is 


EARTHY   MINERALS.  13 

found,  according  to  Dr.  Clarke,  in  abundance,  together  with 
masses  and  detached  fragments  of  petrified  wood,  scattered 
over  the  surface  of  the  sandy  desert  eastward  of  Grand  Cairo, 
even  to  the  borders  of  the  Red  Sea. 

23.  PORCELAIN  JASPER,  or  PORCELLANITE,  is  also  by  some 
mineralogists  considered  a  variety  of  this  species;   but  it  is 
merely  clay  indurated  by  heat.     It  is  compact,  massive,  and 
opake;  presents  sometimes  a  slaty  structure,  with  a  vitreous, 
uneven,  conchoidal  fracture,  and  has  either  a  bluish  grey,  or  a 
light  fawn  color.    It  melts  BB  into  a  semi-transparent  enamel, 
and  is  therefore  quite  distinct  from  any  of  the  jaspers.    It  occurs 
principally  in  the  neighborhood  of  coal  searns  which  have  been 
in  a  state  of  combustion,  and  is  abundant  around  Carlsbad  in 
Bohemia. 

24.  HORNSTONE.     A  green-colored  soft  hornstone,  used  for 
the  setting  of  lancets,  yielded  to  Faraday,  silica  71*3,  alumina 
15'3,  protoxide  of  iron  9'3,  and  a  trace  of  lime. 

This  substance  occurs  massive,  in  nodules,  and  pseudomor- 
phous.  The  massive  has  a  splintery  or  somewhat  conchoidal 
fracture,  and  is  translucent  or  opake;  is  dull,  or  has  a  glim- 
mering lustre;  is  scarcely  so  hard  as  quartz,  and  is  infusible. 
Its  general  color  is  grey,  which  is  tinged  blue,  green,  brown, 
red,  or  yellow.  In  appearance  it  closely  resembles  compact 
felspar:  hornstone,  however,  is  infusible;  felspar  is  fusible. 
Hornstone  is  found  in  round  masses  in  limestone  in  the  Tyrol, 
forming  veins  in  Hungary  and  Sweden,  and  presenting  remark- 
able pseudomorphous  crystallizations  in  Saxony  and  Bohemia. 
It  is  by  most  mineralogists  classed  with  flint. 

The  United  States  can  scarcely  be  said  to  furnish  their  pro- 
portion of  localities  of  the  several  varieties  last  described,  prob- 
ably from  the  rare  occurrence  of  trap  rocks,  in  which  they 
most  abound.  A  beautiful  green  chrysoprase  is  found  in  ser- 
pentine at  New  Fane,  Vt. ;  prase  penetrated  by  actynolite  at 
Cumberland,  R.  I. ;  rose  quartz  at  Acworth,  N.  H  ,  Paris  and 
Topsham,  Me.,  Southbury,  Ct.,  Williamsburg  arid  Chesterfield, 
Mass.  Carnelian  and  agate  are  rarely  found  in  the  trap  rocks 
of  Connecticut  and  Massachusetts,  but  a  deep  red  jasper  is 
abundant  at  Saugus,  and  a  yellow  variety,  with  calcedony,  is 
found  at  Chester,  Mass. ;  hornstone,  in  rolled  masses,  is  not  un- 
common; calcedony,  common  and  onyx  agate,  with  red  jasper, 
occur  plentifully  along  the  shores  of  St.  Mary's  River  and  Lake 
Superior,  loose  and  imbedded  in  amygdaloid.  Hollow  globular 
masses  of  reddish  brown  and  yellow  botryoidal  calcedony  occur 
at  Tampa  Bay,  Florida.  A  very  beautiful  ribbon  and  agate 
jasper  has  been  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson,  near  Machias,  Me., 
2 


14  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

where  it  is  obtained  in  huge  sheets  and  is  wrought  for  orna- 
mental purposes.  The  trap  and  basalitic  rocks  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  which  have  been  recently  explored  by  Dr. 
Parker,  abound  with  most  of  the  varieties  above  enumerated, 
particularly  jasper,  agate,  and  carnelian ;  and  they  are  asso- 
ciated with  the  various  zeolite  minerals  so  common  to  these 
rocks,  but  which,  we  regret  to  say,  are  but  incidentally  alluded 
to  in  his  journal. 

25.  KILPATRICK  QUARTZ.  Dr.  Thomson  has  given  this  name 
to  a  variety  of  this  species  which  is  found  in  the  trap  rocks  of 
Kilpatrick  Hills,  in  the  vicinity  of  Glasgow.  Its  principal 
peculiarity  is  that  it  occurs  in  small  globular  masses,  sometimes 
in  perfect  spheres,  "  consisting  of  an  aggregation  of  crystals, 
the  forms  of  which  cannot  be  made  out;  but  the  exterior  ter- 
mination of  each,  when  examined  under  the  microscope,  ap- 
pears to  be  a  four-sided  pyramid.  So  that  each  of  the  spheres 
is  studded  with  small  microscopic  four-sided  pyramids.  It 
contains  3  per  cent,  of  water,  with  a  trace  of  sulphuric  acid, 
and  is  rather  lighter  than  common  quartz.  It  is  white  and 
translucent."  (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &,c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  66.) 

In  Nova  Scotia  the  same  variety  is  found  in  cavities  of  the 
amygdaloid,  sometimes  lying  loose  from  the  rock,  and  showing 
but  a  minute  point  by  which  the  sphere  was  once  attached  to 
it,  while  in  the  process  of  forming.  It  consists  of  radiating 
prisms,  proceeding  from  a  common  centre,  and  terminating  in 
pyramids  externally,  but  of  the  usual  form. 


OPAL. 

Opal,  W.    duarz  Resinite,  H.    Silex   Opale,  Bt.    Uncleavable  duartz,  M,    Hyalus 
Opalinus,  D. 

Opal,  like  quartz,  consists  chiefly  of  silica  and  water;  but 
analysis  generally  indicates  a  greater  quantity  of  the  latter  than 
in  quartz.  Its  occasional  resinous  lustre  is  probably  the  ori- 
gin of  Hau'y's  appellation.  None  of  its  varieties  are  sufficiently 
hard  to  give  fire  with  steel.  Specific  gravity  2'09  to  2'35. 

1.  PRECIOUS  OPAL.  NOBLE  OPAL.  Edler  Opal,  W.  Quarz 
resinite  opalin,  H.  This  beautiful  mineral  is  of  a  white, 
bluish,  or  yellowish-white  color,  and,  when  viewed  by  trans- 
mitted light,  is  yellow.  It  exhibits  brilliant  and  changeable 
reflections  of  green,  blue,  yellow,  and  red.  This  play  of  colors 
has  not  been  satisfactorily  accounted  for;  Sir  D.  Brewster  sup- 
poses it  to  be  owing  to  the  refraction  and  reflection  of  light  in 
certain  openings  in  the  interior  of  the  mass,  which  are  not  fis- 
sures, but  possess  a  uniform  shape.  It  is  translucent ;  frac- 
ture conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous  or  resinous  lustre;  easily 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  15 

broken,  but  scratches  glass.  B  B  it  decrepitates,  and  loses  its 
colors.  The  Hungarian  consists,  according  to  Klaproth,  of  90 
silica  and  10  water :  this  water,  however,  is  believed  (in  com- 
mon with  the  water  found  in  some  other  silicious  minerals) 
to  be  hygrometric,  and  therefore  to  vary  with  the  state  of  the 
atmosphere.  It  occurs,  accompanied  by  common  opal,  imbed- 
ded in  porphyry,  at  Czervenitza  in  Hungary ;  in  trap  rocks  in 
the  Faroe  Islands;  at  Freyburg,  in  Saxony,  and  at  Gracios  a 
Dios,  in  the  province  of  Honduras,  in  America,  whence  it  has 
been  brought  in  specimens  of  considerable  size  and  of  great 
splendor,  the  color  being  milk-white  with  a  faint  shade  of  blue. 
Small  fragments  of  what  appear  to  be  trachite  were  attached 
to  the  specimens  which  have  been  brought  from  this  place  into 
the  United  States. 

2.  FIRE  OPAL.     Quarz  resinite  girasol,  H.     Silex  girasol, 
Bt.     Is  found  with  the  noble  opal  in  Hungary,  but  is  much 
scarcer.     It  differs  from  the  precious  in  possessing  only  bright 
hyacinth-red  and  yellow  tints  when  turned  towards  the  light. 
It  occurs  principally  at   Zimapan  in   Mexico,  in   the  Faroe 
Islands,  and  (accompanying  the  opal  just  described)  from  Gra- 
cios a  Dios  in  Honduras.     Also  in  Guatemala.     "  Humboldt 
first  made  known  the  rich  repository  of  this  mineral  in  Mex- 
ico, and  one  of  the  most  magnificent  specimens  ever  obtained 
was  deposited  by  him  in  the  Royal  Mineralogical  Cabinet  at 
Berlin.     It  occurs  in  trachytic  porphyry."     (Feuchtwanger  on 
Gems.) 

3.  COMMON  OPAL.     Gemeiner  Opal,  W.      Quarz  resinite 
commuri,  H.     Silex  resinite,  Bt.     Presents  various  shades  of 
white,  green,  yellow,  and  red,  but  is  entirely  devoid  of  the  play 
of  colors  peculiar  to  noble  opal.     In  hardness,  translucency, 
fracture,  and  specific  gravity,  it  corresponds;   and  its  constitu- 
ents are,  92'0  silica,  7-75  water,  and  0'25  oxide  of  iron.     It 
occurs  abundantly  at  Telkobanya  and  elsewhere  in  Hungary, 
forming  short  irregular  beds  which  traverse  porphyry  ;  in  Farce 
occupying  the  cavities  of  amygdaloidal  rocks;  in  Ireland,  at 
the  Giant's  Causeway;   and  in  many  parts  of  the  Hebrides. 

4.  SEMI-OPAL.      Halb-Opal,   W.      duarz    resinite    hydro- 
phane,  H.  ?     Differs  from  the  last  in  being  more  opake :  the 
translucency,  however,  of  some  varieties  is  increased  by  im- 
mersion in  water,  particularly  when  in  thin  fragments.     It  oc- 
curs of  various  shades  of  white,  grey,  yellow,  brown,  and  green. 
When  compact,  the  fracture  is  flat  conchoidal.     According  to 
Klaproth,  it  consists  of  85  0  silica,  TO  carbon,  1'75  oxide  of 
iron,  8  ammoniacal  water,  and  a  small  portion  of  bitumen.     It 


16  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

is  found  in  amygdaloid  in  the  Faroe  Isles,  Iceland,  &,c.  asso- 
ciated with  common  opal ;  also  near  Frankfort,  in  some  of  the 
metalliferous  veins  of  Cornwall,  and  in  the  trap  of  Nova  Scotia. 

5.  WOOD-OPAL.     Holz-opal,  W.     duarz  resinite  xyloide, 
H.     This  variety  is  remarkable  for  its  ligneous  appearance. 
It  presents  several  tints  of  white,  grey,  brown,  and  black  ;  and 
in  fracture,  translucency,  and  lustre,  does  not  materially  differ 
from  semi-opal,  although  somewhat  harder.     It  occurs  occa- 
sionally, forming  large  trees,  in  the  pumice  conglomerates  of 
Neusohl  and  Kremnitz  in  Hungary ;  in  trap  rocks  in  Transyl- 
vania and  the  Faroe  Islands;  and  in  Van  Diemen's  Land. 

6.  FERRUGINOUS  OPAL.     Opal-jasper,  W.     Jaspe-opal,  Br. 
Jasper-opal,  J.     The  ferruginous  is  distinguished  from  com- 
mon opal  by  its  colors,  which  are  deep  shades  of  red,  yellow, 
and  grey;  and  by  being  opake,  or  only  feebly  translucent  on 
the  edges.     Its  fracture  is  flat  conchoidal.    B  B  it  does  not  be- 
come white.     A  variety  from  Telkobanya  yielded  to  Klaproth 
silica  43'05,  oxide  of  iron  47*0,  water  7*5.     It  occurs  in  por- 
phyry near  Telkobanya  and  Tokay  in  Hungary ;  in  the  Saxon 
Erzebirge;  at  Dominica;   and  in  St.  Helena. 

7.  HYDROPHANE.    duarz  resinite  hydrophane,  H.    A  variety 
of  opal  devoid  of  transparency,  but  assuming  it  when  immersed 
in  water  or  any  other  transparent  fluid  (whence  its  name,  from 
the  Greek);  emitting  at  the  same  time  numerous  globules  of 
air,  and  becoming  considerably  heavier.     It   adheres  to  the 
tongue,  and  consists,  according  to  Klaproth,  of  93'1  silica,  T6 
alumina,  5'0  water  and  inflammable  matter.    It  occurs  in  Hun- 
gary, in  Bucharia,  and  at  the  Giant's  Causeway,  in  small  masses 
resembling  mountain  cork,  which  are  quite  opake  until  im- 
mersed in  water,  when  they  dilate  and  become  translucent. 

8.  MENILITE.      duarz    resinite    subluisant,    brunatre,  H. 
Menilite  is  a  variety  of  semi-opal,  occurring  in  compact  reni- 
form  masses  of  a  brown  color  ;  structure  slaty,  somewhat  trans- 
lucent, and  found  in  beds  of  adhesive  slate  at  Menil-montant, 
near  Paris.     From  the  resemblance  of  its  darker  varieties  to 
pitch,  it  is  sometimes  called  the  pitchstone  of  Menil  montant. 
It  consists,  according  to  Klaproth,  of  85'5  silica,  1  alumina,  11 
water  and  inflammable  matter,  with  small  proportions  of  lime 
and  oxide  of  iron. 

9.  HYALITE.*      MULLER'S   GLASS,     duarz  hyalin  concre- 
tionne,  H.      It  occurs  in  white   and   transparent  botryoidal 
masses,  or  in  stalactites;  has  a  vitreous  lustre,  is  brittle,  but  is 

*  From  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  glassy  appearance. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  17 

as  hard  as  quartz.  Specific  gravity  about  2'4  ;  B  B  it  is  infusi- 
ble by  itself,  and  consists,  according  to  Bucholz,  of  silica  92, 
water  6'3,  with  a  trace  of  alumina,  or  nearly  8  atoms  silica  to 
1  atom  water.  This  singular  mineral  is  chiefly  found  investing 
or  lining  the  cavities  of  trap  or  basaltic  rocks.  It  occurs  in 
amygdaloid  near  Frankfort-on-the-Maine,  at  Schemnitz  in 
Hungary,  and  imbedded  in  clinkstone  at  Waltsch  and  other 
places  in  Bohemia.  In  the  United  States  a  mineral  which 
resembles  hyalite,  and  is  regarded  by  some  as  fused  quartz,  is 
found  at  several  places  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.  Many 
of  the  rounded  masses  which  occur  with  phosphate  of  lime,  &c., 
at  Hammond,  have  the  characteristic  appearance  of  the  Bohe- 
mian hyalite.  In  Putnam  County,  N.  Y.,  hyalite  of  a  light 
blue  color  is  found  in  the  coatings  on  granite  at  the  Phillips 
ore  bed,  associated  with  green  malachite.  / 

10.  SILICIOUS  SINTER.  Kieselsinter,  W.  Quarz  agathe  con- 
cretionne  thermogene,  H.  Consists  of  silica  98*0,  alumina  1*5, 
iron  0'5  —  Klaproth.  Specific  gravity  about  1*8.  The  com- 
mon colors  of  this  mineral  are  white,  greyish  white,  and  yellow. 
It  is  light,  brittle,  dull,  commonly  porous,  with  a  fibrous  tex- 
ture, although  sometimes  sufficiently  compact  to  admit  of  a 
conchoidal  fracture;  lustre  pearly.  Per  se,  infusible'  B  B.  It 
occurs  abundantly  around,  and  is  deposited  by,  the  hot  springs 
of  Iceland,  the  Isles  of  Ischia,  St.  Michael,  &/c.  It  is  some- 
times in  stalactitical  shapes,  the  surfaces  of  which  are  studded 
with  minute  pyramids  of  quartz  crystals.  The  variety  from 
St.  Michael,  named  Michaelite  by  Dr.  J.  W.  Webster,  is, 
according  to  his  analysis,  a  pure  hydrated  silica.  It  is  found 
with  the  other  varieties,  lining  cavities,  and  in  masses  com- 
posed of  long  and  delicate  fibres,  which  cross  and  interlace 
each  other,  so  as  to  form  a  beautiful  network.  Its  color  is 
snow-white,  and  sometimes  of  a  beautiful  amethystine  tint. 
Specific  gravity  1'88.  (See  Dr.  Webster's  interesting  account 
of  the  Azores.)  Specimens  from  the  craters  of  Iceland  and 
Teneriffe,  analyzed  by  Dr.  Kane  (Elements  of  Chemistry,  p. 
52G),  show  that  these  light  and  spongy  sinters  are  truly  definite 
compounds  of  silica  and  water,  answering  to  the  formula  2  Si 
+Aq. 

A  variety  of  this  is  the  pearl  sinter  or  Jiorite,  which  occurs 
in  stalactitical,  cylindrical,  botryoidal,  and  globular  masses,  of 
a  white,  yellowish  white,  or  greyish  color;  externally  it  is 
smooth  and  shining,  internally  glistening  with  a  pearly  lustre; 
fracture  flat  conchoidal ;  translucent  on  the  edges ;  not  so  hard 
as  quartz,  and  infusible  B  B  without  addition.  It  consists  of 
2* 


18  EARTHV    MINERALS. 

96  silica,  2  alumina,  and  2  lime.  It  occurs  in  volcanic  tufa 
and  pumice,  in  the  Vicentine,  the  Florentine  dominions,  and 
in  other  volcanic  districts  of  Italy. 


KARPHOLITE. 

Strohstein,  W.     Carpholite,  N.     Vulcanus  Stramineus,  D. 

Silica  36.15,  alumina  28  67,  protoxide  of  manganese  19'16, 
protoxide  of  iron  2'29,  lime  0'27,  fluoric  acid  I  47,  water 
10'78.  — Stromcycr. 

The  lime  and  fluoric  acid  being  regarded  as  accidental,  its 
composition  is  thus  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson:  7  atoms  silicate 
of  alumina,  3  atoms  sesquisilicate  of  manganese  and  iron,  6 
atoms  water;  or,  as  expressed  by  the  formula,  7  A1S+3 
(U  Mn+Tlr  D  S^+6  Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  935.     H.  =  5. 

The  color  of  this  mineral  is  generally  wax  or  straw-yellow 
(hence  its  name  from  the  Greek).  It  occurs  in  tufts  of  mi- 
nute, fibrous,  imperfectly-formed  crystals ;  also  massive,  with 
a  fibrous  and  frequently  radiated  structure,  which  is  rather 
incoherent;  and  in  an  earthy  state,  probably  from  disintegra- 
tion; opake;  with  a  silky  lustre;  and  very  brittle.  B  B  on 
charcoal  'it  intumesces,  whitens,  and  fuses  slowly  into  a  brown 
opake  glass;  with  borax  it  forms  a  transparent  glass,  which  in 
the  outer  flame  presents  the  amethystine  tinge  of  manganese, 
and  in  the  reducing  flame  becomes  green. 

It  is  found  disposed  on  granite,  with  fluor  and  quartz,  in  the 
tin  mines  of  Schlackenwald,  in  Bohemia. 


ALUMOCALCITE. 

Leonhard. 

Silica  86-60,  alumina  2'25,  lime  6*25,  water  4'0. —  Kersten. 

Specific  Gravity  2  174.    May  be  crushed  between  the  fingers. 

Color  milk-white,  inclining  to  blue.  Streak  the  same. 
Fracture  conchoidal.  Adheres  strongly  to  the  moistened  lip. 
Yields  water  in  the  glass  tube.  Becomes  opake  and  grey  col- 
ored when  exposed  to  heat  in  the  platina  forceps.  With  borax 
forms  a  colorless  glass.  In  salt  of  phosphorus  is  soluble,  with 
the  exception  of  a  silica  skeleton.  In  concentrated  muriatic 
acid  it  forms  a  transparent  jelly. 

This  substance  occurs  in  the  clefts  of  ironstone  veins  at 
Eybenstock  in  the  Erzgebirge.  Breithaupt  separated  it  from 
opal,  with  which  it  had  previously  been  confounded;  and  to 
him  we  are  indebted  for  the  above  description. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  19 

GARNET.* 

Dodecahedral  Garnet,  M.  Jam.     Carbunculus  Dodecahedrus,  D. 

Under  this  term  are  included  several  substances,  consisting 
principally  of  the  same  elements,  but  united  in  variable  propor- 
tions, as  the  silicates  of  alumina,  lime,  iron,  and  manganese, 
isomorphic  bodies  which  have  the  property  of  replacing  each 
other  without  changing  the  crystalline  form,  so  that  different 
formulas  must  be  employed  in  expressing  their  atomic  propor- 
tions. Sp.  Gr.  3-5  to  4-3.  H.  =  (r5  to  7'5.  Dr.  Thomson 
has  attempted  to  show  that  the  species  garnet  is  a  mixture,  in 
various  proportions,  of  the  three  different  silicates  which  com- 
pose the  varieties  grossularite,  common  garnet,  and  colophonite, 
and  are  sometimes  united  with  silicate  of  manganese;  but  to 
adopt  this  view  we  must  exclude  pyrope,  of  which  chromic  acid 
forms  an  essential  constituent.  More  knowledge  is  needed  in 
relation  to  this  interesting  class  of  minerals.  It  is  sufficient  to 
say  that  they  all  agree  so  far  in  their  external  characters  as  to 
present,  under  different  modifications,  the  same  primary  form, 
a  rhombic  dodecahedron.  As  they  are  made  into  distinct  spe- 
cies by  some  authors,  the  formulae  have  generally  been  added. 

1.  ALMANDINE.  PRECIOUS  GARNET.  Edler  Granat,  W. 
Grenat,  H.  Grenat  noble,  Br.  JBt.  Combination  of  1  atom  of 
silicate  of  protoxide  of  iron,  1  atom  of  silicate  of  alumina. 
Formula:  A1S+FS. 

Bohemia.  New  York.  Engso. 

Silica 36-00 42-51 40-60 

Alumina 22-00 19  15 19-95 

Protoxide  of  iron 36-80 33-57 33-93 

Protoxide  of  manganese  00  00 5-49 6-69 

Lime 3-00 0-dO 00-00 


97-80  Vauquelin.    101-83  Waoht'r.          101-J7  Wacht'r. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-2.     H.  between  6-5  and  75. 

The  principal  color  of  this  beautiful  mineral  is  red  of  vari- 
ous shades,  having  sometimes  a  tinge  of  yellow  or  blue,  or  a 
smoky  aspect :  it  is  commonly  translucent,  often  transparent. 
It  occurs  crystallized  in  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  and  may 
sometimes  be  cleaved,  though  not  without  difficulty,  parallel 
to  the  planes  of  that  solid,  —  this  is  therefore  considered  its 
primary  form.  Fracture  conchoidal,  with  a  shining,  vitreous 
lustre.  B  B,  per  se,  it  fuses  into  a  black  globule,  which  acts 
upon  the  magnet,  and  with  borax  melts  slowly  into  a  dark 
glass  tinged  by  iron.  Insoluble  in  acid. 

The  almandine  is  much  esteemed  as  a  precious  stone.  Its 
principal  localities  are  Ceylon  and  Pegu,  where  it  occurs  in 
alluvial  deposits,  and  Greenland,  whence  many  fine  stones 

*  Grenat,  Fr  j  of  the  color  of  pomegranate  seeds. 


20  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

have  been  obtained  for  the  purposes  of  the  lapidary.  In 
smaller  but  most  beautiful  crystals,  it  is  found  accompanying 
diopside  and  talc,  at  Ala  in  Piedmont;  sometimes  near  Ely  in 
Fifeshire;  and  in  several  parts  of  Bohemia.  It  is  believed  to 
be  the  common  carbuncle  of  the  ancients,  though  they  also 
applied  this  term  to  the  ruby,  as  well  as  to  other  gems.* 

In  the  United  States  highly  perfect  and  polished  dodecahe- 
drons of  precious  garnet  are  abundant  in  a  compact  hornblend- 
ish  rock  at  Hanover,  N.  H.  These  rarely  present  any  other 
modifications  than  the  simple  replacement  of  the  edges  by  one 
plane  (emargine  of  Haiiy),  fig.  2  of  the  next  variety;  but  at 
Franconia  and  Lisbon,  in  the  same  state,  very  brilliant  crys- 
tals, with  their  edges  replaced  by  three  planes  (tri  emargine  of 
Haiiy),  as  represented  by  the  large  figure  under  the  same  va- 
riety, accompany  the  beds  of  iron  ore  in  the  form  of  geodes, 
associated  with  calcareous  spar,  and  sometimes  with  byssolite. 
In  New  York,  on  the  Croton  Aqueduct,  near  the  village  of 
Yonkers,  according  to  Prof.  Beck,  it  occurs  abundantly  in 
black  mica  and  gneiss  of  a  rose-red  and  dark  red  color,  in 
crystals  from  a  quarter  to  half  an  inch  in  diameter;  and,  when 
cut  and  polished,  it  forms  a  beautiful  gem.  A  large  irregular 
crystalline  mass  of  this  mineral,  found  in  the  same  neighbor- 
hood, weighed  about  60  pounds. 

2.  COMMON  GARNET.  Gemeiner  granat,  W.  Grenat  brun, 
&/c.  H.  Color  reddish-,  yellowish-,  greenish-,  or  blackish- 
brown,  and  it  differs  from  precious  garnet  in  being  commonly 
opake,  or  only  translucent.  It  is  found  in  granular  masses, 
and  crystallized  in  dodecahedrons,  which  are  often  considera- 
bly modified.  Not  quite  so  hard  as  almandine;  fracture  some- 
times uneven,  sometimes  lamellar. 


Fig.  1,  primary  rhombic  dodecahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same, 
all  the  edges  being  replaced  by  six-sided  planes,  which,  being 
further  advanced  in  fig.  3,  reduce  those  of  the  primary  crystal 
to  small  rhombs  ;  and  being  complete  in  fig.  4,  assume  the  form 
of  trapeziums,  forming  the  trapezoidal  garnet,  consisting  of  24 
similar  and  equal  trapezoidal  faces,  in  which  no  portion  of  the 
primitive  planes  is  visible.  Figs  2  and  3  have  each  36  faces, 
of  which  12  are  rhombs  and  24  are  hexaedrons. 

*  Moore's  Ancient  Mineralogy,  p.  155. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


21 


Fig.  5. 


P  or  P  on  P 
Poni.  .  .  . 
P  on  k  ... 
k  or  k  on  i  . 
b  or  b  on  i  . 


Haiiy. 

120° 

150° 

160°  53'  36" 

169°    6' 24" 

155°  54'  48" 


Common  garnet  is  abundantly  disseminated  in  some  of  the 
older  rocks,  as  mica  slate,  serpentine,  arid  gneiss;  and  some- 
times in  granite.  It  is  met  with  in  most  countries  in  which 
those  rocks  occur,  and  is  often  so  abundant  as  to  form  an  im- 
portant ore  to  the  iron  smelter.  Regular  dodecahedrons  of 
several  pounds  weight  have  been  found  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden; 
also  at.  Arendal  and  Kongsberg  in  Norway ;  and  in  the  Ziller- 
thal,  Tyrol.  In  the  mica  slates  of  Perthshire,  Inverness-shire, 
Shetland,  and  the  Isle  of  Mull,  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence. 
At  Schwartzenberg  in  Saxony,  and  in  the  Bannat,  it  presents 
peculiarly  green-colored  crystals ;  and  at  Vesuvius  occupies 
the  cavities  of  ejected  debris. 

In  the  United  States  common  garnet  is  very  generally  dif- 
fused throughout  the  primitive  rocks,  and  mineralogists  are  too 
familiar  with  its  localities  to  require  an  enumeration  of  them. 
At  some  localities  it  enters  into  the  composition  of  the  rock  to 
an  extent  almost  equal  to  that  of  either  of  the  regular  ingredi- 
ents. For  the  numerous  localities  the  student  may  consult 
Robinson's  Catalogue  of  American  Minerals. 

3.  PYRENEITE.     Pyrenit,  W.     Pyrerieite,  J.     This  variety 
of  garnet  is  black,  and  occurs  in  minute  but  very  symmetrical 
rhombic  dodecahedrons,  which  glisten  externally.     The  frac- 
ture is  uneven.     It  is  opake,  hard,  and  B  B  loses  its  color, 
melting  easily  into  a  porous  black  slag.    It  occurs  imbedded  in 
primitive  limestone,  in   the  Pic   Eres-Lids  near  Bareges  in 
France,  and  in  mica  schiste  in  the  Pyrenees. 

4.  GROSSULARETE,    or   GREEN   GARNET.      The    following 
analyses  will  show  it  to  be  composed  of  simple  silicates,  the 
atoms  of  bases  agreeing  with  those  of  silica.     The  iron  being 
united  to  the  alumina,  and  the  manganese  to  the  lime,  their 
atoms  become  almost  equal,  as  shown  by  calculation  from  the 
last  analysis.     The  mineral  is  therefore  a  silicate  of  alumina 
and  lime.     Formula  AlS-j-CalS. 


22  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Norway.  Wiloui. 

Silica 38  80 40-55 

Alumina 20-40 20-10 

Lime 3200 34-86 

Protoxide  of  iron 8-35 5-00 

Protoxide  of  manganese  00-00 0-48 

99-55  Richardson.  100-99  Wilchtmeister. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-372.      H.=6-75. 

This  rare  mineral  generally  assumes  the  trapezoidal  form  of 
crystallization.  It  is  light  olive-green;*  translucent  or  semi- 
transparent;  hard,  and  brilliant  externally.  Its  fracture  is 
conchoidal,  and  its  fragments  possess  a  vitreous  lustre.  Its 
comportment  B  B  is  similar  to  that  of  almandine,  only  that  the 
glass  produced  is  of  a  brownish  color.  It  occurs,  with  ido- 
crase,  in  a  greenish  grey  argillaceous  rock,  near  the  river 
Wiloui  in  Siberia,  and  at  Telmarken  in  Norway. 

5.  CYPRINE.     The  mineral  from  the  last-named  locality  has 
been  usually  regarded  as  a  variety  of  idocrase,  and  described 
under  the  name  of  cupreous  idocrase,  or  cyprine ;  but  from  the 
analysis  by  Mr.  Richardson  in  Dr.  Thomson's  laboratory,  it 
appears  that  it  contains  no  copper,  but  gives  the  same  results 
as  were  obtained  by  Wachtmeister,  in  his  analysis  of  grossu- 
larite.     There  can  be  no  doubt  of  the  identity  of  the  two  min- 
erals.f     It  exhibits  occasionally  crystalline  faces,  and  has  a 
beautiful  smalt-blue  tinge.     Its  specific  gravity  is  3*2278.     It 
fuses  readily  with  effervescence  into  a  globule  which  becomes 
black  in  the  oxidating  flame,  and  red  in  the  reducing  one. 
The  analysis  is  above  stated. 

6.  UWAROWITE.  |    CHROME  GARNET.    This  is  a  rare  variety 
of  garnet,  made  known  by  one  of  the  industrious  mineralogists 
of  Russia,  and  which  probably  should  be  classed  here  with  green 
garnet,  to  which  it  bears  a  very  close  resemblance.    In  its  lively 
green  color  it  also  resembles  acherite,  a  variety  of  dioptase,  but 
it  contains  no  copper,  and  crystallizes  in  perfect  rhombic  dode- 
cahedrons, which  are  disposed  on  grounds  of  chromate  of  iron  ; 
and  from  oxide  of  chrome  its  beautful  emerald-green  color  is 
supposed  to  be  derived.     The  crystals  are  nearly  transparent. 
Hardness  7'5.    It  is  rather  more  difficult  of  fusion  than  garnet, 
but  it  is  proved  to  belong  chemically  to  this  class  of  minerals. 
When  heated  it  does  not  give  out  water,  nor  decrepitate,  nor 
change  its  color.     With  borax  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a 

*GrossuJaire,  Fr.  gooseberry,  from  its  green  color. 

f  It  has  therefore  been  separated  from  idocrase,  under  which  it  had  been  classed  in  the 
previous  edition  of  this  work.  No  other  analysis  of  the  mineral  has  been  published. 
See  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  262.  [AM.  ED.] 

J  In  honor  of  M.  Uwarow,  President  of  the  Imperial  Academy  of  Sciences,  St.  Peters- 
burg, and  described  by  Von  Hess,  in  vol.  i.  of  the  Trans,  of  the  Imp.  Min.  Soc.  of  St. 
Petersburg,  p.  131 :  or  PoggendorPs  Annalen,  xxiv.  388. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  23 

clear  chrome-green  glass.  It  was  found  at  Bissersk,  in  the 
Ural  Mountains  :  also  recently  in  one  of  the  Russian  mining  dis- 
tricts, attached  to  masses  of  platinum.  It  has  not  been  analysed. 
7.  APLOME.  Aplome,  H.  Combination  of  1  atom  silicate 
of  lime  and  1  atom  silicate  of  peroxide  of  iron.  It  should  be 
observed,  also,  that  it  has  the  same  constitution  as  idocrase, 
though  in  hardness  and  crystalline  form  the  two  minerals  differ 
essentially  from  each  other,  a  fact  which  we  well  know  has 
other  analogies  in  mineralogy.  Formula  CalS-hFS. 

Altenau. 

Silica 35  64 

Lime 2922 

Peroxide  of  iron 30-00 

Protoxide  of  manganese 3-01 

Potash 2-35 

100-22  Wachtmeister. 
Sp.  Gr.  3'44.     Harder  than  quartz. 

It  is  usually  considered  a  variety  of  garnet,  with  which  it 
agrees  in  external  form  as  well  as  in  general  aspect;  but  differs 
in  this  respect,  that  although  it  commonly  occurs  in  rhombic 
dodecahedrons,  its  planes  are  striated  parallel  with  their  lesser 
diagonal,  which,  in  Haiiy's  opinion,  indicates  its  primary  not 
to  be  a  rhombic  dodecahedron,  but  a  cube.*  It  is  usually  of  a 
deep  brown  or  orange-brown  color ;  is  opake,  and  somewhat 
harder  than  quartz.  It  is  fusible  into  a  black  glass. 


P  on  P 90° 

e  on  e  ....  120° 
P  on  e  .         .  135° 


Aplome  is  found  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Lena  in  Siberia, 
in  the  Bannat,  and  at  Schwartzenberg  in  Saxony. 

8.  MANGANESIAN  GARNET.  Grenat  manganesie,  Bt.  Spes- 
sartine,  Beudant  :  of  which  the  protoxide  of  manganese  forms 
from  20  to  35  per  cent. 

Spossart.  Brodbo.  Haddam. 

Silica  .................  35  00  ...........  39-00  ...........  35-83 

Alumina  ..............  14-25  ...........  1430  ..........   18-06 

Peroxide  of  iron  .......   14  00  ...........  00-00  ...........  00-00 

Protoxide  of  iron  .......  00-00  ...........  15-44  ...........  14-93 

Protoxide  of  manganese  35-00  ...........  27-^0  ..........  30-96 

98-25  Klaproth.  97-64  D'Ohson.    99-78  Seybert. 


*  Whence  Aplome,  in  allusion  to  the  ready  transition  of  the  cube  into  the  rhombic 
dodecahedron. 


24  4  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Beudant  (Traite,  tome  ii.,  p.  52)  records  five  analyses  of 
this  variety  including  the  three  here  given,  and  adds  this  for- 
mula :  AlS+MnS.  In  the  second  and  third,  the  protoxide  of 
iron  is  included  with  the  manganese,  and  the  peroxide  with 
alumina,  in  the  first  analysis. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive,  and  in  dodecahedral  crystals 
variously  modified;  it  is  slightly  translucent  on  the  edges.  It 
does  not  appear  to  possess  any  regular  structure;  fracture 
commonly  vitreous  and  imperfectly  conchoidal ;  color  deep 
hyacinth  or  brownish  red.  It  is  fusible  B  B,  and,  by  the  de- 
cided green  color  it  exhibits  with  soda  on  platiria  foil,  marks 
distinctly  the  presence  of  manganese. 

It  occurs  in  granite  near  Aschaffenberg,  in  Franconia  ;  at 
Finbo  and  Brodbo  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden:  and  elsewhere. 
In  the  United  States,  at  Haddam,  Ct.,  it  occurs  in  crystals 
which  are  sometimes  four  inches  in  diameter,  of  a  laminated 
structure,  presenting  broad  faces  of  cleavage,  and  are  extremely 
brittle.  It  there  accompanies  crysoberyl  and  smoky  quartz.  At 
Jones  Eddy,  near  Bath,  Me.,  it  is  in  a  massive  form,  and 
abundant. 

9.  BROWN  MANGANESE  GARNET.  This  is  the  name  Dr. 
Thomson  has  given  to  the  well-known  mineral  accompanying 
the  franklinite,  at  Franklin,  N.  J.,  a  specimen  of  which  had 
been  sent  to  him  for  analysis  by  Dr.  Torrey.  The  results  of 
his  analysis  and  of  one  by  Seybert,*  which  differ  considerably 
from  that  of  the  last  variety  described,  are  here  given  : 

Silica 33-716 39-80 

Lime 25-884 27-80 

Alumina 7-972 3-05 

Protoxide  of  iron 15-840 27-56 

Protoxide  of  manganese. . .  16-704 6-32 

Water 0-080 124 

Magnesia 0-000 101 


100-196  Thomson.       99-79  Seybert. 

Divided  by  the  atomic  weights,  the  first  analysis  gives  an 
excess  of  atoms  of  bases  over  those  of  silica;  while,  by  the 
second,  throwing  out  the  water  and  magnesia,  the  atoms  of 
bases  and  of  silica  almost  precisely  agree;  but  nearly  two 
thirds  of  the  protoxide  of  manganese  are  replaced  by  protoxide 
of  iron.  This  mineral  differs  from  the  common  manganesian 
garnet  by  containing  a  large  portion  of  lime,  which  does  not 
exist  at  all  in  that  variety ;  and  also  in  its  physical  characters, 
and  crystalline  form ;  by  which,  when  further  examined,  it  will 
probably  prove  to  be  a  distinct  species.  It  is  usually  massive, 

*Cleaveland's  Mineralogy,  Second  Edition,  p.  797. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  25 

and  is  associated  with  a  peculiar  brownish-yellow  garnet,  mas- 
sive and  in  dodecahedrse,  which  has  not  been  analysed. 

Formula,  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  CalS+AlS+FS+MnS. 

10.  MELANITE.  Grenat  noir,  H.  Grenat  Melanite,  Br.  Bt. 
We  have  an  analysis  of  black  garnet  by  Klaproth,  and  another 
by  Wachtmeister,  the  results  of  which  are  here  given.  The 
locality  of  the  first  is  not  stated,  and  it  seems  to  have  been  a 
lime  garnet,  nearly  agreeing  in  composition  with  aplome.  Of 
the  genuineness  of  the  latter  there  can  be  no  doubt. 

Arendal. 

Silica 35-50 42-45 

Alumina 6-00 22-47 

Magnesia 00-00 13-43 

Lime 32-50 6-52 

Protoxide  ofiron 24-25 9-29 

Protoxide   of  manganese  00-40 6-27 


98-65  Klaproth.  100-43  Wach'r. 

Calculation  from  both  of  these  analyses  shows  the  mineral  to 
consist  of  nearly  equal  atoms  of  silica  and  bases.  Adopting 
the  last,  its  constitution  will  be  1  atom  silicate  of  alumina  and 
1  atom  of  the  other  bases,  combined  with  1  atom  silica.  For- 
mula: AlS+(Mg+F+Cal+Mn)S. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-07.     H.  ==  6*75. 

Melanite  is  usually  quite  black,*  often  with  a  resinous  and 
velvet  lustre,  and  completely  opake.  A  beautiful  black  emar- 
ginated  garnet  has  been  found  at  Franklin,  N.  J.,  exactly  re- 
sembling that  from  Norway.  (See  fig.  2,  p.  20.)  It  also  oc- 
curs in  gneiss  at  Germantown,  Penn. 

Melanite  occurs  in  rhombic  dodecahedrons,  whose  edges  are 
replaced.  B  B,  it  fuses  alone  into  a  brilliant  black  globule ;  with 
borax  difficultly  into  an  impure  green  glass  colored  by  iron. 

It  has  been  found  in  the  neighborhood  both  of  Naples  and 
Rome,  imbedded  in  ancient  lava ;  in  Bohemia  in  basalt ;  in 
the  iron  mines  of  Lapmark,  and  at  Arendal  in  Norway.  Very 
beautiful  black  dodecahedrons  are  found  in  the  Pyrenees,  near 
Bareges,  and  hence  this  variety  has  been  named  pyreneite. 

11.  COLOPHONITE.  Grenat  resinite,  H.  This  mineral,  com- 
posed of  round  particles,  which  may  be  separated  with  facility, 
is  of  a  greenish,  yellowish  brown,t  or  orange-red  color;  and 
presents,  both  superficially  and  when  fractured,  a  shining  vit- 
reous lustre.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3*5.  It  consists,  accord- 
ing to  Simon,  of  37  silica,  13*5  alumina,  29'0  lime,  6'5  mag- 
nesia, 7*5  oxide  of  iron,  4'75  oxide  of  manganese,  0*5  oxide  of 


*  Whence  Melanite,  from  the  Greek. 

j  Colophonite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  resin  color. 

3 


"26  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

titanium,  and  1-0  water.  Trolle  Wachtmeister  has  published 
ten  analyses  of  this  mineral,  the  mean  of  which  gives  an  equal 
number  of  atoms  of  bases  and  of  silica,  or  shows  the  mineral 
to  consist  of  simple  silicates  of  lime  and  iron,  or  1  atom  of 
each.  Formula:  CalS-fFS.  His  last  analysis  differs  not 
materially  from  the  following,  by  Seybert.  It  is  thus  stated : 

Altenau.  Silex 32-80 

Silica 35  64  Lime 27-80 

Protoxide  of  iron 30-00  Alumina 3-06 

Protoxide  of  manganese     3-02  Magnesia 1-24 

Magnesia 2-35  Protoxide  of  iron 27  5f> 

Lime 29-21  Protoxide  of  manganese 6-32 

Water 00-00  Water 1-10 


100-22  Wachtmeister.  100-43  Seybert. 


P  on  P  or  P"  .  .  .  120°. 
P,  P'  or  P''  on  t .  .  150°. 


It  is  found  with  magnetic  iron  ore  at  Arendal  in  Norway,  in 
talc  slate  in  Piedmont,  also  in  Ceylon.  In  the  United  States 
it  is  found  most  abundantly  at  Willborough,  N.  Y.,  where 
it  forms  a  vein  consisting  of  coarse  granular  and  lamellar  con- 
cretions in  gneiss,  and  possesses  beautiful  colors.  Also  at 
Rogers  Rock,  in  a  finer  grained  variety,  of  a  yellow  and  red 
color.  A  rose-red,  fine,  granular  variety,  has  been  found  by 
Shepard  at  North  Madison,  Ct. 

12.  ALLOCHROITE  is  of  a  greyish,  dingy  yellow,  or  reddish 
color,*  and  opake;  its  composition  is  impalpable,  or  the  parti- 
cles so  intimately  connected  that  they  cannot  be  distinguished; 
not  so  hard  as  quartz,  but  gives  fire  with  steel ;  fracture  uneven. 
B  B  comports  itself  like  rnelanite.  Contains  silica  35'0,  alumina 
8'0,  lime  30'0,  oxide  of  iron    17'0,  oxide  of  manganese  3*5. 
—  Vauquelin.     The  allochroite  is  principally  found  in  an  iron 
mine  near  Drammen  in  Norway. 

13.  PYpvOPE.t     Pyrop,  W.     Grenat,  rouge  de  feu,  granuli- 
forme,  H.     It  differs  from  the  other  varieties  in  containing  7'68 
per  cent,  of  chromic  acid,  and  by  having  a  part  of  its  iron  re- 

*  Whence  probably  its  name,  from  two  Greek  words  signifying  of  various  colors. 
|  From  the  Greek,  signifying  a  fire-red  color. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  27 

placed  by  magnesia.  The  early  analysis  by  Klaproth  dis- 
covers no  chromic  acid,  and  the  two  last  analyses  give  atom- 
ic proportions  that  cannot  be  stated  by  the  same  formula. 

Bohemia.  Trziblitz.  Meronitz. 

Silica 40-00 42-08 43-70 

Alumina 'J8-50 20-00 22-40 

Lime 3-.SO 1-99 6-72 

Magnesia 10-00 20- ! 9 5-60 

Protoxide  of  iron 16-5:> 10.60 11.48 

Protoxide  of  manganese  (1-25 0-32 3-68 

Chromic  acid 0-00 3-01 7-68 


98-75  Klaproth.  98  19  Kobell.  100-26  Wacht. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-8      H.  =  7-5. 

It  is  found  only  in  rounded  or  angular  grains,  of  a  red  color, 
which  is  sometimes  clouded  with  yellow :  rarely  crystallized. 
It  is  transparent,  has  a  conchoidal  fracture  and  vitreous  lustre, 
and  scratches  glass;  that  of  Ceylon,  B  B,  fuses  into  a  brilliant 
black  globule,  with  borax  into  a  chrome-green  glass. 

Pyrope  is  found  imbedded  in  serpentine  at  Zoeblitz  in  Sax- 
ony, and  in  traptuffwacke  at  Meronitz  and  Trziblitz  in  Bohe- 
mia, but  is  more  common  in  the  latter  country;  and  in  Cey- 
lon, in  alluvial  deposits,  accompanied  by  hyacinths  and  sap- 
phires. 

This  rich  variety  is  rarely  found  in  the  United  States.  The 
most  important  locality  is  Green  Creek,  Delaware  County, 
Pa.,  where  rolled  masses  of  more  than  an  inch  in  diameter 
have  been  obtained,  the  finest  of  which  are  in  the  cabinet  of 
J.  A.  Clay,  Esq.  of  Philadelphia.  According  to  Prof.  Beck,  it 
is  found  in  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  in  gneiss,  and  is  often 
transparent,  varying  in  color  from  rose  to  blood-red,  with  a  tint 
of  blue.  At  Sturbridge,  Mass.,  it  has  been  found  by  Professor 
Hitchcock  in  gneiss,  accompanying  graphite.  Specimens  of 
this  pyrope  which  have  been  cut  and  polished  are  equal  in  ap- 
pearance to  any  from  abroad  which  have  undergone  similar 
treatment.  Several  of  those  obtained  by  Prof.  Hitchcock  may 
be  seen  in  the  Massachusetts  State  Collection.  Pyrope,  ac- 
cording to  Dr.  Jackson,  also  accompanies  the  plumbago  at 
Jeffrey,  N.  H..  where  it  is  included  in  granite  veins  on  Monad- 
nock  Mount. 

14.  TOPAZOLITE.*  Topazolite.  —  Bonvoism.  This  variety 
of  garnet  occurs  in  remarkably  well-defined  dodecahedrons,  of 
a  topaz-yellow  color,  either  perfect,  or  more  commonly  exhib- 
iting a  very  low  four-sided  pyramid  on  each  plane;  occasion- 
ally also  of  an  olive-green;  translucent.  It  consists  of  silica 

*So  named  from  its  color  being  of  a  nearly  topaz-yellow. 


28  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

35-10,  magnesia  2,  lime  29,  glucina  4,  iron  25,  manganese  2, 
—  Bonvoisin. 


konk' 179°  10'. 

fconfc".  .         .  178°  4(X. 


It  is  found  at  Mussa  in  Piedmont,  sometimes  upon  mussite. 

The  Succinite  of  Bonvoisin  is  considered  to  be  an  amorphous 
variety  of  topazolite.  It  is  amber-yellow  *  and  translucent,  and 
occurs  in  small  rounded  masses :  it  is  not  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass,  but  easily  pulverizes,  and  melts  into  a  blackish 
globule  B  B. 

Its  locality  is  a  serpentine  rock  in  the  Vin  valley,  forming 
part  of  the  great  valley  of  Lans  in  Piedmont. 

15.  CINNAMON-STONE. t  Kaneelstein,  W.  Essonite,  H. 
The  following  analyses  show  the  per  centage  composition  of 
this  interesting  variety : 

Ceylon.  Ceylon.  Malsjo.  Ceylon. 

Silica 38-80 40-0;) 41-87 39-82 

Alumina 21-20 22-99 20-57 20-14 

Lime 31-25 30-57 33-94 30-57 

Protoxide  of  iron.    6-50 3-66 3-93 9-46 


97-75  Klaproth.  97-12  Gmelin.  100-31  Arfwedson.  99-49  Lehunt. 

The  protoxide  of  iron,  which  is  in  variable  proportions, 
Beudant  unites  with  the  lime  in  the  formula,  which  is  thus 
stated  by  him  :  AlS+CalS.  Dividing  by  the  atomic  weights, 
we  find  the  atoms  of  bases  to  agree  with  those  of  silica,  arid  ob- 
tain the  above  atomic  constitution  of  this  mineral  from  either  of 
the  analyses.  It  thus  has  precisely  the  same  formula  with 
grossularite  and  idocrase,  from  the  last  of  which  it  differs  en- 
tirely in  crystalline  form. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-5  —  3-6.     H.  =  6'5. 

This  mineral  commonly  occurs  in  masses  which  are  full  of 
fissures.  Its  general  color  is  red,  with  occasionally  a  brown 
or  orange-yellow  tinge;  translucent,  rarely  transparent ;  frac- 
ture flat  conchoidal ;  lustre  vitreo-resinous ;  scratches  quartz 
with  difficulty.  B  B,  it  is  fusible  with  ebullition  into  a  darkish 

*  Succin,  Fr.,  Amber  ;  whence  Succinite. 

fits  name  is  probably  derived  from  the  resemblance  of  its  color  to  that  of  cinnamon. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  29 

green  glass,  and  with  borax  melts  very  readily  into  a  transpa- 
rent glass,  more  or  less  feebly  tinged  by  iron. 

It  has  been  found  in  considerable  masses  in  some  of  the 
primitive  rocks  of  Ceylon,  and  imbedded  in  limestone  at 
Malsjo  iu  Sweden ;  but  is  most  commonly  met  with  in  grains 
among  the  sand  of  certain  rivers,  both  in  Ceylon  and  in  Brazil. 
The  Romanzovite  of  Nordenskiold  is  considered  a  variety  of 
cinnamon-stone.  Its  color  is  brown  or  brownish  black,  and  it 
is  described  as  occurring  either  compact  or  in  crystalline 
plates  which  indicate  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  ;  fracture  res- 
inous, with  a  greasy  lustre  ;  brittle,  but  hard  enough  to  scratch 
felspar;  streak  light  yellow.  B  B,  it  melts  without  ebullition. 
Contains  silica  41 P24,  alumina  24-08,  lime  24'76,  oxide  of  iron 
7%02,  magnesia  and  oxide  of  manganese  0'92,  volatile  parts  and 
loss  T98.  —  Nordenskiold.  It  occurs  at  Kimito  in  Finland. 
There  are  three  remarkable  localities  of  the  cinnamon-stone 
variety  of  garnet  in  the  United  States,  viz  :  Carlisle  and  Box- 
borough,  Mass.,  and  Phippsburg,  Me.  The  crystals  from  the 
first-named  locality  (discovered  by  Professor  Webster)  are  im- 
bedded in  limestone,  and  accompanied  by  idocrase,  sahlite, 
pargasite,  and  scapolite.  The  small  ones  of  a  perfect  dodeca- 
hedral  form  are  nearly  transparent,  and  present  highly  polished 
surfaces;  some  were  found  quite  clear  on  their  surfaces,  and 
more  than  an  inch  in  diameter,  with  their  angles  and  edges  re- 
placed. The  specimens  from  Boxborough  and  Phippsburg  pre- 
sent nothing  worthy  of  distinct  description,  as  they  resemble- 
in  every  respect  those  already  mentioned;  but  the  latter  local- 
ity at  the  present  day  will  probably  furnish  the  mineralogist 
with  the  best  specimens  of  these  most  beautiful  gems.  Crys- 
tals, sometimes  four  inches  in  diameter,  have  also  recently  been 
discovered  in  the  limestone  of  Amherst,  N.  H.  They  are  of 
a  pale  brown  color,  and  but  rarely  possess 
highly  polished  surfaces.  They  are  accom- 
panied by  sahlite  and  pargasite,  and  are  said 
to  be  very  abundant.  The  crystals  from 
Phippsburg  in  some  cases  present  the  prima- 
ry dodecahedron  in  which  two  of  the  opposite 
faces  are  so  much  enlarged  or  compressed  as 
to  give  to  it  the  appearance  of  a  flattened 
table,  as  shown  in  the  annexed  figure.  Rare- 
ly, also,  by  the  extension  of  six  faces  of  the  pri- 
mary, they  have  assumed  the  appearance  of  six-sided  prisms, 
terminated  by  trihedral  pyramids,  all  the  edges  being  replaced 
by  tangent  planes,  as  in  the  common  emarginated  crystals. 
3* 


30  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

IDOCRASE.* 

Vesuvian,  W.    Idocrase,  H.    Pyramidal  Garnet,  M.    Carbunculus  Dimetricus,  U. 

Composed,  according  to  the  careful  analysis  of  Magnus, 
(Poggendorf  s  Annalen,  xxi.,  50),  as  follows : 

Vesuvius.     Uralian  Mountains.     The  Bannat.  Egge. 

Silica 37-359 37-178 38-519 37-658 

Alumina 23  530 18-107 20-063 17-695 

Lime 29-681 35-791 32-411 31-896 

Protoxide  of  iron 3-992 4-671 3420 4-537 

Magnesia  )    ,^na 0-773 2-987 6-489 

Protoxide  of  manganese  \    D'^8 1-495 0-OJ8 0-499 

99-770  98-015  97-418  98-774 

Calculating  the  atomic  constitution  of  this  mineral  from  the 
mean  of  these  four  analyses,  and  rejecting  the  variable  portions 
of  magnesia  and  protoxide  of  manganese  as  accidental,  the 
atoms  of  bases  (including  the  iron  with  the  alumina)  agree 
with  the  atoms  of  silica.  It  is  therefore  composed  of  simple 
silicates,  expressed  by  the  formula,  AlS+CalS.t 
Sp.  Gr.  38  to  3-4.  H.  =  6'5. 

Idocrase  occurs  crystallized,  either  solitary  or  in  groups; 
and  massive.  The  general  form  of  the  crystals  is  a  quadran- 
gular prism,  which  sometimes  is  terminated  by  planes,  and  the 
edges  of  the  prism  are  often  replaced;  primary  form  a  right 
prism  with  square  bases;  yielding  readily  to  cleavage  parallel 
to  all  its  planes,  with  sufficient  brilliancy  to  obtain  incidences 
of  90°  by  the  reflecting  goniometer  in  every  direction ;  the 
prism  is  also  divisible  parallel  to  both  its  diagonals,  though 
not  easily  :  fracture  small  conchoidal,  and  shining.  Idocrase 
is  mostly  brownish-  or  yellowish-green,  sometimes  orange, 
rarely  black ;  generally  translucent,  sometimes  nearly  transpa- 
rent; possesses  double  refraction;  is  fusible  with  ebullition 
into  a  yellowish  translucent  globule,  and  forms  with  borax  a 
diaphanous  glass  tinged  green  by  iron. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary ;  a  right  prism  with  square  bases.  In  fig.  2  the  lat- 
eral edges  of  the  prism  are  replaced  by  quadrangular  planes,  and  a  portion 
of  the  summit  is  replaced  by  four  six-sided  planes.  In  fig.  3  the  quadran- 
gular planes  replacing  the  edges  of  the  prism  are  very  much  increased,  so 
as  greatly  to  reduce  the  lateral  primary  planes. 

*  Idocrase,  in  allusion  to  its  form  ;  a  mixed  figure,  assuming  that  of  other  species. 
Vesuvian,  from  its  having  been  first  discovered  on  Vesuvius. 

fThe  analysis  of  egeran  by  Borkowsky,  gives  the  same  formula.  (See  Beudant, 
Traite,  t.  ii.,  p.  67.)  They  thus  agree  with  the  formula  for  essonite  and  grossularite. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


31 


M  on  M'  or  d  on  d  .  .  .   90°  0' 

P  on  M  M'  or  d 90     0 

M  or  M'  on  d 135     0 

e 153  27  H. 

d  on  e 161  33  H. 

P  on  a  1 166     6 

a  2 142  48 

a  3 124  30 

a  4 113  30 

6  I 140  12 

M  on  b  I 128     5 

62 138  30 

63 145     5 

64 152     3H. 

Monc 118    8H. 

Idocrase  Is  met  with  both  in  volcanic  and  primitive  coun- 
tries. It  occurs  at  Monte  Somma,  or  in  the  ejected  masses  of 
Vesuvius,  where  its  crystals  line  the  cavities  of  volcanic  rocks, 
accompanied  by  garnet,  hornblende,  melanite,  mica,  and  icespar. 
Crystals,  occasionally  of  large  dimensions,  are  found  at  this  lo- 
cality ;  but  their  forms  are  complicated.  The  previous  fig.  3 
is  the  usual  crystallization  of  the  Siberian  idocrase,  which  is 
met  with  in  a  greenish  white  serpentine,  near  the  Lake  Baikal, 
and  on  the  banks  of  the  Wiioui;  but  by  far  the  finest  speci- 
mens come  from  Ala  in  the  Val  di  Brozzo,  in  Piedmont :  these 
are  in  general  semi-transparent,  present  fine  olive-green,  hair- 
brown,  and,  though  rarely,  perfect  black  colors:  are  deeply 
streaked  longitudinally,  and  are  as  remarkable  for  lustre  and 
brilliancy  as  for  the  symmetry  and  perfection  of  their  crystal- 
line forms.  Large,  well-defined,  opake  crystals,  often  exceed- 
ing four  or  five  inches  in  diameter,  occur  at  Egge  near  Chris- 
tiansand  in  Norway.  At  Monzonia,  in  the  Fassa  valley,  crys- 
tals of  a  sulphur-yellow  color  have  been  found. 

EGERAN.  It  occurs  in  diverging  groups  of  deeply  streak- 
ed translucent  crystals,  of  a  liver-brown  color,  whose  form 
is  that  of  a  right  rectangular  prism,  having  its  lateral  edges 
replaced.  B  B,  it  melts  with  intumescence  into  a  greenish 
blebby  glass.  It  occurs  at  Haslau,  near  Eger,*  in  Bohemia, 
and  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  quartz  and  tremolite.  It 
here  occurs  in  long,  reddish  brown,  deeply  striated  forms,  and  in 
columnar  masses :  also,  under  similar  circumstances,  in  Finland. 
Idocrase  is  very  rare  in  the  United  States,  and,  at  the 
time  of  the  publication  of  the  second  edition  of  Cleaveland's 
Mineralogy,  it  would  seem  that  not  a  single  locality  was  pub- 
licly known.  The  locality  which  has  since  supplied  the  best 
specimens  of  the  variety  egeran  is  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  where 


*  Whence  Egeran. 


32  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

it  was  found  in  a  quartzose  rock,  in  veins,  accompanied  by  py- 
roxene and  garnet.  The  same  variety  has  been  found  at  Phipps- 
burg,  Me.,  with  cinnamon-stone  and  axinite  :  also  in  limestone 
at  Washington,  Ct. ;  and  in  the  same  rock,  in  crystals  some- 
times an  inch  in  diameter,  at  Amity,  Orange  County,  N.  Y. 

XANTH1TE.* 

This  mineral  is  composed,  according  to  the  analysis  of  Dr. 
Thomson,  of 

Silica 35-092 

Lime 33-080 

Alumina 17-428 

Peroxide  of  iron 6-368 

Protoxide  of  manganese 2'8l)l 

Water...." 1-680 

9S-430 

Dr.  Thomson  made  two  analyses  of  this  mineral ;  but  the 
one  here  given  was  instituted  on  the  purest  specimen.  The 
iron  and  manganese  he  regards  as  accidental,  and  he  records 
the  following  formula:  6CalS+5AlS. 

The  claims  of  this  mineral  to  the  character  of  a  distinct  spe- 
cies are  founded  on  the  examinations  of  Dr.  Thomson  and 
Prof.  Mather,t  by  which  it  is  shown  to  differ  in  chemical, 
physical,  and  crystallographical  characters  from  the  preceding 
species,  of  which  it  has  been  supposed  to  be  a  variety.  Its 
hardness  does  not  exceed  2;  specific  gravity  3'221 ;  translu- 
cent and  even  transparent,  possessing  double  refraction.  B  B, 
per  se,  it  does  not  fuse ;  with  borax  melts  into  a  glass  which  is 
yellow  while  hot,  and  becomes  colorless  in  cooling.  It  readily 
yields  to  cleavage,  giving  a  doubly  oblique  prism,  measuring, 
according  to  Prof.  Mather,  P  on  M  97°  30',  P  on  T  94°,  M  on 
T  107°  30',  as  determined  by  the  reflecting  goniometer.  The 
cleavage  planes  may  be  exhibited  very  plainly  by  holding  the  la- 
minated masses  to  the  light.  The  color  is  light  greyish  or  yellow. 

It  occurs  at  Amity,  N.  Y.,  under  similar  circumstances  with 
the  species  last  described,  in  granular  and  foliated  masses, 
which  are  very  friable,  and  separate  into  grains  and  prisms 
about  ^V  of  an  inch  in  length. 

GEHLENITE.t 

Stylobite,  Beudant.    Spatum  Gehlenianum,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  Jime,  and  oxide  of  iron. 

*  From  its  yellow  color,  named  by  Dr.  Thomson.    See  Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natu- 
ral History  of  New  York,  for  April  18,  1828. 
|  American  Journal  of  Science,  vol.  xviii.,  p.  359. 
JGehlcnite,  in  honor  of  the  German  chemist,  M.  Gehlen. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  33 

Tyrol.  Tyrol.  Tyrol. 

Silici 29-64 29-132 39-80 

Alumina 24-80 25-048 l-J-QO 

Li  me 35-30 *7-380 37-64 

Oxide  of  iron -56 4-350 2-31 

Water 3-30 4-540 2-03 

Magnesia 00-00 00-000 4-64 


99-uO  Futihs.          100-450  Thomson.        99-22  Kobell. 

The  two  first  are  the  analyses  of  crystallized  specimens; 
the  latter  of  the  compact  variety.  Dr.  Clarke  has  published 
another  analysis,  so  different  in  its  results  from  either  of  these, 
that  Beudant  questions  whether  the  mineral  really  was  gehlen- 
ite.  The  two  first  conduct  to  the  fomiuh,  Al-S-fSCalS-f-Aq. 
—  as  stated  by  Beudant,  the.  iron  being  united  with  the  lime. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-98  to  8-02.  II.  —  5-5  to  6. 

According  to  Brooke,  the  prirmry  form  of  this  mineral  is 
uncertain;*  but  it  occurs  in  right  square  prisms,  nearly  ap- 
proaching, in  their  dimensions,  the  form  of  the  cube;  some- 
times isolated;  generally  invested  by  calcareous  spar ;  aggre- 
gated irregularly  in  groups  :  or  massive,  including  pleonaste. 
Its  usual  color  is  grey,  but  frequently  having  a  greenish  or 
yellowish  tinge;  surface  commonly  rough  and  dull;  when  suf- 
ficiently brilliant  for  the  use  of  the  reflecting  goniometer,  the 
crystals  afford  angles  of  9')°  in  every  direction.  Fracture  un- 
even, passing  into  splintery  :  opake,  the  fragments  feebly  trans- 
lucent on  the  edges.  B  B,  gehlenite  suffers  little  change  when 
alone;  with  borax  it  melts  with  difficulty  into  a  glass  colored 
by  iron.  It  gelatinizes  in  heated  muriatic  acid. 

Mount  Monzoni,  in  the  Valley  of  Fassa,  Tyrol,  is  its  only 
well  authenticated  locality,  although  Monticelli  mentions  it  as 
occurring,  indistinctly  crystallized,  among  the  productions  of 
Vesuvius.  At  the  former  place  it  is  encompassed  by  calca- 
reous spar,  and  the  greenish  and  greyish  substance  which  ac- 
companies the  spinels  and  idocrase  of  the  same  region,  has 
been  regarded  as  compact  gehlenite.f 


PREHNITE4 

Prehnite,  W.  H.     Axotomous  Triphane  Spar,  M.     Clasistylus  Acrotomus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and  water. 


*  Encyclopedia  Metropolitana,  Article  Mineralogy,  p.  491. 

•fFuchs,  in  speaking  of  this  mineral  in  1815,  snys  he  considers  the  oxide  of  iron  not  as 
an  essential  part  of  it,  hut  only  as  a  vicarious  constituent  replacing  so  much  lime.  This 
was  probahly  the  first  ushering  in  of  the  doctrine  of  isomorphism,  since  established  by 
Mitscherlich,  and  now  so  important  in  enabling  us  to  arrive  at  the  true  constitution  of 
minerals.  [AM.  ED.] 

|  In  honor  of  Colonel  Prehn,  its  discoverer,  who  first  brought  it  from  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope. 


34 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Cape  of  Good  Hope.  Dumbarton.  Reicherhach. 

Silica 43-80 43-60 42  50 

Alumina 30-33 23-00 28-50 

Lime 18-33 2*33 20-40 

Oxide  ofiron 5-66 2-00 3-00 

Water 1-16 6-40 2-00 


99-28  Klaproth.  97-33  Thomson.  96-40  Laugier. 

The  first  analysis  was  of  a  foliated  specimen  ;  the  other  two 
were  of  fibrous  varieties.  From  the  mean  of  seven  analyses, 
including  these  three,  Dr.  Thomson  obtains  the  formula, 
SAlS-hCalS^-j-J-Aq.  He  unites  the  protoxide  of  iron  with 
the  alumina. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-926.     H.  =  6-0  to  7'0. 

Generally  of  a  pale  greenish  or  yellowish  color,  with  a  vitre- 
ous or  pearly  lustre,  and  somewhat  translucent ;  becomes  elec- 
tric by  heat,  and  is  slowly  soluble  in  dilute  muriatic  acid.  It 
occurs  fibrous,  massive,  and  in  crystals,  which  are,  for  the 
most  part,  closely  aggregated  :  their  primary  form  is  a  right 
rhombic  prism,  M  on  M'  99°  50' ;  but  the  crystals  are  subject 
to  modification  by  two  planes  on  the  summit,  a\  a]',  of  the 
following  figure.  It  presents  several  varieties  of  form.  Cleav- 
age distinct  parallel  to  P,  less  so  parallel  to  M.  Per  se,  it 
fuses  with  intumescence  into  a  white  or  pale-yellowish  frothy 
glass;  and  with  borax  forms  a  transparent  bead. 

17.  KOUPHOLITE,*  a  variety  in  small  transparent  rhombic 
tables  (fig.  I)  from  Bareges  in  the  Pyrenees;  has  a  white  or 
yellowish-white  color,  and  a  glistening  pearly  lustre.  It  con- 
sists, according  to  Vauquelin,  of  48  silica,  24  alumina,  23 
lime,  and  4  oxide  of  iron ;  and  it  is  fusible  into  a  white  frothy 
glass. 


:.  M  on  M'  .  .  . 

99°  50' 

\  P  or  M  on  M' 

90  00 

M  or  M'  on  f 

139  45 

al  on  a  I'.  .  . 

177  20 

.    f 
j   .  •  . 

92  00 

M  or  M' 

91  30 

M  on  c  .  .  .  . 

128  30 

Crystallized  prehnite  in  considerable  quantity,  and  of  a 
purer  green  than  that  of  Europe,  is  found  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope ;  it  occurs  in  the  Fassa  valley,  Tyrol,  of  a  peculiar  bluish 
green  hue ;  with  axinite  and  epidote,  at  St.  Christophe  in  Dau- 
phine ;  in  Carinthia,  Sweden,  and  elsewhere.  In  England  it 
has  been  noticed  in  Staffordshire,  at  Woodford  in  Gloucester- 
shire, and  at  Botallack,  near  the  Land's  End,  Cornwall.  In 

*  From  two  Greek  words  signifying  a  light  stone. 


EARTHY   MINERALS.  35 

Scotland  it  is  abundant  in  veins  traversing  trap  near  Dumbar- 
ton ;  at  Hartfield  Moss,  near  Paisley ;  at  Frisky  Hall,  near 
Glasgow;  at  the  Castle  Rock  and  Salisbury  Crag,  near  Edin- 
burgh ;  in  the  Isles  of  Mull  and  Skye,  &,c.  The  Scotch  varie- 
ties in  general  exhibit  radiated,  botryoidal,  orbicular,  or  mam- 
millated  masses  of  various  colors,  from  apple-green  to  straw- 
yellow;  the  latter  particularly  at  Salisbury  Crag:  sometimes 
translucent  and  colorless,  as  at  the  Castle  Rock;  and  very 
often  white  and  opake,  as  in  Dumbartonshire. 

In  the  United  States  large,  well-formed,  pale  green  colored 
crystals  have  been  found  in  trap  rock  at  Scotch  Plains  and  Pat- 
terson, N.  J.,  and  at  Farmington  and  Middleton,  Ct. ;  also  in 
very  rich  deep  green  crystals,  associated  with  laumonite  and 
chabasie  in  sienite,  at  Charlestown,  and  recently  in  the  granite 
quarries  at  Medford,  Mass.  It  is  a  singular  fact  that°not  a 
crystal  of  this  species  has  ever  been  met  with  in  the  trap  rocks 
of  Nova  Scotia. 


STILBITE.* 

Strahl  Zeoilth,  W.     StilSite,  H.  Bt.      Radiated  Zeolite,  J.      Prismatoidal  Kouphone 
Spar,  M.     Vulcanus  Fascicularis,  D. 

Iceland.  Faroe.  Nalsoe.  Dumbarton. 

Silica 58-00 59-25 56  08 5-2-50 

Alumina 16-10 15-00 17-22 17-31 

Lime 9-20 5-35 695 11-52 

Water 16-40 6-00 18-35 18  45 

Potash 00-00 4-75 2-17 00-00 


99  07  Hisinger.      99-50  Dumenil.  100-77  Retzius.    99-78  Thomson 

Formula,  as  given  by  Beudant  from  the  three  first  analyses, 
and  as  also  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson  from  the  mean  of  five 
analyses,  including  his  own  :  3AlS3+CalS:!+6Aq.  The  potash 
is  to  be  regarded  as  an  accidental  and  variable  constituent,  as 
in  three  out  of  five  analyses  which  have  been  published,  none 
was  found. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-0  —  2-2.     H.  =  35  to  4'0. 

Its  colors  are  white,  grey,  red,  and  brown;  translucent; 
lustre  vitreous,  except  on  the  faces  T,  which  exhibit  a  peculiar 
glistening  or  shining  pearly  appearance;  primary  form  a  right 
rectangular  prism,  in  which  it  sometimes  occurs;  but  it  is 
more  frequently  found  in  prisms  of  which  the  edges  are 
replaced,  and  which  are  terminated  by  tetrahedral  summits; 
the  planes  forming  the  pyramids  being  placed  on  the  angles  of 

*From  OTiljfoj,  to  shine,  on  account  of  its  great  lustre.  It  has  been  very  properly 
suggested  by  Dr.  Thomson  that  this  term  should  rather  apply  to  heulandite,  the  mineral 
in  which  the  lustre  is  most  remarkable,  and  to  which  it  was  probably  first  applied  when 
it  was  separated  from  zeolite.  Perhaps  it  would  be  well  to  call  it  simply  zeolite,  it  being 
the  most  common  of  this  class  of  minerals.  [AM.  ED.] 


36 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


the  prism.*  The  crystals  are  usually  aggregated  or  compressed 
into  scopiform  or  fasciculated  masses,  which,  when  broken,  pre- 
sent radiations  from  the  centre.  Cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes 
T  and  M,  the  latter  only  being  perfect;  fracture  uneven  ;  sur- 
face P  frequently  curved,  M  and  T  vertically  streaked.  It 
intumesces  B  B,  and  runs  into  a  blebby  colorless  glass.  It 
does  not  gelatinize  with  acids. 


M  on  T ....     90°  0' 

P  on  M  or  T  .     90  0 

M  on  a'.  ...  120  30 

a  on  a'   ....  119  15 

M  on  d  .         .136  30 


Stilbite  is  met  with  occasionally  in  the  fissures  of  primitive 
rocks,  and  in  mineral  veins ;  but  its  principal  repositories  are 
the  cavities  of  trap.  The  Faroe  Islands  and  Iceland  are  the 
great  localities  of  this  beautiful  mineral.  Splendid  specimens 
have  also  been  brought  from  Indore  in  the  Vendayah  Moun- 
tains of  Hindustan,  and  from  Poonha,  where  it  is  accompanied 
by  poonhalite  and  a  beautiful  gem-like  green  apophyllite.  And 
very  beautiful  crystals,  of  a  brick-red  color,  occur  in  porphy- 
ritic  amygdaloid,  near  Kilpatrick  in  Dumbartonshire;  and  in 
the  Fassa  Valley,  Tyrol.  Dauphine,  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz, 
Arendal  in  Norway,  Gustafsberg  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  and 
the  island  of  Arran,  are  also  well-known  localities  of  stilbite ; 
at  most  of  the  latter  it  being  found  in  granite  and  other  prim- 
itive rocks.  It  has  also  been  brought  from  New  Holland. 

It  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Kilpatrick  Hills  and  other  trap 
rocks  in  the  neighborhood  of  Glasgow.  It  is  the  most  com- 
mon mineral  in  the  amygdaloid  of  Nova  Scotia,  often  forming 
continuous  veins  of  considerable  thickness  and  various  shades 
of  color,  associated  with,  and  containing  in  its  cavities,  the  va- 
rious other  interesting  minerals  of  that  region,  for  the  particu- 
lar localities  of  which  the  student  may  consult  a  Memoir  on  the 
Mineralogy  and  Geology  of  Nova  Scotia,  published  in  the 

*  According  to  Levy,  the  primary  form  of  stilbite  is  a  right  rhombic  prism,  M  on  M' 
y4  u  . 

f  As  correctly  stated  by  Dana,  there  being  a  difference  of  three  degrees  in  the  last 
measurement,  as  now  given,  compared  with  that  approximated  by  Phillips,  and  recorded 
in  the  last  edition  of  this  work.  [AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  37 

American  Journal  of  Science,  vols.  xiv.  and  xv.,  and,  as  en- 
larged, in  the  Transactions  of  the  American  Academy  of  Sci- 
ence (New  Series,)  vol.  i.,  1833. 

The  stilbite  from  Nova  Scotia  rarely  separates  itself  from 
the  fasciculated  forms  in  which  it  usually  occurs,  and  in 
which  sufficient  freedom  is  not  given  for  the  production 
of  perfect  crystals;  but  perfect  individuals  are  some- 
times implanted  on  quartz,  presenting  the  primary 
prism  compressed  into  low  four-sided  tables,  with  the 
replacements  of  the  solid  angles  a  a',  elongated,  forming 
regular  beveled  edges  to  the  tables,  as  represented  in  the 
annexed  figure.  This  is  the  common  form  in  which  the 
crystals  of  this  mineral  come  to  us  from  the  Faroe  Islands. 

In  the  United  States,  owing  to  the  infrequent  occurrence  of 
extensive  masses  of  the  newest  trap  rocks,  it  rarely  occurs  under 
the  striking  forms  in  which  it  is  presented  to  us  from  abroad. 
It  is  found  sparingly  in  the  trap  range  of  Connecticut  and 
Massachusetts  ;  but  the  coarse  greenstone  of  Piermont,  N.  Y., 
and  Bergen  Hill,  N.  J.,  has  as  yet  supplied  much  the  finest  speci- 
mens. The  crystals  are  yellowish,  but  sometimes  of  a  pure 
white  color,  nearly  transparent,  and  with  very  brilliant  faces ; 
they  are  implanted  on  carbonate  of  lime,  or  interspersed  with 
analcime  and  apophyllite;  rarely  in  fasciculated  masses.  It 
also  forms  narrow  seams  in  some  of  the  primitive  rocks,  as  at 
Hadlyme,  in  Connecticut;  opposite  West  Point;  at  the  Har- 
lem Tunnel,  and  near  West  Farms,  New  York ;  at  Bellows 
Falls,  Vermont. 


HEULANDITE. 

BKLtter  Zeolith,W.     Var  de  Stilbite,  H.     Foliated  Zeolite,  J.      Heulandite,  Brooke.* 
Hemi-prismatic  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Vulcanus  Rhomboideus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and  water. 

Red,  Carr.psie.        Red,  Edelfors.         White,  Faroe. 

Silica 59-95. 60-28 59-14 

Alumina 16-87 1541 17-92 

Lime 7-19 8-18 7-65 

Water... 15-10 11-07 15-40 

Oxide  ofiron     0-00 4-16 00-00 

99-11  Walmstedt  99-10  Retzius.      100-11  Thomson. 

It  consists,  according  to  the  mean  of  the  first  and  last  analy- 
sis, of  4  atoms  tersilicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  tersilicate  of  lime, 
and  6  atoms  water.  Formula:  4AlS3+CalS3+6Aq.  It  thus 
differs  in  composition  from  stilbite,  in  containing  an  additional 

*Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  vol.  vi.,  p.  112. 


38 


EARTHT    MINERALS. 


atom  of  tersilicate  of  alumina.     The  second  analysis  gives  only 
4  atoms  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  20.      H.  =  35  —  40. 

This  mineral,  which  constituted  a  sub-species  by  Werner, 
under  the  name  of  foliated  zeolite,  was  shown  by  Mr.  Brooke 
to  be  distinct  from  stilbite,  with  which  it  had  been  confounded 
by  Haiiy,  and  was  established  by  him  as  a  new  species  under 
the  name  of  heulandite,  in  testimony  to  the  liberality  and  zeal  of 
Henry  Heuland,  Esq.  of  London.  It  commonly  occurs  crystal- 
lized in  right  oblique-angled  prisms  (two  of  its  opposed  lateral 
planes  being  longer  than  the  other  two),  generally  modified  on 
the  angles  and  one  lateral  edge.*  Cleavage  parallel  only  to  the 
terminal  plane  P.  of  the  following  figures  highly  perfect.  Lus- 
tre vitreous,  except  P,  which  possesses  high  degrees  of  pearly 
lustre,  both  as  faces  of  cleavage  and  crystallization.  Generally 
translucent,  but  the  crystals  are  often  nearly  transparent  when 
colorless  ;  from  which  it  varies  to  white,  yellow,  brownish,  and 
deep  red.  It  also  occurs  massive  ;  frequently  in  a  globular 
form  ;  and  is  easily  frangible.  B  B,  it  melts  with  intumes- 
cence, emitting  at  the  same  time  a  phosphorescent  light. 
With  acids  it  does  not  gelatinize. 

Fig.  1.  Fig.  2. 


Primary  Form. 


P  on  M  or  T  90°  0; 
130  30 
146  00 
148  0 
111  56 
114  20 
129  40 
133  35 
108  15 

The  varieties  of  heulandite  are  usually  found  accompanied  by 
stilbite  in  the  vesicular  cavities  of  amygdaloidal  rocks,  and  in 
certain  metalliferous  veins.  The  Faroe  Isles  and  Iceland  afford 
the  finest  crystals ;  but  splendid  specimens  have  also  been 
brought  from  the  Vendayah  Mountains  in  Hindustan,  and 
recently  from  New  Holland.  At  Cape  Blomidon,  and  the 
Two  Islands,  in  Nova  Scotia,  it  occurs  in  crystals  of  a  pure 
white  color,  and  highly  nacreous  lustre,  frequently  an  inch 
and  a  half  in  length,  associated  with  apophyllite,  chabasie, 
&c.  Campsie,  near  Dumbarton,  and  the  Fassa  Valley,  Tyrol, 
are  the  localities  of  the  red  variety. 

*  The  primary  form  of  this  species,  according  to  the  late  crystallographer,  M.  Levy, 
is  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  P  on  M  108°  1',  M  on  M,  97°  39'.  See  his  "  Description 
d'une  Collection  de  Mineraux,  formee  par  M.  Henri  Heuland,"  t.  ii.,  p.  242.  [AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


39 


In  the  United  States,  at  Chester,  Mass,  accompanying 
chabasie  on  mica  slate,  arid  with  stilbite  and  chabasie  on 
gneiss,  at  Hadlyme,  Conn.  In  New  Jersey,  in  trap  at  Bound 
Brook  and  Patterson.  On  New  York  Island,  in  gneiss,  and 
handsomely  crystallized  with  yellow  fasciculated  stilbite,  near 
Kipp's  Bay ;  but  the  crystals  from  these  last  localities  are  small. 
At  Jones  Falls,  near  Baltimore,  it  is  found  in  modified  crystals 
similar  to  fig.  4,  associated  with  stilbite  and  Haijdenite. 

The  form  of  the  most  beautiful  and  brilliant  secondary  crys- 
tals, from  Nova  Scotia,  is  that  represented  by  fig.  3.  It  is  in- 
variably the  case  that  the  replacements  f  are  smaller  on  the 

Fig.  3.  Fig.  4. 


large  crystals  in  proportion  to  their  other  dimensions,  than  on 
the  small  ones,  being  sometimes  barely  perceptible  to  the  eye. 
In  the  very  smallest  crystals  the  replacements  f  have  become 
so  extended  as  to  reduce  their  length  to  nearly  the  same  di- 
mensions with  their  breadth,  thus  giving  rise  to  what  might 
appear,  at  first  sight,  a  square  prism  terminated  by  low,  obtuse, 
four-sided  pyramids,  resting  upon  the  two  opposite  lateral  faces 
of  the  crystal,  as  shown  in  fig.  4.  As  a  and  a1  usually  meet, 
these  pyramids  are  very  perfect.* 

APPENDIX.     (Lincolnite,  Hitchcock. i~)      This  mineral  has 

*Beaumontite.  On  comparing,  with  these  last  described  crystals,  those  found  by  Dr. 
H.  H.  Hayden,  at  Jones  Falls,  near  Baltimore,  and  which  have  been  described  by  M. 
Levy  under  the  name  of  beaumontite  (a)  [primary  form  a  right  square  prism],  I  was 
struck  with  the  remarkable  resemblance  they  bore  to  each  other,  and  vvas  led  to  regard 
'-'them  as  identical.  On  further  comparing  their  hardness,  color,  lustre,  and  pyrognostic 
characters,  and  failing  also  to  obtain  any  other  cleavage  in  the  Baltimore  specimens  than 
that  well  known  in  heulandite,  I  could  have  but  little  doubt  that  beaumontite  was  nothing 
else  than  heulandite,  as  indicated  by  the  similarly  modified  crystals  from  Nova  Scotia. 
But  to  confirm  this  impression  1  requested  Mr.  Teschemacher  to  separate  the  best  crystals 
from  my  specimens  of  the  Baltimore  mineral,  and  subject  them  to  measurement  by  the 
reflecting  goniometer,  as  I  well  knew  the  public  would  have  full  confidence  in  his  use  of 
that  instrument.  He  informs  me  that  P  on  M  gives  90°,  M  on  T  130°,  M  on  a  143°  J7',P 
on  a  111°  58',  and  adds  that  he  has  no  doubt  the  mineral  is  heulandite.  The  variation  in 
the  third  measurement  was  owing  to  the  imperfections  of  the  surface.  The  only  differ- 
ence in  the  two  minerals  appears  to  be  that  in  the  Baltimore  specimens  we  cannot  so 
readily  trace  the  gradual  changes  by  which  the  ultimate  figure  is  produced.  I  cannot, 
therefore,  record  beaumontite  in  this  work  as  anew  mineral,  though  I  am  unable  to  recon- 
cile the  different  results  of  M.  Levy  in  any  other  way  than  by  supposing  him  to  have 
operated  on  different  crystals,  which  may  occur  with  the  haydenite.  1  believe,  however, 
that  all  the  small  pearly  crystals  on  specimens  in  the  cabinets  of  our  mineralogists  will 
only  serve  to  make  M.  Levy's  results  more  difficult  to  understand.  [An.  ED.] 

(a)  Paper  read  before  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences,  an  abstract  of  which  may  be 
seen  in  the  Lond.  and  Edin.  Phil.  Mag.,  Feb.,  1840,  p.  56,  or  Jour,  of  the  Franklin  Insti- 
tute, Phil.,  vol.  xxvi  (new  series),  p.  155. 

f  See  Final  Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Massachusetts,  vol.  ii.,  p.  652. 


o<    7>- 


40  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

not  been  analyzed,  nor  have  its  crystals  been  submitted  to 
the  measurement  of  the  reflecting  goniometer.  It  exhibits 
precisely  the  same  character,  B  B,  as  heulandite,  and  pos- 
sesses all  the  physical  characters  of  that  mineral,  of  which  it 
presents  the  same  primary  and  secondary  form — a  right  ob- 
lique angled  prism  replaced  on  the  acute  lateral  edges  by  sin- 
gle planes  f,  but  never  on  the  obtuse  solid  angles  by  the  planes 
a  —  one  peculiarity  which  belongs  to  these  crystals,  though  it 
may  not  be  confined  to  specimens  from  this  locality.  But, 
according  to  Professor  Hitchcock,  it  differs  from  heulandite  in 
the  proximate  measurement  of  planes  M  on  T  about  10°  (or 
120°),  as  determined  by  the  measurement  of  three  different 
crystals.  It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  the  comparison 
of  one  set  of  characters  alone,  without  some  other  corrobora- 
tive evidence,  especially  in  the  present  instance,  where  the 
crystals  are  so  small  as  scarcely  to  allow  of  full  confidence  in 
the  use  of  the  common  goniometer,  does  not  authorize  the 
making  of  a  new  species.  The  mineral  deserves  further  inves- 
tigation ere  its  claims  as  a  distinct  species  can  be  satisfacto- 
rily established.  Its  locality  is  in  the  cavities  of  amygdaloid 
of  Deerfield,  Mass.,  where  it  is  described  as  occurring  very 
sparingly ;  also  on  gneiss  at  Bellows  Falls,  Vermont.* 


DAVYNE. 

Davina,  JWonticelli.     Davytic  Kouphone  Spar,  Haidinger.     Var.  Spatum  Hexagonum,  D. 

Contains  silica  42'91,  alumina  3323,  lime  12'02,  iron  1  25, 
water  7'43,  loss  3-1 1.  —  CoveMi.  Formula,  as  given  by  Beu- 
dant:  5AlS+CalS2+2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  24.     H.  =  50  —  5-5. 

Color  white  or  yellowish  ;  transparent,  translucent,  or  opake, 
—  the  lustre  inclining  to  opalescent  in  the  first  case,  to  pearly 
when  opake ;  and  the  color  to  grey  when  transparent,  —  to 
whitish  when  opake.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  planes 
of  the  hexagonal  prism,  its  primary  form  ;  fracture  conchoidal. 
It  occurs  in  attached  regular  hexahedral  prismatic  crystals,  with 
the  lateral  and  terminal  edges  replaced,  as  shown  in  the  follow- 
ing figure. 


*  Having  placed  a  very  perfect  crystal  of  this  mineral  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  J.  E.  Tesche- 
macher,  for  measurement  by  the  reflecting  goniometer,  he  informed  me,  just  as  this  form 
was  going  to  press,  that  the  angle  formed  by  the  meeting  of  the  planes  in  question,  is 
130°  30',  as  stated  by  Phillips  and  consequently  the  mineral  must  be  heulandite.  As  Mr. 
T.'s  accuracy  in  the  use  of  the  reflecting  goniometer  is  well  known,  there  can  be  no 
longer  any  doubt  as  to  the  character  of  the  mineral.  [AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY   MINERALS. 


41 


r  on  r  contiguous  .  .  154°  46' 
r  on  M  .  .115    53 


With  nitric  acid  it  effervesces  and  readily  forms  a  jelly; 
and  alone,  B  B,  fuses  \i  ith  effervescence  into  a  white,  opake, 
and  somewhat  porous  globule.  Laminae  exposed  to  the  flame  of 
a  candle  do  not  lose  their  transparency.  With  boracic  acid  on 
platina  wire,  it  affords  a  limpid  colorless  globule ;  and  with  salt 
of  phosphorus  in  proper  proportions,  yields  a  pearly  bead,  which 
appears  milky  and  opake  when  hot,  but  becomes  translucent 
on  cooling. 

This  mineral  was  described  by  Monticelli  and  Covelli,  in 
their  Prodromo  delta  Mincralogia  Vesuviana,  and  named  by 
these  mineralogists  in  honor  of  our  illustrious  countryman,  Sir 
Humphrey  Davy.  It  occurs  in  the  more  ancient  rocks  of  Ve- 
suvius, accompanying  garnet,  mica,  wollastonite,  &c.  It  may 
be  distinguished  from  nepheline  by  the  length  of  its  crystals 
invariably  exceeding  their  breadth,  the  reverse  of  which  is  the 
case  in  that  mineral ;  its  specific  gravity  is  also  much  lower ; 
and  nepheline  is  not  acted  upon  by  acid  as  this  is.  (Allan's 
Manual.)  It  differs  from  nepheline  also,  in  containing  12  per 
cent,  of  lime,  and  no  trace  of  soda,  of  which  Arfwedson  found 
20  per  cent,  in  the  former.  It  is  classed  with  nepheline  by 
some  authors,  but  until  the  evidence  of  its  identity  with  that 
species  is  undoubted,  we  shall  not  greatly  err  in  allowing  it  to 
remain  by  itself,  according  to  the  determination  of  the  authors 
above  alluded  to.  The  distinguishing  characteristic  of  the 
two  minerals  is  well  shown  by  the  formulae. 


LAUMONITE.* 


Lomonit,  W.     Laumonite,  H.     Diatomou<?  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Efflorescing  Zeolite. 
Vulcanus  Efflorescens,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and  water. 


*  In  honor  of  Gillet  do  Laumont.  by  whom  it  was  discovered  in  1785. 


42 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Huelgoet. 
Silica  48-3  
Alumina  22-7  
Lime  12-1  

49-0  
22-0  
y-0  

Skye. 
.  .  .52-04 
...21-14 

Water  1G-0  
Carbonic  acid     0*0 

17-5  
2-5 

...1492 
0-00 

99-01  Gmelin.     100-00  Vogel.  98-72  Connell. 

The  mean  of  the  two  first  analyses  gives,  when  divided  by 
the  atomic  weights,  3  atoms  bisilicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  bi- 
silicate  of  lime,  and  5  atoms  water.  CoimelPs  differs  only  in 
an  atom  less  of  water,  and  thus  comes  very  near  to  the  first 
analysis.  We  shall  therefore  adopt  the  formula  3AlS2+Cal2-f 
4Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-3.     H.  above  4.0  when  fresh. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  aggregated  crystalline  masses,  deeply 
striated  ;  or  in  separate  crystals  of  several  varieties  of  form,  and 
sometimes  in  that  of  its  primary  crystal,  —  an  oblique  rhombic 
prism,  of  which  the  inclination  of  the  terminal  plane  is  from  one 
acute  angle  to  the  other  :  this  prism  yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to 
its  lateral  planes  and  both  diagonals.  It  is  white,  or  yellowish 
white,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  of  red  ;  and  is  transparent  or  trans- 
lucent. B  B,  with  borax  it  intumesces,  and  fuses  into  a  color- 
less glass :  per  se,  it  first  forms  a  white  spumous  enamel,  and 
on  continuing  the  heat,  becomes  translucent.  It  gelatinizes 
with  nitric  or  muriatic  acid. 


M  on  M 86°  15' 

P  on  M  or  M'  113  30 
M  or  M  on  c  104  20 


Laumonite  was  formerly  termed  the  efflorescent  zeolite,  on 
account  of  its  losing  its  water  on  exposure  to  the  air ;  in  con- 
sequence of  which  it  becomes  opake,  of  a  shining  white  color, 
and  pearly  lustre ;  and  eventually  falls  into  a  white  powder, 
similar  to  that  resulting  from  the  decomposition  of  Glauber's 
salt.* 

This  mineral  was  first  discovered  in  the  lead  mine  of  Huelgoet 
in  Brittany,  lining  the  cavities  of  the  veins.  It  has  since  been 
found  in  trap  in  Iceland  and  Faroe  ;  at  St.  Gothard ;  forming 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  43 

large  masses,  which  exhibit  a  radiating  and  divergent  structure, 
in  the  Fassa-thal,  Tyrol ;  near  Paisley  in  Renfrewshire  ;  at  the 
Kilpatrick  Hills,  Dumbartonshire;  near  Loch  Enort  in  the  Isle 
of  Skye,  accompanying  stilbite;  and  at  Port  Rush  in  Ireland 
with  analcime  and  stilbite  in  trap  rocks.  More  recently  it  has 
been  discovered  in  the  amygdaloid  of  Nova  Scotia,  occupying 
oven-shaped  cavities  and  hollow  veins,  as  at  Peter's  Point  and 
Sandy  Cove,  interspersed  with  calc-spar,  apophyllite,  stilbite, 
and  specular  iron. 

In  the  United  States  it  was  early  discovered  by  Professor 
Silliman,  in  the  trap  near  New  Haven,  Ct.  Fine  specimens 
have  been  found  in  gneiss,  on  the  banks  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill,  Pa.,  at  Phillipstown,  Putnam  county,  N.  Y.,  with  stil- 
bite in  felspar ;  also,  in  very  perfect  crystals,  in  the  sienite 
of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  and  in  the  gneiss  of  Phippsburg,  Me. 
The  last,  named  locality  has  afforded  the  most  magnificent 
crystals  hitherto  met  with  in  the  United  States.  They  are  as- 
sociated with  quartz  and  felspar  in  a  drussy  form  ;  the  whole 
forming  a  vein  a  foot  thick,  into  the  larger  cavities  of  which 
implanted  crystals  of  the  laumonite  are  seen  to  project,  often 
more  than  an  inch  in  length,  colorless  and  nearly  transparent, 
and  rarely  replaced  on  the  acute  solid  angles  of  the  prism  by 
single  planes. 

ZOISITE.* 

Zoisit,  W.     Var.  d'Epidote,  H.     Var.  Augitus  Rhomboideus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  lime,  with  a  little  protoxide 
of  iron. 

Carinthia.  Bayreuth.  Carinthia. 

Silica 4:>-0 4O25 3D-03 

Alumina 29-0 30-25 29-48 

Lime 21-0 22-50 22-95 

Protoxide  of  iron  3-0 4-50 6-48 

Water 0-00...  ..  2-00 1  3tj 


98-00  KTaproth.     99-58  Bucholz.       99-58  Thomson. 

Protoxide  of  iron  and  water  being  regarded  as  accidental,  the 
formula  deduced  from  these  three  analyses,  and  as  given  by 
Beudant  and  Dr.  Thomson,  is  2AlS+CalS. 

Sp.  Gr.  32  to  3-3.     H.  =  6-0—  7'0. 

It  occurs  in  oblique  rhombic  prisms,  of  a  grey,  greyish- 
yellow,  or  brown  color,  but  which  are  rarely  perfect,  owing  to 
deep  longitudinal  strise  :  P  on  M  unknown;  M  on  M'  116° 
30',  according  to  Brooke.  The  obtuse  lateral  edges  of  the 
prism  are  often  rounded,  and  the  terminations  incomplete.  It 
also  occurs  massive,  and  cleaves  parallel  to  the  sides  and  both 


*  Zoisite,  after  the  Baron  tie  Zois. 


44  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

diagonals  of  the  prism,  but  not  with  brilliant  surfaces.  It  has 
a  pearly  lustre,  and  is  translucent.  Alone,  B  B,  it  fuses  on 
the  outer  edges  into  a  yellowish  transparent  glass,  but  finally 
into  a  vitreous  scoria ;  with  borax  intumesces,  and  forms  a 
diaphanous  glass. 

It  is  met  with  in  the  Bucher  Mountain  and  the  Sau  Alp  in 
Styria,  in  a  rock  composed  of  kyanite,  garnet,  and  augite ;  in 
granite  in  Bayreuth;  also  in  Bavaria,  Salzburg,  the  Tyrol,  and 
the  Vallais.  It  is  mentioned  by  Jameson  as  occurring  at  Glen- 
elg  in  Inverness-shire  and  in  Shetland. 

In  the  United  States  it  is  found  at  Wardsborough  and  Mont- 
pelier,  Vt. ;  Milford,  Ct. ;  Goshen  and  Williamsburg,  Mass. 

This  species  is  by  Mohs  and  others  united  with  epidote, 
from  which  it  principally  differs  in  color,  in  atomic  constitu- 
tion, and,  as  it  would  appear,  in  crystalline  form,  but  this  latter 
has  not,  as  yet,  been  fully  determined. 


EPIDOTE.* 

Prismatoidal  Augite  Spar,   M.    Pistacit,  W.     Epidote,  H.    Thallite,  Karsten.      Del- 
phinite.    Augitus  Rhomboideus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  lime. 

Pistazite.  Crystallized 

Isere.  Epidote.  Isle  St.  John.      United  States. 

Silica 37-6 37-0 40-9 38-GO 

Alumina 27-0 21-0 28-9 26-J5 

Lime 14-0 15-0 16-2 28-84 

Oxide  of  iron .  17-0 24-0 14-0 10.56 

Ox.  of  mangan  1-5 1-5 0-0 0-00 

96-5  Descotlis.     98-5  Vauquelin  100-00  Beudant.    99-05  Thomson. 

In  these  analyses  the  proportion  of  silica  varies  but  little,  but 
there  is  a  great  variation  in  the  other  constituents.  Beudant, 
adopting  his  own  analysis  and  that  of  Descotlis,  states  the  for- 
mula thus:  2A1S+FS.  He  thus  includes  the  lime  with  the 
iron.  But  the  formula  which  shows  the  lime  as  an  essential 
constituent  would  seem  to  express  more  truly  the  composition 
of  this  species;  and  the  purest  crystals  which  have  been  ana- 
lyzed, give  nearly  an  equal  number  of  atoms  of  silica  and 
bases  —  thus  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  4AlS+3CalS+2FS. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-42.  H.  =6-0  —  7'0. 

This  mineral  is  found  granular,  massive,  and  in  prismatic 
crystals,  variously  terminated  and  longitudinally  striated.  Color 
green  of  different  shades,  occasionally  almost  black,  rarely  brown 
or  reddish.  It  has  a  shining  lustre  ;  and  is  somewhat  transpa- 
rent. The  primary  crystal  is  a  right  oblique-angled  prism,  of 
about  115°  30'  and  64°  30';  and  it  cleaves  with  brilliant  sur- 
faces, parallel  to  the  sides  and  lesser  diagonal  of  the  prism. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


45 


B  B,  it  intumesces,  but  does  not,  even  by  a  strong  heat,  com- 
pletely melt ;  with  borax  it  intumesces,  and  then  fuses  into  a 
glass  colored  by  iron — unless  manganese  predominate,  in 
which  case  it  assumes  in  the  oxidating  flame  an  amethystine 
tinge. 

According  to  Von  Kobell,  this  and  the  preceding  species 
swell  and  froth,  fusing  —  3  to  3£,  into  a  blistered,  cauliflower- 
like  mass,  or  slag,  which  is  white  or  yellowish  with  the  first, 
and  black  or  dark  brown  with  the  latter. 


Fig.  1.  The  primary  ;  a  right  prism,  of  which  the  bases  are  oblique- 
angled  parallelograms.  Of  this  there  are  several  modifications,  which 
commonly  do  not  appear  to  have  much  direct  affinity  with  the  primitive  : 
Fig.  2  exhibits  one  of  the  most  simple. 


M 

on 

T 

t 

m 

g 

115 

°4l' 

P 

on 

M 

or 

T 

90 



M 

on 

e 

m 

150 

15 

\ 

T 

on 

c 

145 

24 

> 

— 



f 

145 

39 

^-^^ 





114 

40 

M 

on 

d 

t 

125 

2 

P 

on 

d 

145 

6 

M 

C 

I  . 

143 

30 

T 

on 

c 

1  . 

121 

50 





b 

1  . 

104 

30 

— 

— 

b 

2  . 

142 

35 

Epidote  is  not  often  found  massive,  but  chiefly  in  crystals, 
varying  in  size  from  the  acicular  to  near  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  several  inches  in  length  ;  the  acicular  are  met  with  in  the 
department  of  Isere  in  France,  at  Bourg  d'Oisans  inDauphine, 
in  the  Alps,  &c.  (Thallite  of  Karsten.)  The  larger  occur  at 
Arendal  in  Norway,  and  Norrnark  in  Sweden  (Acanticonite  of 
Dandrada,  or  Arendalite] :  the  magnificent  crystals  from  these 
localities  consist  of  concentric  coats,  the  exterior  of  which  ad- 
mit of  removal,  arid  thus,  out  of  a  large  imperfect  crystal,  one 
of  smaller  size,  but  more  completely  formed,  may  be  produced 
with  facility.  It  belongs  chiefly  to  primitive  rocks,  but  is  only 
found  in  veins  and  fissures,  among  which,  in  small  qnantities, 
it  occurs  in  many  countries ;  magnetic  iron,  garnet,  felspar, 
adularia,  axinite,  and  asbestus,  are  the  minerals  which  chiefly 
accompany  it. 


*From  Ktldid&ftl,  to  increase  ;  signifying  that  the  base  of  the  primary  form  undergoes 
an  increase  in  some  of  the  secondary  forms. 


46 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


In  the  United  States  crystals,  resembling  in  size,  color  and 
form,  those  from  Norway  and  Sweden,  occur  in  the  iron  mine 
of  Franconia,  N.  H.  Also  a  variety  precisely  similar  to  that 
from  Piedmont,  at  Haddam,  Ct.,  Shepard.  At  Newbury  and 
Nahant,  Mass.,  finely  crystallized;  at  the  former  in  the  fissures 
of  anamorphous  garnet. —  Webster.  At  Lebanon,  N.  H.,  huge 
crystals  are  associated  with  arid  imbedded  in  Zoisite. — C.  T. 
Jackson. 

Granular  epidote.  Scorza,  Br.  Appears  from  its  analysis 
to  be  epidote  reduced  to  small  grains  by  attrition.  It  occurs 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  Arangos,  near  Muska  in  Transylva- 
nia, and  is  called  Scorza  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  country. 

Manganesian  epidote.  Manganese  oxyde  silicifere,  H.  Epi- 
dote violet,  Bt.  Occurs  in  small  prismatic  crystals  of  a  violet 
or  reddish-brown  color,  which  are  generally  associated  in 
groups,  sometimes  imbedded  in  asbestus.  It  is  opake,  and 
yields  to  the  knife;  contains,  by  the  analyses  of  Hartwell,  14 
per  cent,  of  sesquioxide  of  manganese,  which  replaces  protox- 
ide of  iron.  B  B,  it  fuses  easily  into  a  black  glass,  —  with 
borax  into  a  transparent  one,  exhibiting  in  the  oxidizing  flame 
the  amethystine  tinge  of  manganese.* 

This  variety  occurs  at  St.  Marcel,  in  the  valley  of  Aosta,  in 
Piedmont,  in  gneiss  accompanied  by  oxide  of  manganese, 
quartz,  asbestus,  &c.  The  following  are  its  constituents : 

St.  Marcel.  St.  Marcel. 

Silica 38-47 37-86 

Alumina 17-65 16-30 

Lime 21-65 13-49 

Sesquioxide  of  manganese.  14-08 18-96 

Protoxide  of  manganese... 00-00 4-82 

Peroxide  of  iron 6-60  Protoxide 7-41 

Magnesia 1-82  Oxide  of  tin  and  cop.  0-40 


100-27  Hartwell.f  99-27  Sobrero-t 

AXINITE.  § 

Prismatic  Axinite,  M.     Axinit,  W.     Axinite,  H.     Thumerstone,  J.    Thumite.     Yano- 
lite.     Hyalus  Acutus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  oxide  of  iron,  and  man- 
ganese. 

*  M.  Sohrero  (a)  has  shown  that  this  variety  of  epidote,  as  well  as  the  oxide  of  manganese 
found  at  the  same  locality,  contains  tin.  He  has  also  been  led  to  examine  other  epidotes, 
as  those  of  Scandinavia  and  of  Orrijarfoi  in  Finland,  and  finds  that  all  of  them  contain  it, 
though  to  an  amount  not  exceeding  one  per  cent.  It  will  be  interesting  to  examine  the 
epidotes  of  other  countries,  in  order  to  ascertain  if  this  metal  is  usually  contained  in 
them.  [AM.  ED.] 

(a)  Berzelius,  Rapport  Annuel,  1840,  p.  129. 

t  Kong.  Vet.  Acad.  Handl.  1828,  p.  171. 

J  Berzelius,  Rapport  Annuel,  1840,  p.  129. 

$  in  sharpness  like  the  edge  of  a  hatchet,  whence  Axinite. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  47 


Dauphine.  Trueburg. 

Silica 50-50 44-0 45-80 

Alumina 16.00 18  0 19-00 

Lime 17-00 19-0 12-50 

Protoxide  of  iron 9.50 14.0 12-25 

Protoxide  of  manganese  5  25 4-0 9-00 

Magnesia 0-00 0-0 0'25 

Boracic  acid 0-00 0-0 2-00 


98-05  Klaproth.    99-00  Vauquelin.  100-00  Wiegmann. 

These  analyses  differ  considerably  from  each  other,  and  bo- 
racic  acid  was  probably  overlooked  in  the  two  first,  though  it 
is  not  regarded  as  an  essential  constituent.  The  last  is  much 
the  latest,  and  has  been  adopted  by  Beudant  and  Dr.  Thom- 
son. If  we  calculate  the  atomic  proportions  of  the  constitu- 
ents, we  find  the  atoms  of  alumina  nearly  equal  those  of  all  the 
other  bases;  and  hence  supposing  the  boracic  acid  to  be  unit- 
ed with  the  lime  and  magnesia,  the  constitution  of  the  mineral, 
as  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson,  is  1  atom  silicate  of  alumina  and 
1  atom  bisilicates  of  the  other  bases.  Formula  :  AlS+(Cal+ 
F4-  Mn)S2.  Beudant,  who  records  the  same  formula,  suggests 
that  the  boracic  acid  and  silica  may  mutually  replace  each 
other. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-27.     H.  =  6'5  —  7'0. 

This  mineral  rarely  occurs  massive,  more  frequently  in  flat 
oblique  rhomboidal  prisms,  whose  edges  are  remarkably  sharp. 
It  is  harder  than  felspar,  but  is  scratched  by  topaz.  Common 
color  violet  or  clove-brown,  inclining  to  plum-blue  and  pearl- 
grey  ;  also  yellow  and  green,  from  an  admixture  of  chlorite; 
occasionally  nearly  colorless,  and  transparent.  The  crystals 
do  not  appear  to  possess  regular  cleavages;  their  primary, 
therefore,  has  not  been  determined;  their  general  form  is  that 
of  a  doubly  oblique  prism,  which  is  assumed  as  the  primary  in 
the  following  figure.  Externally  the  crystals  are  very  brilliant ; 
fracture  small  and  conchoidal ;  becomes  electric  by  exposure 
to  heat;  B  B,  intumesces  and  fuses  readily  into  a  dark  green 
glass,  which  changes  to  black  in  the  oxidating  flame;  with 
borax  into  a  glass,  also  colored  by  iron ;  is  not  acted  upon  by 
acid.  Fused  with  a  mixture  of  fluor  spar  and  bisulphate  of 
potash,  it  communicates  to  the  flame  a  transient  green  color.* 
Some  varieties  are  differently  electrified  by  heat,  contiguous  to 
opposite  ends  of  the  crystals,  and  in  these  also  a  difference  has 
been  observed  by  Haiiy. 

*  See  note  to  species  Tourmaline. 


48 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


p 

OM 

M 

134°  40' 

M  on 

c 

11  2°  25' 

p 

on 

T 

115 

17 



f'2 

135 

12 

\ 

M 

on 

T 

135 

10  

/  '3 

90 

18 

M 

on 

«\ 

179 

00  T  on 

/.-  ' 

147 

55 

— 

— 

a  2 

150 

3 



h 

152 

5 





h 

146 

35 



<!l 

149 

30 

* 



— 

d\ 

130 

30 



<I2 

130 

5 





<12 

JOO 

45 



,/.) 

94 

12 





dS 

72 

38 

P  on 

<i  I 

133 

25 

/ 

__ 



il 

179 

20 



c 

136 

22 

— 

— 

12 

174 

40 

-/I 

173 

20 

— 

— 

i'.> 

152 

25 

h 

143 

20 





14. 

142 

28 



<I\ 

139 

30 



_ 

15 

138 

10 



d-2 

121 

30 

— 



k1 

120 

00 



d3 

110 

20 

It  occurs  in  beds  at  Thum*  in  Saxony;  at  Bareges  in  the 
Pyrenees,  upon  a  gangue  of  quartz  ;  in  splendid  crystals,  as 
remarkable  for  the  brilliancy  of  their  lustre  as  for  their  size 
and  symmetry  of  form,  at  St.  Christophe,  near  D'Oisans  in 
Dauphine ;  near  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  in  a  white  laminated 
calcareous  rock,  accompanied  by  black  mica,  quartz,  and  na- 
tive silver;  at  Arendal,  with  felspar,  epidote,  &c. ;  on  mica 
slate  in  Savoy;  in  several  places  in  the  Hartz ;  and  in  killas 
at  Botallack,  near  the  Land's  End,  Cornwall,  where  it  occurs 
both  in  well-defined  though  rather  complex  crystals,  and  mas- 
sive and  compact  entering  into  the  composition  of  a  rock  with 
tourmaline  and  garnet. 

But  one  locality  of  this  rare  mineral  is  known  to  exist  in  the 
United  States,  a  few  crystals,  precisely  like  those  from  Dau- 
phine, having  been  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson  and  the  edi- 
tor, accompanying  the  cinnamon-stone,  &c.,  at  Phippsburg, 
Maine. 


ISOPYRE.t 

Isopyric  Quartz,  Haldlnger,    Trachylite,  Breithaupt.    Hyalus  Ferriferus,  D. 

Contains  silica  47'09,  alumina  13*91,  peroxide  of  iron  20-07, 
lime  15'43,  peroxide  of  copper  ]-94.  —  Turner.  The  atomic 
constitution  of  this  mineral,  from  the  above  analysis,  rejecting 
the  copper,  is  represented  by  this  formula :  SAISH-SFSH- 
2CalS. 

Sp.  Gr.  29  —  3-0.     H.  —  6'0  —  6'5. 

*  Whence  its  designation  of  Thumite  or  Thumerstone. 

f  From  ttfog,  equal,  and  nv (>,  fire ,;  signifying  that  its  behaviour,  B  B,  is  similar  to  that 
of  several  other  species. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  49 

Occurs  in  compact  masses  of  a  velvet-black  color,  occasion- 
ally dotted  with  red,  as  in  heliotrope.  Opake,  or  faintly  trans- 
lucent on  its  thinnest  edges,  with  a  dark  liver-brown  tint. 
Brittle.  Lustre  vitreous.  Cleavage  not  perceptible.  Frac- 
ture flat  conchoidal,  highly  perfect  when  the  mineral  is  pure. 
Acts  slightly  on  the  magnetic  needle.  It  fuses,  B  B,  without 
emitting  any  gaseous  matter.  Acids  act  upon  it  with  difficulty, 
but  it  is  easily  and  completely  decomposed  by  alkaline  carbon- 
ates. 

This  mineral  much  resembles  obsidian,  but  was  distinguished 
by  Haidinger*  in  consequence  of  its  fainter  and  less  vitreous 
lustre.  It  is  perfectly  black,  and  forms  compact  masses,  occa- 
sionally two  inches  in  diameter,  in  the  granite  of  St.  Just,  near 
Penzance,  where  it  occurs,  associated  with  tin  and  tourmaline. 
Breithaupt's  trachylite  appears  to  be  the  same  mineral ;  its  spe- 
cific gravity  is  stated  somewhat  lower,  but  in  other  respects  it 
is  identical ;  it  forms  small  masses  in  basalt  and  wacke,  at 
Sasebiihl  near  Gottingen. 


INDIANITE. 

JBournon.    (Phil.  Trans.,  1802,  vol.  ii.)   Var.  Spatura  Vesuvianum,  D. 

Rose-Red.  White. 

Silica 42-5 42-0 43.0 

Alumina 37-5 34-0 34-5 

Lime 15-0 15-0 15-6 

Oxide  ofiron 3-0 3-2 1-0 

Soda 0-0 3-3 2-6 

98-0  Chenevix.    97-5  Laugier.        96-1  Laugier. 

Sp.  Gr.  2*74.     Scratches  glass. 

In  granular  masses,  of  a  white,  greyish,  and  rarely  rose-red 
color,  with  a  shining  lustre,  sometimes  tinged  brown  by  a  mix- 
ture of  garnet.  It  is  translucent.  It  cleaves,  according  to 
Brooke,  into  rhombic  prisms  of  95°  15'  and  84°  45';  is  infusi- 
ble B  B,  and,  when  digested  in  acids,  becomes  gelatinous. 
This  substance  was  described  by  Bournon.  It  forms  the 
gangue  of  corundum  from  the  Carnatic ;  t  and  occurs  asso- 
ciated with  garnet,  felspar,  fibrolite,  and  hornblende. 

The  specific  character  of  this  mineral  has  not  been  well 
defined.  Beudant  supposes  it  to  be  a  variety  of  labradorite. 
Laugier's  analysis  would  seem  to  authorize  its  transfer  from 
the  earthy  to  the  alkalino-earthy  class. 


*  Ed.  New.  Phil.  Jour.  111.  263. 
f  Whence  Indianite. 


50  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

ANTHOPHYLLITE.* 

Strahliger-Authophyllite,  H.  J.    Prismatic  Schiller  Spar,  M.     Strelite.    Augitus  Phyl- 

linus,  D. 

Combination  of  bisilicate  of  magnesia  and  bisilicate  of  iron. 

Silica 56-74 56 57-12 

Protoxide  of  iron 13-94 13 13-52 

Magnesia 24-35 23 25-92 

Protoxide  of  manganese  2-38 4 00-00 

Lime 00-00 2 1-32 

Alumina 00-00 3 trace 

Water 00-00 00 1-36 


99-08  Vopelius.  101  Gmelin.  99-24  Thomson.! 

The  mean  of  these  analyses  gives  2  atoms  of  silica  to  1  of 
bases,    showing  that  the  mineral   is  composed  of  bisilicates. 
The  formula,  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  is  3MgS2+FS2. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-0  to  3-3.     H.  =  5'0  to  55. 

Anthophyllite  has  a  grey  or  clove-brown  color  ;  with  an  oc- 
casional blue  tinge,  and  a  glistening,  pearly,  pseudo-metallic 
lustre.  It  occurs  massive,  the  mass  consisting  of  crystals  or 
crystalline  fibres,  often  disposed  in  a  radiating  form  :  these 
may  be  cleaved  parallel  to  the  lateral  planes  of  a  rhombic 
prism  of  about  125°  and  55°  (73°  44'  and  106°  16',  according 
to  Necker),  and  both  its  diagonals  ;  the  latter  are  not  brilliant. 
The  prism  is  generally  traversed  by  natural  crevices  nearly  at 
right  angles  to  its  axis  ;  translucent  on  the  edges.  It  is  infu- 
sible B  B,  per  se  ;  with  borax  it  melts  with  difficulty  into  a 
glass  colored  by  iron;  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus  decomposes 
slowly,  and  yields  a  skeleton  of  silica. 

It  occurs  atKonigsberg  in  Norway,  with  hornblende  ;  trans- 
lucent, and  of  a  rich  clove-brown  color,  at  Ujordlersoak  in 
Greenland  ;  in  foliated  masses  with  mica,  at  Snarum,  near 
Modum  in  Norway  ;  in  the  United  States  associated  with  tour- 
malin, &,c.  in  mica  slate,  at  Haddam,  Ct.  ;  also  in  the  same 
rock,  at  Chesterfield  and  Blanford,  Mass.  ;  at  Richmond,  N.  H. 
in  large  bladed  crystals,  associated  with  iolite. 

AMPHODELITE. 

Nordenskiold.    Bcrzelius,  Jahresbericht,  1833,  p.  174. 

Contains  silica  45*80,  alumina  35*45,  lime  10*15,  magnesia 
5*05,  oxide  of  iron  1*70,  water  1*85.  The  atoms  of  silica 
rather  exceed  those  of  the  bases,  but  the  mineral  is  described 
as  consisting  of  simple  silicates,  expressed  by  this  formula  : 


Sp.  Gr.  2*76.     H.  •=  4*5. 


*  From  its  resemblance  in  color  to  the  flower  Anthophyllum. 

f  Localities  of  the  two  first  specimens  not  known,  and  Dr.  Thomson  only  tells  us  that 
his  came  from  America. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  51 

Crystalline  form,  resembling  that  of  felspar.  Color  light 
red;  similar  to  scapolite  in  its  fracture,  and  possessing  two 
cleavages  which  meet  at  an  angle  of  94°  19'. 

Occurs  in  the  limestone  quarry  of  Lojo  in  Finland. 


ZEUXITE.* 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  321.) 

The  composition  of  this  mineral,  which  Dr.  Thomson  re 
gards  as  a  new  species,  is,  according  to  his  analysis,  as  follows  : 

Silica 33-480 

Alumina 31-848 

Protoxide  of  iron 26-010 

Lime 2-456 

Water 5-280 


99-074 

Dr.  Thomson  observes  that  if  we  admit  the  atom  of  lime  to 
be  united  with  1J-  atom  of  protoxide  of  iron,  in  the  state  of 
sesquiferrite  of  lime,  and  to  be  accidental,  this  mineral  will  be 
a  compound  of  3  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  disilicate  of 
iron,  and  1  atom  water.  Formula :  3A1S+F2S+1  Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-051.  H.  =  425. 

Color  brown  with  a  slight  shade  of  green,  when  we  view  a 
considerable  mass  of  it  together,  but  not  perceptible  in  a  single 
crystal.  Composed  of  very  small  flat  rectangular  prisms  inter- 
woven in  such  a  way  as  to  leave  cavities  between  them  :  from 
this  structure  the  mineral  may  be  called  promiscuously  fibrous. 
Lustre  vitreous,  glistening ;  opake.  The  crystals  adhere  to 
each  other  so  loosely  that  the  mineral  is  easily  crumbled  be- 
tween the  fingers.  When  heated  in  a  glass  tube  it  gives  out 
water  containing  a  trace  of  muriatic  acid,  and  emits  an  odor 
which  may  be  termed  bituminous.  By  this  treatment  it  loses 
rather  more  than  5  per  cent,  of  its  weight.  B  B,  its  color  be- 
comes deeper,  and  the  crystals  lose  their  edges  and  assume  a 
scoriaceous  appearance,  but  Dr.  Thomson  did  not  succeed  in 
fusing  them  into  a  glass  globule.  With  carbonate  of  soda  it 
fuses  easily  into  an  opake  bottle-green  glass.  With  borax  it 
effervesces  and  is  converted  into  a  dark  brown  glass,  so  very 
deep  in  the  color  that  it  appears  opake. 

It  occurs  in  considerable  quantity  in  the  Huel  Unity  mine, 
Cornwall,  and  was  first  considered  as  a  variety  of  actynolite. 


*  So  named  because  it  occurs  in  the  united  mines,  Cornwall. 


52  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

BONSDORFITE.* 

According  to  Bonsdorf  s  own  analysis,  this  mineral  is  com- 
posed as  follows ; 

Silica 45-05 

Alumina 30-05 

Magnesia,  and  a  trace  of  oxide  of  manganese  . .    9-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 5-30 

Water 10-tiO 


100-00 

The  formula,  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson,  is:  3AlS(+£Mcr-h 


Sp.  Gr.  not  given.     H.  =  3*5. 

Color  greenish  brown  or  dark  olive  green.  When  viewed 
by  transmitted  light,  thin  lamella?  may  be  perceived,  of  a  light 
greenish  color.  Occurs  crystallized  in  regular  six-sided  prisms. 
In  general  the  lateral  edges  are  replaced  by  so  many  planes 
that  the  prism  assumes  nearly  the  appearance  of  a  cylinder. 
Texture  foliated  ;  folia  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  prism  ; 
cross  fracture  conchoidal.  Lustre  of  the  faces  like  that  of 
talc;  of  the  cross  fracture,  waxy.  Translucent  when  in  thin 
plates;  when  in  thick  pieces,  opake. 

It  occurs  in  red  granite  at  Biskopsokern,  near  Obo,  in  Fin- 
land, and  is  accompanied  by  a  black  grey  dichlorite  and  a 
greenish  colored  mineral,  which  Bonsdorf  considers  as  a  soda 
spodumene.  The  mineral  is  rarely  found  in  our  cabinets. 

SMARAGDITE.t 

Smaragdit,  Saussure.    Diallage  vert,  H.     Diallage,  J.     Var.  Augitus  Protteus,  D. 

It  contains  silica  50,  alumina  21,  lime  13,  magnesia  3, 
oxide  of  chrome  and  oxide  of  iron  13  —  Vauquelin.  Sp.  Gr. 
8-0. 

Smaragdite  has  a  brilliant  or  emerald-green  color,  and  a 
silky  or  pearly  lustre  ;  is  transparent  on  the  edges,  or  opake  ; 
is  scarcely  so  hard  as  glass,  and  yields  to  the  knife  ;  has  a 
laminated  structure,  with  cleavage  parallel  to  the  sides  and 
diagonals  of  a  slightly  rhombic  prism.  It  fuses  into  a  grey  or 
greenish  enamel. 

It  is  found  massive,  or  disseminated  in  Saussurite,  near  Ge- 
neva, and  on  Monte  Rosa  in  Switzerland  ;  also  in  Corsica 
imbedded  in  felspar.  Haidinger  considers  it  to  be  a  compound 


*  Named  by  Dr.  Thomson,  in  honor  of  Von  Bonsdorf.     (See   Outlines  of  Mineralogy, 
&c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  324.) 
I  From  the  Greek,  signifying  a  green  stone  —  an  emerald. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


53 


of  laminae  of  hornblende,  alternating  with  lamina?  of  augite, 
both  frequently  of  bright-green  colors.  (Vol.  x.  of  Edinburgh 
Royal  Society  Transactions.) 


Anorthotomous  Feldspar,    M. 


ANORTHITE.* 

Christianite,   Monticelli. 
Vesuvianum,  D. 


Anorthite,  Rose.      Spatum 


Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  magnesia,  and  oxide 
of  iron.  Silica  44'49,  alumina  34-46,  lime  15'68,  magnesia 
5'26,  oxide  of  iron  0'74  —  Rose.  By  dividing  these  products 
by  the  atomic  weights,  we  find  that  the  number  of  atoms  of 
silica  nearly  corresponds  with  those  of  the  bases,  showing  that 
the  mineral  is  composed  of  simple  silicates,  and  approaches 
this  formula :  7AlS+2CalS+MgS.  Beudant,  calculating  from 
the  quantities  of  oxygen,  makes  the  first  term  8,  instead  of  7 
Sp.  Gr.  2-65.  H.  =  6'0. 

Primary  form  a  doubly  oblique  prism.  Cleavage  perfect 
parallel  to  P  and  M.  Occurs  in  white,  translucent  or  transpa- 
rent crystals,  which  present  a  vitreous  lustre,  inclining  to 
pearly  on  the  planes  of  cleavage ;  fracture  conchoidal ;  streak 
white.  Is  entirely  decomposed  in  concentrated  muriatic  acid. 
B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  assumes  first  a  vitreous  and  translucent 
aspect,  and  then  fuses  with  difficulty  on  the  edges  into  a  blebby 
and  semi-transparent  glass  ;  with  salt  of  phosphorus  is  decom- 
posed, with  the  exception  of  a  silica  skeleton,  and  yields  a 
glass  which  becomes  opaline  on  cooling. 


Mon 

P 

94°  12' 

M  on 

T 

117  28 

P  on 

T 

110  57 

M  on 

I 

117  25 

T  on 

I 

120  30 

P  on 

e 

137  32 

P  on 

n 

133  13 

P  on 

t 

138  46t 

This  species  was  simultaneously  described  by  Prof.  G.  Rose 
under  the  title  of  anorthite,  and  by  Monticelli  under  the  de- 
nomination of  Christianite.  J  Its  principal  locality  is  Vesuvius, 
or  rather  Monte  Somma,  the  ancient  crater  of  that  volcano ;  it 


*  From  avo^og,  oblique,  because  the  interfacial  angles  of  the  crystals  are  oblique. 

fThe  above  figure  and  measurements  have  been  taken  from  Shepard's  Mineralogy 
[AM.  ED.J 
J  In  compliment  to  Prince  Christian  of  Denmark. 


54  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

generally  occupies  the  cavities  of  chloritic  masses,  and  is  asso- 
ciated with  ice-spar,  augite,  mica,  and  idocrase.  Its  difficult 
fusibility  B  B,  serves  to  distinguish  this  mineral  from  any  of 
the  zeolites,  as  well  as  from  nepheline  and  leucite.  It  was 
separated  from  felspar,  with  which  it  had  been  confounded,  by 
Professor  G.  Rose. 

CLAYS. 

Thon,  W.     Argile,  H. 

The  substances  comprehended  in  the  term  Clay  admit  of  no 
general  description,  but  most  of  them  agree  in  possessing  an 
earthy  texture,  and  emit  an  argillaceous  odor  when  breathed  on. 
They  consist  chiefly  of  silica,  with  a  variable  proportion  of  alu- 
mina, and  a  small  quantity  of  lime  or  magnesia,  occasionally  of 
alkali.  They  are  of  various  degrees  of  hardness,  sometimes 
quite  compact,  and  even  of  a  slaty  structure.  As  they  never 
occur  crystallized,  and  are  evidently  mechanical  mixtures,  fre- 
quently derived  from  the  decomposition  of  other  materials, 
they  cannot  properly  be  regarded  as  formularic  minerals  of 
constant  proportions  of  ingredients. 

1.  SLATE-CLAY.  SHALE.  Schieferthon,  W.  Argile  schis- 
teuse,  Br.  Shale  occurs  only  massive  ;  its  general  color  is  grey, 
which  sometimes  is  bluish,  yellowish,  or  blackish ;  in  one  direc- 
tion its  structure  is  slaty,  in  the  other  earthy  ;  it  is  easily  broken  ; 
it  usually  adheres  to  the  tongue,  and  yields  to  the  nail  ;  is 
opake,  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  dull,  except  from  casually  im- 
bedded mica,  which  sometimes  imparts  a  glimmering  lustre  : 
its  specific  gravity  is  about  2'6.  It  is  found  resting  upon,  as 
well  as  interposed  between,  beds  of  coal,  which  it  invariably 
accompanies.  It  often  contains  impressions  of  reeds  and  of 
ferns. 

Black  Bituminous  Shale  has  a  slaty  structure ;  when  put  into 
the  fire,  it  blazes,  crackles,  and  emits  a  black  smoke  and  bitu- 
minous odor,  loses  a  considerable  portion  of  its  weight,  and  is 
converted  into  a  whitish  or  reddish  flaky  ash.  It  is  found  in 
common  coal,  being  generally  more  or  less  mixed  with  it. 

Brown  Bituminous  Shale  is  met  with  at  Kimmeridge,  in 
Hampshire  ;  and  from  its  giving  out  a  bituminous  odor,  when 
placed  in  the  flame  of  a  candle,  or  in  the  fire,  is  termed  Kim- 
meridge-coal  Its  color  is  greyish  brown ;  it  has  a  somewhat 
slaty  texture,  and  occasionally  a  large  flat  conchoidal  fracture  : 
it  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and  acquires  lustre  by  the  pressure 
of  the  nail.  On  exposure  to  a  considerable  heat,  the  bitumi- 
nous part  is  consumed,  and  it  is  reduced  to  a  grey  earthy  ash. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  55 

Rottenstone.  Its  color  is  dirty  grey,  or  reddish  brown,  pass- 
ing into  black  :  it  is  dull,  earthy,  soft,  meagre  to  the  touch, 
and  emits  an  unpleasant  odor  when  rubbed.  According  to  the 
analysis  of  R.  Phillips,  it  consists  of  86  alumina,  4  silica,  and 
10  carbon.  Occurs  at  Bakewell  in  Derbyshire,  and  is  believed 
to  arise  from  the  decomposition  of  the  shale  of  that  country. 

2.  ADHESIVE  SLATE.     Schiste  a  polir,  Br.    Adhesive  slate,  J. 
Contains  silica  86-50,  alumina  7'00,  magnesia  1'50,  lime  1*25, 
oxide  of  iron  2'50  —  Klaproth.    Is  found  massive,  and  possesses 
a  slaty  texture,  which  becomes  visible  by  exposure  ;   but  if  the 
mass  be  immersed  in  water,  it  resumes  its  former  appearance. 
Has  a  yellowish  or  smoke-grey  color  ;  is  very  soft,  splits  easily, 
adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue  (whence  Adhesive  slate),  and  is 
opake.     Its  specific  gravity  is  2'OS ;   and  it  is  infusible  B  B. 
On  exposure  to  a  red  heat,  it  becomes  brownish,  and  loses 
weight.     It  absorbs  water  with  avidity,  but  does  not  fall  to 
pieces.     It  has  hitherto  been  found  only  in  the  gypsum  forma- 
tion around  Paris,  and  is  the  imbedding  substance  of  the  Me- 
nilite. 

3.  POLISHING  SLATE.     Polier  schiefer,  W.    Sp.  Gr.  0'59  — 
0'60.    Is  of  a  white,  yellowish-white,  or  yellow  color ;  massive, 
with  a  slaty  texture;  is  opake,  brittle,  and  so  light  as  to  swim 
on  water.     One  variety  yielded  to  Bucholz,  silica  83*50,  alum- 
ina 4-0,  lime  8*50,  oxide  of  iron  I '60,  water  9'0.     It  imbibes 
water,  and  when  burnt  becomes  red,  but  does  riot  fuse.     It  is 
found  near  Bilin  in  Bohemia,  in  a  bed  resting  on  marl;  also 
at  Zwickau  in  Saxony,  and  in  Auvergne,  and  is  supposed  to 
be  a  volcanic  production.     It  is  used  for  polishing  glass,  mar- 
ble, and  metals. 

4.  LITHOMARGE.     Steinmark,  W.      Argile  lithomarge,  H. 
Sp.  Gr.  2'43.     Is   yellowish  or  reddish-white;  also  grey  or 
bluish,   and  is  frequently  spotted  internally.     It  is  massive; 
soft ;  adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue ;  has  a  greasy  feel ;  gives 
a  shining  streak,  and  is  commonly  opake,  occasionally  trans- 
lucent; texture  earthy,  but  has  a  large  conchoidal  fracture. 
It  is  infusible  BB;   sometimes  phosphoresces  when  heated, 
and  hardens  if  exposed  to  a  high  temperature.     It  occurs  at 
Ehrenfriedersdorf  and  Altenburg  in  Saxony;  at  Planitz,  near 
Zwickau  in  Bohemia ;  and  has  been  noticed  in  small  quantities 
in  the  tin  and  copper  veins  of  Tin  Croft  and  Cook's  Kitchen 
mines  near  Redruth,  which  traverse  both  granite  and  schiste. 

In  the  United  States  it  has  been  found  in  Maryland,  at  the 
Bare  Hills,  near  Baltimore;  also  in  Montgomery  County,  Pa. : 
in  both  instances  in  serpentine.  —  Cleaveland. 

Friable  Lithomarge,  in  scaly,  glimmering  particles,  which 


56  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

are  phosphorescent  in  the  dark,  occurs  in  the  tin  veins  of 
Ehrenfriedersdorf  in  Saxony,  and  some  other  places.  Klaproth 
found  it  to  consist  of  silica  32,  alumina  26'50,  iron  21,  water 
17,  and  muriate  of  soda  1'50. 

5.  FULLER'S  EARTH.  Walkerde,  W.  Argile  smectique, 
H.  Sp.  Gr.  ]'82  to2'l9.  Occurs  massive,  and  is  usually  of 
a  greenish-brown  color,  sometimes  nearly  that  of  slate;  it  is 
opake,  soft,  dull,  possesses  an  earthy  fracture  and  a  greasy 
feel,  and  yields  to  and  receives  a  polish  from  the  nail,  but 
scarcely  adheres  to  the  tongue;  in  water  it  becomes  translu- 
cent, and  falls  into  a  pulpy  impalpable  powder.  A  variety 
from  England  yielded  53  silica,  10  alumina,  0*5  lime,  1'25 
magnesia,  9'5  oxide  of  iron,  1  muriate  of  soda,  and  24  water. 
It  is  fusible  into  a  porous  slag,  and  ultimately  forms  a  white 
blebby  glass. 

At  Nutfield  near  Riegate,  in  Surrey,  it  occurs  in  regular 
beds  near  the  summit  of  a  hill  of  considerable  elevation,  be- 
tween beds  of  sand  or  sandstone  containing  fossil  wood  and 
impressions  of  the  nautilus  and  other  sea-shells.  There  are 
two  distinct  beds  of  fuller's  earth ;  the  upper,  of  a  greenish 
clay  color  and  five  feet  in  thickness,  rests  upon  the  other, 
which  is  of  a  light  slate-blue,  and  eleven  feet  thick ;  in  these 
beds,  but  principally  in  the  latter,  are  found  considerable 
masses  of  sulphate  of  barytes,  sometimes  exhibiting  regular 
crystallizations.  Fuller's  earth  is  also  found  at  Deptling,  near 
Maidstone  in  Kent;  and  at  Apsley,  near  Woburn  in  Bedford- 
shire, under  nearly  the  same  circumstances  as  at  Nutfield. 
Also  at  Old  Down  near  Bath;  near  Nottingham;  in  Sussex; 
and  at  Rosswein  in  Saxony.  It  occurs  among  primitive  rocks, 
and  is  supposed  to  originate  from  their  decomposition.  From 
its  property  of  absorbing  oil  and  greasy  matter,  this  substance 
was  formerly  much  used  in  the  fulling  of  cloth  (whence  its 
name),  and  was  forbidden  to  be  exported  under  severe  penal- 
ties :  soap  is  now  generally  substituted. 

6.  TRIPOLI.  Tripel,  W.  Quarz  aluminifere  Tripoleen,  H. 
Sp.  Gr.  1*86  —  2'2.  This  mineral  has  generally  an  argilla- 
ceous aspect.  It  occurs  massive,  with  a  coarse,  dull,  earthy 
fracture ;  it  is  meagre  and  rough  to  the  touch,  does  not  adhere 
to  the  tongue,  and  yields  easily  to  the  nail.  Presents  various 
shades  of  grey,  yellow,  and  red;  and  yielded  to  Haase  90  sili- 
ca, 7*0  alumina,  and  3'0  iron.  It  imbibes  water,  which  softens 
it ;  when  burnt,  becomes  white  and  is  hardened ;  but  is  very 
difficultly  fusible.  It  was  first  brought  from  Tripoli  in  Africa, 
but  has  since  been  noticed  in  the  Puy  de  Dome,  in  Tuscany, 
near  Prague,  at  Arnberg  in  Bohemia,  and  many  other  places; 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  57 

and  appears  to  be  merely  a  fine  arenaceous  variety  of  quartz, 
accidentally  mixed  with  clay.  It  is  used  in  polishing  metals, 
marble,  glass,  and  other  hard  bodies. 

7.  BOLE.     Bol,  W.     Bole,  J.     Sp.  Gr.  1'60  — 1-97.     Bole 
occurs  in  solid  amorphous  masses  of  a  yellow,  red,  or  brown- 
ish-black color.     The  yellow  is  translucent  on  the  edges,  the 
red  is  nearly  translucent,  and  the  brownish-black  opake.     It 
yields  to  the  nail,  exhibits  a  conchoidal  fracture,  gives  a  shining 
streak,  adheres  to  the  tongue,  has  a  greasy  feel,  and  fuses  into 
a  slag.     Immersed  in  water,  it  emits  a  crackling  noise,  and 
breaks  in  pieces. 

This  substance  is  found  in  irregular  beds  or  disseminated 
masses  in  wacke  and  basalt,  from  the  decomposition  of  which 
it  is  supposed  to  arise.  It  occurs  at  Striegau  in  Silesia,  at  the 
Habichtswald  in  Hessia,  and  near  Sienna  in  Italy. 

8.  LEMNIAN  EARTH  is  yellowish-grey,  or  white,  frequently 
with  ochreous  spots  on  the  surface.     The  fracture  is  earthy; 
dull;  has  a  meagre  feel;  adheres  slightly  to  the  tongue;  and, 
when  immersed  in  water,  falls  to  pieces,  evolving  numerous 
air-bubbles.     Klaproth  found  it  to  consist  of  silica  66,  alumina 
14'50,  oxide  of  iron  6,  water  8*50,  together  with  very  minute 
portions  of  lime  and  magnesia,  and  3'50  of  soda. 

It  is  dug  once  a  year  with  much  ceremony  in  the  Isle  of 
Lemnos,*  in  the  Mediterranean,  where  only  it  is  found.  It 
was  formerly  used  in  medicine. 

9.  CIMOLITE  is  of  a  light  greyish-white,  inclining  to  pearl- 
grey,  but  by  exposure  it  acquires  a  reddish  tint;  it  occurs 
massive,  and  exhibits  a  somewhat  slaty  texture;  is  opake,  dull, 
and  has  an  earthy  fracture;  yields  to  the  nail,  and  adheres  to 
the  tongue.     It  often  encloses  small  grains  of  quartz.     It  con- 
sists of  63  silica,  23  alumina,  1'25  oxide  of  iron,  and  12  water. 
Sp.  Gr.  2.     It  is  infusible. 

It  abounds  in  the  island  of  Cimola,*  now  called  Argenteria, 
situated  near  that  of  Milo.  It  was  employed  by  the  ancients, 
and  still  is  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  island,  for  some  of  the  pur- 
poses to  which  fuller's  earth  is  applied. 

10.  MOUNTAIN-MEAL.     Bergmehl.  —  Fabbroni.     This  sin- 
gular mineral  was  found  in  the  form  of  a  bed  by  Fabbroni,  at 
Santa  Fiora,  between  Tuscany  and  the  Papal  dominions ;  it  is 
manufactured  into  bricks  so  light  as  to  swim  on  water.    It  con- 
sists of  silica  79,  alumina  5,  oxide  of  iron  3,  water  12.  — 
proth. 

*  Whence  Lemnian  earth, 
t  Whence  Cimolite. 


58  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

11.  BLACK  CHALK.    Zeichenschiefer,  W.    Argile  schisteuse 
graphique,  H.     Schiste  a  dessiner,  Br.    Amphelite  graphique, 
Bt.     This  mineral  is  greyish  or  bluish-black ;  has  a  slaty  tex- 
ture; is  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  soils  the  fingers.     Exposed 
to  heat  it  becomes  red.     It  is  found  in  primitive  mountains, 
accompanying  argillaceous  schiste,  particularly  the  aluminous, 
to  which  it  is  nearly  allied.     It  is  met  with  in  France,  Spain, 
Italy,  and  in  Bayreuth.     It  is  used  both  in  drawing  and  paint- 
ing;  its  streak  on  paper  is  quite  black.     The  variety  from 
Bayreuth  contains  silica  64'50,  alumina  11  25,  oxide  of  iron 
2-75,  carbon   ll'OO,  water  7'50.  —  Wieglcb.     Sp.  Gr.  2*11  — 
218. 

12.  PIPE-CLAY.     Has  a  greyish  or  yellowish-white  color; 
an  earthy  fracture,  and  smooth  greasy  feel ;  it  adheres  pretty 
strongly  to  the  tongue,  is  very  plastic  and  tenacious,   and  is 
infusible.     It  is  manufactured  into  tobacco-pipes,  and  is  the 
basis  of  the  queen's-vvare  pottery.     An  extensive  stratum  of 
pipe-clay  lies  in  a  horizontal  position  above  the  chalk,  extend- 
ing from  Handfast  Point  to  beyond  Corfe  Castle  in  Dorsetshire. 
It  may  be  traced  in  the  hills  near  Poole,  and  is  found  in  many 
parts  of  that  extensive  tract  called  the  Trough  of  Poole. 

Pipe  clay  is  found  at  various  places  in  the  United  States, 
but  very  abundantly  in  the  eocene  tertiary  formation  of  Mar- 
tha's Vineyard,  Mass.,  where  it  is  mixed  with  coarser  varieties 
of  various  shades,  and  forms  high  cliffs  upon  the  seashore. 

13.  POTTER'S  CLAY  is  plastic,  and  disintegrates  by  exposure. 
It  is  generally  of  a  reddish,  bluish,  or  greenish  color,  and  has  a 
soft  and  often  greasy  feel.     When  mixed  with  sand,  it  is  made 
into  bricks  and  tiles.     A  variety  found  in  the  forest  of  Dreux 
in  France  (employed,  on  account  of  its  infusibility,  in  the 
making  of  tiles  for  the  porcelain  furnaces)  consists  of  43  silica, 
33  alumina,  3  lime,  1  iron,  and  18  water.     Most  of  the  clay 
used  in  the  Staffordshire  potteries  is  brought  from  Devonshire. 

Potter's  clay  is  found  abundantly  at  South  Amboy,  N.  J., 
and  is  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  stone  ware  and  fire 
bricks. 


PYROPHYLLITE.* 

Hermann  of  Moscow.     (Poggendorfs  Jlnnalcn,  xv.  p.  592.) 

Silica  59'79,  alumina  29'46,  magnesia  4*0,  oxide  of  iron  T8, 
water  5*62.  —  Hermann.    Formula,  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  : 

8AlS2-{-MgSH-3Aq. 

*From  TTVQ,  fire,  and  cfvMov,  a  leaf. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  59 

Sp.  Gr.  28.     H.  =  1-5. 

Occurs  in  fibrous  radiating  masses,  and  small  elongated 
prisms,  sometimes  with  terminations,  but  whose  form  is  never- 
theless not  ascertained.  Of  a  light  green  color  ;  lustre  pearly ; 
in  thin  lamina?,  transparent.  This  mineral  used  to  be  consid- 
ered a  radiated  variety  of  talc,  but  its  comportment,  B  B,  is 
peculiar.  Heated  per  se,  it  exfoliates  into  white  leaves,  and 
increases  to  about  twenty  times  its  original  size,  but  does  not 
fuse.  With  borax  it  forms  a  green  transparent  glass,  which  on 
cooling  loses  its  color ;  with  salt  of  phosphorus  is  decomposed 
into  a  colorless  glass  and  a  skeleton  of  silica ;  with  soda  fuses 
with  effervescence  into  a  transparent  yellow  glass;  and  heated 
with  a  solution  of  cobalt,  it  assumes  a  blue  tinge. 

It  occurs  near  Beresof  in  the  Ural  Mountains  of  Siberia. 


FAHLUNITE. 

Triclasite,  H.    Peritomous  Petaline-Spar,  Skcpard.    Stylus  Acrotomus,  D.     Fahlunite, 

Hisinger, 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  water,  mixed  with  mag- 
nesia, potash,  soda,  oxide  of  iron,  and  manganese. 

Tricklasite.        Green  variety.        Black  variety.        Grey  variety. 

Silica 46-79 44-95 43-51 44-60 

Alumina 26-73 30-70 25-81 30-10 

Magnesia 2-97 6-04 6-35 6-75 

Protoxide  of  iron..    5-01 7-22 6-35 2-24 

Oxide  of  manganese  0-43 1-90 0-00 0-00 

Potash  and  soda. ..  .0-00 1-38 5-39 1-98 

Water 13-50 , .  8-65 11-66 9-35 


95-43  Hisinger.  100-84  Wacht'r.        99-07  Wacht'r.     95-02  W'r. 

From  the  mean  of  the  three  last  analyses  by  Wachtmeister, 
Dr.  Thomson  states  the  formula  thus :  3AlS+(T6(jMg4-T3^FH- 
T\5-Mn)S2+2Aq.  The  silicates  of  potash,  soda,  and  lime  are 
regarded  as  accidental. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-6  —  2-7.      H.  —  3-0. 

Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism  of  109°  28'  and  70° 
32'.  Occurs  massive  and  in  six-sided  prisms ;  the  crystals, 
however,  from  their  highly  perfect  cleavage,  almost  invariably 
fracture  in  parallel  position  with  the  slate  in  which  they  occur, 
and  thus  present  only  sections  of  their  form.  Cleavage  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis  of  the  prism ;  lustre  resinous.  B  B,  it 
becoms  grey,  and  fuses  on  its  thinnest  edges ;  but  with  borax 
melts  slowly  into  a  glass  slightly  colored  by  iron.  Color  dark 
reddish-brown ;  occasionally  green  or  black,  and  opake ;  but 
when  reduced  to  small  fragments,  translucent,  and  yellowish- 
brown  by  transmitted  light.  It  occurs  imbedded  in  chlorite 


60  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

slate  in  a  Coppermine  at  Erie  Matts,  Fahlun,  Sweden;  whence 
its  name  by  Hisinger,  who  first  described  it. 


IOLITE.* 

Dichroite,   Cordicr.    Cordierite,  Leonhard.    Prismatic  Quartz,   M.    lolite,  H.    Hyalus 
Bicolor,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  magnesia,  oxide  of  iron,  and 
manganese. 

Simitok.  Bodenmais.  Orijerfwi.         Fahlun. 

Silica 49-17 48-35 49-95 50-24 

Alumina 33-10 31-70 32-88 33  42 

Magnesia 11-48 10-15 10-15 10-84 

Protoxide  of  iron 4-33 8-31 5-00 4-00 

Protoxide  of  mangane&e  0.00 0-33 0-03 068 

Water 1-20 0-59 1-75 166 


99-28  Strom.         99-43  Strom.     100-06  Bons.    100-84  Strom. 
Steinhillite.        Haddam,  Ct.    Richmond,  N.H.  Unity,  N.H. 

Silica 48-5-J5 48-35 48-00 48-15 

Alumina 31-502 32-5D 35-00 32-50 

Magnesia 00-000 10-00 10-00 10-14 

Protoxide  of  iron 15-000 600 6-00 7-9-2 

Protoxide  of  manganese  Ivi  10 0-10 1-00 0.28 

Water 0-243 3-10 0-00 0-50 


98-305  Thomson  100-05  Jackson  100-00  Jackson   99-49  Jackson 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  a  remarkable  agreement 
among  these  several  analyses,  both  as  regards  the  foreign  and 
American  specimens.  In  the  analysis  of  the  Haddam  speci- 
men, by  Dr.  Jackson,f  the  water  amounts  to  one  atom.  If 
this  is  considered  as  accidental,  the  atomic  constitution  calcu- 
lated from  each  of  the  analyses  above  recorded,  will  agree  with 
the  formula  given  by  Beudant,  in  which  the  oxides  of  manga- 
nese and  iron  are  included  with  the  magnesia.  3AlS+MgS2. 

Dr.  Thomson  includes  the  manganese  with  the  iron,  which 
together  make  one  atom  silicate  of  iron,  and  this  he  adds  to  his 
formula. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-56.     H.  z=  7-0  —  7-5. 

This  mineral  has  a  dark-blue  color,  sometimes  with  a  tinge 
of  black  ;  but  when  viewed  by  transmitted  light  at  right  angles 
to  the  axis  of  the  prism,  it  appears  brownish  yellow.  It  occurs 
massive,  and  crystallized  in  six  or  twelve-sided  prisms  ;  its  pri- 
mary being  the  six-sided  prism.  Transparent  or  translucent; 
with  a  shining  vitreous  lustre,  and  an  uneven  and  somewhat 
conchoidal  fracture.  Alone,  B  B,  in  a  strong  heat,  fuses  on 
the  edges  =  5  to  5£,  into  a  bluish  glass;  with  borax  it  melts 
slowly  into  a  diaphanous  glass.  Not  affected  by  acid. 

*  lolite,  from  its  bluish  violet  color  in  one  direction. 

f  For  the  last  analyses  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  who  kindly  furnished  them  to 
me  from  his  private  manuscript,  before  they  had  been  published  in  any  other  work.  [AM. 
ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


61 


P    on  M  or  M  .  .     90°  00' 

M  on  M 120    00 

M  on  M  or  d  .  .  .  150    00 
M  on  c     137    46 


It  is  found  at  Cape  de  Gatte  in  Spain,  imbedded  in  granite ; 
in  very  large  individuals  imbedded  in  quartz  at  Ujordlersoak  and 
Simitok,  in  Greenland;  and  in  distinct  crystals,  with  magnetic 
pyrites,  at  Bodenmais,  in  Bavaria.  It  is  more  common  mas- 
sive, being  found  in  that  state  among  the  primitive  rocks  of 
Arendal  in  Norway,  Orijerfwi  in  Finland,  &c.  In  the  United 
States  it  occurs  in  gneiss  at  Haddam,  Ct.,  associated  with  gar- 
net and  anthophyllite.  It  is  transparent,  of  various  shades  of 
blue  and  green,  and  possessed  of  dichorism.  Larger  speci- 
mens have  recently  been  discovered  in  opening  for  the  rail- 
road near  Shetucket  River,  in  the  same  State,  and  where  it  is 

imbedded  in  quartz,  and  accompanied  by  blood-red  garnet 

Shepard's  Report,  p.  139. 

lolite  of  a  fine  delicate  sapphire-blue  color,  like  that  from 
Bodenmais,  occurs  at  Richmond,  N.  H.,  near  the  Soapstone 
Quarry.  It  is  in  regular  six-sided  prisms,  and  also  in  broad 
laminated  masses,  occasionally  as  large  as  the  palm  of  the 
hand.  It  is  associated  with  large  bladed  crystals  of  anthophyl- 
lite, and  occurs  also  in  veins  of  white  quartz,  accompanied  by 
phosphate  of  lirne  and  pinite.  At  this  locality  it  does  not  pass 
into  the  hydrous  iolite,  or  chlorophyllite,  as  is  the  case  at  Unity, 
N.  H.,  where  specimens  of  equal  beauty  have  been  obtained. 
For  the  discovery  of  these  two  very  interesting  localities  we 
are  indebted  to  Dr.  Jackson. 

1.  PELIOM  *  is  a  name  occasionally  given  to  the  Bodenmais 
variety,  which,  from  its  containing  a  larger  portion  of  iron,  is 
somewhat  heavier. 

2.  DICHROITE.     This  mineral  received  its  name  from  dig, 
double,  and  /{?oV<r,  color,  alluding  to  its  property  of  exhibiting 
different  colors,  depending  upon  the  position  in  which  it  is  held. 

3.  STEINHEILITE,  named  after  Count  Steinheil,  refers  to  that 
from  Finland.     The  varieties,  however,  are  perfectly  identical 
with  iolite. 

4.  The  HARD  FAHLUNITE  of  Berzelius,  from  Fahlun  in  Swe- 
den, is  merely  a  brownish-yellow  variety  of  this  species,  which 


*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  bluish  color  or  blackish 

6 


62  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

derives  its  peculiar  color  and  opacity  from  accidental  admix- 
ture. In  other  respects  it  is  similar.  The  Sapphire  (Teau  of 
jewellers  is  a  transparent  iolite  from  Ceylon. 

HYDROUS  IOLITE.     Bonsdorf* 

Chlorophyllite.f     C.  T.  Jackson. 

This  differs  from  the  preceding  species  in  hardness,  specific 
gravity,  and  other  physical  properties,  besides  being  a  hydrated 
mineral.  We  are  indebted  to  Bonsdorf  for  the  first  description 
and  analysis  of  it,  distinguishing  it  from  common  iolite.  Its 
only  locality  has  been  in  the  neighborhood  of  Abo,  where  it  is 
accompanied  by  a  light  bluish-grey  iolite.  But  it  has  recently 
been  discovered  in  the  United  States  by  Dr.  Jackson,  at  Unity, 
N.  H.,  very  plentifully  in  amphibole  rocks,  where  it  is  also  ac- 
companied, as  at  Abo,  by  common  iolite,  into  which  it  ulti- 
mately passes.  The  composition  of  the  mineral,  from  both 
localities,  is  shown  by  the  following  analyses  : 

Abo.  Unity. 

Silica 45-05 45-20 

Al  umina 30-05 27-60 

Magnesia 9-00 9-60 

Protoxide  of  iron 5-30 8-24 

Protoxide  of  manganese 00-00 4-08 

Water 10-60 3-60 

Trace  of  phosph.  acid  and  loss  00-00 1-68 


100-00  Bonsdorf.  100-00  C.  T.  Jackson. 

Dividing  by  the  atomic  weights,  the  first  analysis  gives  an 
excess  of  atoms  of  base  over  those  of  silica,  and,  as  stated  by 
Dr.  Thomson,  the  atomic  constitution  of  the  mineral,  uniting 
the  oxide  of  iron  with  the  magnesia,  may  be  thus  expressed  : 
3AlS-hl(pIg+J-F)S2+Aq.  But  by  the  last  analysis,  the 
atoms  of  bases  and  silica  are  almost  exactly  balanced,  showing 
the  mineral  to  consist  of  simple  silicates. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-705J:     H.  =  2— 5. 

Color  green,  greenish  brown,  or  dark  olive  brown.  When 
viewed  by  transmitted  light,  thin  plates  of  a  light-green  color 
are  seen.  Occurs  crystallized  in  six-sided  prisms,  the  lateral 
edges  of  which  are  usually  replaced  by  so  many  planes  that  the 
prism  appears  nearly  cylindrical.  But  the  specimens  from  Unity 
show  very  distinctly  these  prismatic  crystals  terminated  by  plane 
summits,  though  their  more  common  appearance  is  that  of  large 
foliated  masses.  They  are  divisible  perpendicular  to  the  axis 
of  the  prism,  the  natural  joints  being  filled  by  a  magnesian 
mica,  which  closely  invests  the  folia,  and  imparts  to  them  a 

*  Kong.  Vet.  Acad.  Handl.,  1827,  p.  157.        t  From  the  Greek,  meaning  green  folia. 
if  American  specimen,  as  determined  by  Dr.  Jackson. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  63 

talcy  lustre.  Cross  fracture  conchoidal.  Cleavage  surfaces 
brilliant.  Heated  in  a  glass  tube  they  alike  give  out  pure 
water,  but  undergo  no  other  alteration.  They  cannot  be  fused, 
B  B,  per  se;  that  from  Unity  slightly  glazes  on  the  surface; 
with  carbonate  of  soda  fuses  with  slow  effervescence,  and  forms 
an  opake-greenish  enamel,  which  becomes  of  a  darker  green 
in  the  reducing  flame.  The  surface  specimens  of  the  latter 
are  so  soft  that  they  may  easily  be  cut  with  the  knife,  though 
they  are  not  in  the  least  decomposed,  while  those  obtained 
from  the  interior  of  the  rock  approach  the  hardness  of  com- 
mon iolite. 

SORDAWALITE. 

Nordenskibld's  Bidrag,  p.  86. 

Contains  silica  49*40,  alumina  13-80,  peroxide  of  iron  18'17, 
magnesia  10'67,  phosphoric  acid  268,  water  438.  —  Nordens- 
kiold. 

Formula  by  Beudant:  3A1S2+3(F,  Mg)S2+2Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  253  —  2-58.     H.  =  25  —  3-0. 

Occurs  in  opake,  greyish  or  bluish-black  colored  masses, 
which  do  not  exhibit  traces  of  cleavage  ;  lustre  vitreous  ;  frac- 
ture conchoidal ;  streak  liver  brown;  brittle.  B  B,  per  se,  it 
fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  dark-colored  globule,  and  with  borax 
forms  a  green  glass;  with  a  small  quantity  of  soda  it  yields  a 
blackish-green  globule,  and  with  a  larger  quantity  a  rough 
slaggy  mass.  It  is  partly  soluble  in  muriatic  acid,  and  be- 
comes red  on  exposure  to  the  atmosphere. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  and  analyzed  by  Nordenskiold, 
who  found  it  near  the  town  of  Sordawala  in  Finland,  forming 
thin  layers  in  a  primitive  rock.  It  occurs  also  with  magnetic 
pyrites  at  Bodenmais  in  Bavaria.  It  resembles  pit  coal  in  ap- 
pearance. 

HARMOTOME.* 

Kreuzstein,  W.    Harmotome,  H.     Pierre  Cruciforme,  Br.    Cross-stone,  J.    Paratomous 
Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Andreolite.    Ercinite.     Vulcanus  Gemellus,  D. 

Composed  essentially  of  silica,  alumina,  barytes  and  water, 
as  shown  by  the  best  analyses  hitherto  made. 

Schiffenburg.  Andreasberg. 

Silica 44-79 46-62 48-74 

Alumina 19-28 16-82 17-65 


/\iuimiia.  ••••••10  •*•»->•  •••••••• 
Barytes  17-59  
Lime  1-08  

20-32  
0-26  

19-22 
00-00 

Soda  or  potash    0-00  
Water  15-32  

1-02  
15-03  

00-00 
14-66 

98-07  Wernekinck. 

100-07  Kohler. 

100-27  Rammelsberg. 

*  From  arifiog,  a  joint,  and  Tfpvo),  I  cut.    Because  it  admits  of  cleavage  at  the  joints. 

6** 


64 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Oberstein. 
Silica  46-65.. 

Oberstein. 
47-5  
19-5 

Strontian. 
..47-04.... 
15.04 

Strontian. 
48-75 
15-01 

Barytes  19-12... 
Lime  1-10... 

](j-()  
00-0  
0(1-0 

..20-85  
..  0-10.... 

0-88 

1427 
3-18 
2-55 

Water  15-24... 

13-5  

..1492.... 

14-00 

99-75  Koliler.          9G-5  Tassaert.      100-11  Council.          97-85  Thomson. 

The  atomic  constitution  of  harmotome,  as  given  by  Dr. 
Thomson,  from  the  mean  of  the  last  three  analyses,  is  4  atoms 
tersilicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  tersilicate  of  barytes,  and  6  atoms 
of  water.  Formula  :  4AlS3+BS3+GAq.  Beudant  gives  a  for- 
mula for  each  analysis  in  his  Traite  ele/ncntairc,  and  in  his  late 
work  (Cours  elemcntaire  de  Mineralogie),  he  states  the  con- 
stituents only,  without  giving  their  atomic  proportions,  evident- 
ly regarding  its  constitution  as  doubtful.  But  the  formula 
given  by  Berzelius,  accords  with  that  above  stated,  with  the 
slight  difference  only  of  BS4,  instead  of  BS3.* 
Sp.Gr.  2-35  — 2-4.  H.  =  4%5. 

Harmotome  sometimes  occurs  in  flattish  quadrangular  prisms, 
terminated  by  rhombic  planes,  replacing  the  solid  angles  of  the 
prism ;  these  crystals  often  cross  each  other  lengthwise  and  at 
right  angles,  so  that  their  axes  coincide.  The  crystals  yield 
to  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  and  both  diagonals  of  a  right 
rectangular  prism,  which  is  the  primary  form.  The  usual  color 
of  this  mineral  is  greyish  white;  it  is  translucent,  and  has  a 
somewhat  pearly  lustre.  B  B,  it  fuses  easily,  without  intumes- 
cence, into  a  diaphanous  glass;  and  is  scarcely  affected  by 
acids,  unless  they  are  heated.  Gives  water  in  the  bulb-tube. 
Its  partial  solution  in  muriatic  acid  gives  a  precipitate  of  sul- 
phate of  barytes  with  sulphuric  acid. 


Fig.  1.  The  primary  form,  a  right  rectangular  prism,  of  which  certain 
of  the  angles  are  replaced  in  fig.  2,  reducing  it,  when  placed  in  another 
direction,  to  a  six-sided  prism,  of  which  the  edges  are  modified  in  fig.  3 
by  narrow  planes,  whicn  are  increased  in  fig.  4,  and  complete  in  fig.  6, 
and  so  increased  in  fig.  7  as  greatly  to  reduce  the  primary  planes,  and  to 
give  a  nearly  octahedral  form  to  the  crystal.  Fig.  5  represents  two  crys- 
tals of  the  same  form  as  fig.  6,  but  flatter,  crossing  each  other. 

*  For  Plrillipsite,  or  lime-harmotoroe,  see  page  184. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


65 


M  on  b 125°    5' 

b    on  b  over  summit  110    26 
b    on  a  1  .  .  171      4 


b    on  a  2 151 

b    on  a  3 149 

a  4  on  a  4'  } 

or  V      .  .  .  177 

a  4  ou  a  4"  S 


Strontian,  in  Argyleshire,  produces  the  finest  specimens  of 
the  simple  crystal ;  while  the  cruciform  varieties  are  best 
known  in  metalliferous  veins,  traversing  grauwacke,  at  Andre- 
asberg  in  the  Hartz.  It  is  also  met  with  in  the  trap  rocks  of 
Kilpatrick  Hills,  Dumbartonshire,  accompanying  analcime; 
on  gneiss  at  Kongsberg  in  Norway ;  and  in  the  cavities  of 
siliceous  geodes  at  Oberstein  in  Deuxponts. 


MORVENITE. 

Since  the  mineral  from  Aci  Reale,  in  Sicily,  once  classed 
with  harmotome,  has  been  made  into  a  new  species  by  the  late 
M.  Levy  (see  Phillipsite,  or  lime-harrnotome),  Dr.  Thomson 
has  analyzed  some  transparent  crystals  from  Strontian,  having 
precisely  the  same  measurements  with  harmotome,  but  differ- 
ing from  it  in  chemical  constitution,  and  in  other  characters, 
which  he  also  makes  into  a  new  species,  under  the  name  of 
MORVENITE.  He  states  its  composition  thus : 

Silica 64-755 

Alumina 13-425 

Lime 4-160 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-595 

Water 14-470 

99-405 

Formula  being  5AlS4-fCalS4+llAq.  Of  this  mineral  Dr. 
Thomson  observes  that  the  appearance  of  its  crystals  is  quite 
different  from  that  of  any  other  crystal  of  harmotome  hitherto 
examined  ;  and  if  to  this  be  added  its  transparency,  its  greater 
specific  gravity,  and  the  very  great  difference  in  its  composi- 
tion, we  cannot  hesitate  to  consider  it  entitled  to  rank  as  a 
distinct  species.  (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  i.  352.) 
6* 


66 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


BREWSTERITE.* 

Brewsterite,  Brooke.     Brewsteritic  Kouphonc  Spar,  Haidinger.     Vulcanus  Brcwsteria- 

nus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  strontia,  baryta,  lime,  and 
water,  with  a  little  oxide  of  iron. 


Strontian. 

Silica 52-040 

Alumina 15-918 

Bary  tcs 5-827 

Strontian 7709 

Lime 1-007 

Peroxide  of  iron  0-208 

Water 12.584... 


Strontian. 

53-045 

16-510 

6-059 

9-005 

0-800 

0-000 

...14-735 


95-653  Council.     100-175  Thomson. 

The  specimen  analyzed  by  Connell  was  a  portion  of  an 
amorphous  and  crystallized  mass,  while  that  selected  by  Dr. 
Thomson  consisted  of  very  perfect  and  pure  crystals ;  yet 
there  is  a  remarkable  agreement  between  them.  Calculating 
the  atomic  proportions  from  his  analysis,  and  admitting  a  little 
bisilicate  of  lime  to  be  accidental,  Dr.  Thomson  has  thus 
stated  the  formula:  3AlS3+(^Br+fStr)S3+6^Aq.  It  thus 
differs  from  Heulandite  in  having  tersilicate  of  barytes  and 
Strontian  in  place  of  tersilicate  of  lime,  and  also  in  containing 
half  an  atom  more  of  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  21—2-4.     H.=r5'0  —  55. 


g  on  T 93<>  40' 

d  on  d  .  .172    00 


Primary  form,  an  oblique  rectangular  prism.  In  small 
white  or  yellowish-colored  crystals,  whose  cleavage  is  highly 
perfect  parallel  to  P.  Lustre  vitreous,  except  on  the  faces  of 
cleavage,  which  are  pearly,  transparent,  or  translucent;  frac- 
ture uneven.  It  gelatinizes  with  acids;  B  B,  loses  its  water, 
becomes  opake,  froths,  swells  up,  and  fuses  =  3.  It  is  easily 
distinguished  from  the  minerals  that  most  resemble  it,  by  the 
property  that  its  diluted  solution  in  muriatic  acid  gives,  with 
sulphuric  acid,  a  white  precipitate  of  sulphate  of  barytes,  which 
is  insoluble  in  acids.  With  salt  of  phosphorus  it  melts  easily, 
leaving  a  skeleton  of  silica. 

*  In  honor  of  Sir  David  Brewster. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  67 

Brewsterite  was  first  observed  at  Strontian  in  Argyleshire, 
where  it  generally  occurs  associated  with  calcareous  spar;  but 
has  latterly  also  been  met  with,  coating  the  cavities  of  amygda- 
loidal  rocks  at  the  Giant's  Causeway  ;  in  the  lead  mines  of  St. 
Turpet,  near  Freiburg  in  the  Brisgau ;  in  the  department  of 
Isere  in  France  ;  and  in  the  Pyrenees.  (Allan's  Manual.) 

-We  are  indebted  to  a  distinguished  analyst,  Arthur  Connell, 
Esq.,  of  Edinburgh,  for  the  first  correct  analysis  of  this  mine- 
ral, and  the  discovery  of  both  barytes  and  strontian,  as  essen- 
tial constituents  of  it. 

TABULAR  SPAR. 

Prismatic  Augite  Spar,  M.  Wollastonite,  JVecfcer.    H.    Schaalstein,  W.  Spath  en  Tables, 
H.     Bisilicate  of  Lime,  Thomson.     Table  Spar.     Grammite.     Augitus  tabularis,  U. 

Combination  of  silica  and  lime. 

Cziklowa.  Cziklowa.  Pargas.  Perbenieini. 

Silica 51-44 53-1 52-58 51-60 

Lime 47-4 1 45-1 44-45 46-41 

Magnesia 0-00 1-8 0-68 0-00 

Protoxide  of  iron       0-40 0-0 1-13 traces 

99-25  Strom.  100-0  Beudant.     98-84  Bonscl.          98-01  H.  Rose. 

Willsborough,  N.  Y.          Buck's  county,  Penn. 

Silica 51-71 51.67 51-00 51  -50 

Lime 43-35 47-00 46-00 44-10 

Protoxide  of  iron     1-9'J 1-35 1-30 1-00 

Water 3-20 0-00 1-00 075 


99-96  Thomson.  100.02  Vanuxem.*  99.30  Seybert.f  97.35  Prof.  Morton.  J 

Each  of  the  above  analyses  gives  very  nearly  two  atoms  of 
silica  to  one  of  lime.  From  the  mean  numbers  of  the  last 
four,  we  obtain  25'74  atoms  silica,  and  12'88  atoms  lime,  or 
almost  exactly  two  atoms  of  acid  to  one  of  base.  The  mine- 
ral is  therefore  a  bisilicate,  and  is  represented  by  this  formula : 
CalS2. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-86.     H.  =  45  —  50. 

Tabular  spar  generally  occurs  in  fibrous  masses  of  a  greyish-, 
yellowish-,  greenish-,  or  reddish-white  color  :  with  a  shining  and 
somewhat  pearly  lustre;  translucent;  often  friable.  Primary 
form,  according  to  Brooke,  an  oblique  rhombic  prism.  P  on 
M  104°  48';  M  on  M'  95°  38'.  Cleavages  are  easily  obtained 
parallel  to  the  planes  M  M,  of  the  primary.  It  is  phosphores- 
cent when  scratched  with  the  knife,  as  well  as  when  heated. 
A  fragment  placed  in  nitric  acid  effervesces  quickly  at  first, 
and  then  falls  into  powder.  On  charcoal  it  melts  on  the  edge 
into  a  semi-transparent  colorless  glass,  but  requires  a  very 
strong  heat  for  its  perfect  fusion  ;  with  borax  it  melts  easily 
into  a  colorless  transparent  glass. 

*  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Phila.,  vol.  ii.  p    184. 
t  American  Journal  of  Science,  iv.  320.  J  Ann.  of  Phil.,  127.  p.  46. 


68  EARTHY    MINERALS. 


M  on  M' 95°  20' 

M  on  t 139  45 

M'  on  i 135  30 

M  on  h  I 93  40 

M'on  h  1      126  00 

h  1  on  h  2 156  30 

e  on  h  1  return     ...     94  15 

This  mineral  has  been  found  in  small,  extremely  fragile,  tab- 
ular-shaped crystals,  in  the  ejected  stones  of  Vesuvius,  at  Capo 
di  Bara,  near  Rome;  in  fibrous  masses,  with  apophyllite,  at 
Cziklovva  and  Dognatska  in  the  Bannat  of  Temesvvar;  in  cin- 
namon-stone from  Ceylon  ;  and  in  fibrous  radiated  masses  in 
basalt  at  the  castle  rock  of  Edinburgh.  The  massive  varieties 
are  usually  composed  of  small  columnar  crystals  lying  in  all 
directions,  or  fibrous  —  the  fibres  parallel  or  diverging.  It  ac- 
companies garnet,  fluor,  and  native  silver,  at  Pargas,  Finland. 

In  the  United  States  it  forms  a  large  vein  in  gneiss  at  Wills- 
borough,  N.  Y. ;  is  both  granular  and  massive,  associated  with 
garnet;  also  in  Bucks  county,  Penn.,  in  large  masses  with 
scapolite,  pyroxene  and  sphene.  At  Greenville,  Lower  Canada, 
a  very  beautiful  greenish-white  variety  of  this  species,  mixed 
with  green  coccolite,  occurs  abundantly  in  limestone.  It  fre- 
quently bears  considerable  resemblance  to  some  varieties  of 
tremolite.  By  fusing  lime  and  silica  in  the  required  propor- 
tions, cleavable  masses  resembling  this  mineral  have  been  ob- 
tained ;  and,  according  to  Professor  Hausmann,  of  Gottingen, 
(Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  xxiv.  77),  well  characterized  specimens  of 
this  species  are  among  the  artificial  substances  formed  among 
the  slags  of  furnaces. 

Chelmsfordite.  The  editor  here  introduces  as  a  variety  of 
the  preceding  species,  a  mineral  discovered  by  Drs.  J.  F. 
and  S.  L.  Dana,  in  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  and  described  by  them 
under  the  above  title,  in  their  Outlines  of  the  Mineralogy  and 
Geology  of  the  Vicinity  of  Boston.  It  contains  about  75  parts 
silica,  united  with  about  25  of  lime  ;  but  no  complete  analysis 
has,  as  yet,  been  given.  In  color,  hardness,  pyrognostic  char- 
acters, &/c.,  it  agrees  pretty  nearly  with  the  common  form  of 
tabular  spar,  and  is  found  crystallized  in  rhombic  prisms,  the 
bases  of  which  admit  of  an  imperfect  cleavage,  but  not  suffi- 
ciently brilliant  to  allow  the  use  of  the  reflecting  goniometer. 
Drs.  Dana  have  arranged  it  as  a  sub-species  of  tabular  spar,  and 
as  such  it  is  described  in  Cleaveland's  Mineralogy.  By  some 
authors  it  is  described  under  scapolite,  but  without  sufficient 
reason,  as  all  its  characters  plainly  ally  it  with  tabular  spar. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


69 


MELLILITE,  H.  Bt.» 

Its  analyses  afforded  of  silica  38*0,  lime  19'G,  magnesia  194, 
alumina  2'9,  oxide  of  iron  12*1,  oxide  of  manganese  2-0,  ox- 
ide of  titanium  4'0.  —  Carpi.  Dr.  Thomson  regards' the 
titanic  acid  as  accidental,  arid  gives  the  following  as  the  most 
probable  constitution  of  the  mineral :  3MgS4-2CalS+FS2. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-24  —  3-28.  Gives  sparks  with  steel." 


:M 


P  on  M  or  M'     ...  90°  00' 
M  on  M' 90    00 

M  or  M'  on  d  .         .  135    00 


This  mineral  occurs  in  the  form  of  its  primary,  a  right 
square  prism,  whose  lateral  edges  are  mostly  replaced.  Inter- 
nally the  crystals  are  of  a  honey-yellow  or  orange  color  ;  exter- 
nally they  are  usually  coated  by  oxide  of  iron  of  a  brown  hue. 
B  B,  it  melts  without  effervescence  into  a  greenish  glass;  and, 
when  reduced  to  powder,  gelatinizes  with  nitric  acid. 

It  has  only  been  found  at  Tivoli  and  Capi  di  Bove,  near 
Rome,  in  the  fissures  of  a  compact  black  lava,  with  nepheline, 
pleonaste,  and  other  volcanic  minerals. 


WOLLASTONITE.    Dr.  Thomson.^ 

Dr.  Thomson  has  separated  the  name  of  WoIIastonite  from 
table  spar,  and  applied  it  to  a  mineral  very  nearly  resembling 
it  in  some  of  its  characters,  but  which  has  a  different  composi- 
tion, being  composed,  according  to  his  analysis,  of 

Silica 52-744 

Lime 31-684 

Soda 9-600 

Magnesia 1-520 

Alumina 0-672 

Water 2-000 

99-200 

By  throwing  out  the  iron  and  alumina  as  accidentally  pres- 
ent, and  uniting  the  magnesia  with  the  lime,  it  is  evident  that 
the  mineral  is  composed,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson,  of  4  atoms 
bisilicate  of  lime,  and  1  atom  tersilicate  of  soda.  Formula: 
4CalS2+NS3.  It  thus  seems  to  belong  to  the  alkalino-earthy 
class  of  the  present  arrangement;  but  as  the  name  of  Wollas- 

*  Mellilite,  from  its  being  of  a  honey-yellow. 

f  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c  ,  vol.  i.  p.  130.  This  mineral  differs  from  the  zeolites  in 
containing  lime  in  the  place  of  other  bases,  and  seems  more  nearly  allied  in  its  composi- 
tion to  the  stellite  of  Dr.  Thomson.  (AM.  ED.) 


70  EARTH V    MINERALS. 

tonite,  in  honor  of  one  to  whom  mineralogy  is  under  very  great 
obligations,  has  now  become  fixed  in  its  application  to  table 
spar,  or  bisilicate  of  lime,  the  editor  will  merely  introduce  Dr. 
Thomson's  description  (that  mineralogists  may  compare  other 
specimens  with  it),  and  allow  the  mineral  to  remain  in  its  pres- 
ent connection  until  its  crystallographical  characters  have  been 
determined,  and  it  is  decided  whether  its  present  name  is  to 
be  retained,  or  another  applied  to  it.  Its  color  is  white,  with 
a  slight  shade  of  green;  texture  is  fibrous,  the  fibres  in  tufts, 
diverging  from  a  centre,  showing  it  to  be  imperfectly  crystal- 
lized; lustre  inclining  to  silky;  translucent  on  the  edges; 
fracture  splintery  ;  fragments  sharp-edged  ;  hardness  2'5;  spe- 
cific gravity  variable  from  2-S5  to  2'876.  B  B,  it  fuses  with 
some  difficulty,  and  without  frothing,  into  a  white  enamel. 
With  borax  it  fuses  into  a  bead,  which  is  yellow  while  hot,  but 
becomes  colorless  when  cold.  With  biphosphate  of  soda,  in 
considerable  excess,  it  melts  into  a  colorless  bead,  leaving  a 
silica  skeleton.  With  carbonate  of  soda  it  froths  and  forms 
an  opake  bead,  having  a  shade  of  reddish-blue. 

It  occurs  in  considerable  quantities  in  veins  in  a  greenstone 
rock,  situated  near  Kilsyth,  and  not  far  from  the  banks  of  the 
Forth  and  Clyde  Canal,  Scotland;  also  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Edinburgh,  where  it  was  discovered  by  Lord  Greenock. 


TERSILICATE  OF  LIME.* 

This  mineral  was  first  noticed  by  Hisinger  in  1823,  by 
whom  it  was  analyzed.  A  purer  specimen,  analyzed  by  Dr. 
Thomson,  gave  the  following  results : 

Silica 55-200 

Lime 34-284 

Alumina 4-lfiO 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-896 

Moisture 3-400 

99-940 

Omitting  as  accidental  the  alumina,  protoxide  of  iron,  and 
water,  the  atoms  of  silica  are  three  times  those  of  lime  :  hence 
the  mineral  is  a  tersilicate,  the  constitution  of  which  is  ex- 
pressed by  the  symbol  CalS3. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  205.      H.  =  3  05. 

Color  snow-white ;  according  to  Hisinger  it  becomes  grey 
by  exposure;  the  texture  is  finely  radiated,  which  imparts  to  it 
the  aspect  of  tremolite ;  phosphoresces  strongly  when  rubbed 
or  struck,  but  only  slightly  when  heated;  does  not  effervesce 
in  acids  even  when  reduced  to  powder,  when  pure.  It  is 

*  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  dec.,  vol.  ii.  p.  132. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  71 

easily  frangible;  its  behaviour,  B  B,  is  similar  to  that  of  table 
spar ;  on  the  edges  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  semi-transpa- 
rent glass ;  with  borax  it  fuses  easily,  and  forms  an  amethyst- 
colored  glass. 

It  occurs  in  transition  limestone  at  Gjellebak,  not  far  from 
Christiania  in  Norway.  It  had  been  mistaken  for  tremolite 
until  Hisinger  pointed  out  its  true  nature. 

GISMONDINE. 

Abrazite,  Brecchi.    Zeagonite,  Oismondi.    Gismondine,  L.    Abrazite  Kouphone  Spar, 
Shepard.     Spatum  Volcanicum,  D. 

Silica 57-45 41-4 

Alumina 7-36 2-5 

Lime 25-30 48-6 

Magnesia 2-56 1-5 

Oxide  of  iron 3-00 2-5 

Oxide  of  manganese 0-50 0-0 


96-17  Viviani.  96-5  Carpi. 

From  the  last  analysis  Dr.  Thomson  observes  that  it  may 
prove  a  sesquisilicate  of  lime,  admitting  the  alumina,  magne- 
sia, and  iron  as  accidental ;  but  a  more  accurate  analysis  is 
necessary,  in  order  to  establish  its  chemical  constitution  in  a 
satisfactory  manner. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-16  —  2-2.     H.n=  7-0  —  7-5. 

Primary  form,  a  right  square  prism ;  secondary,  the  same, 
surmounted  by  four-sided  pyramids. 


P  on  P' 122°  58' 

F  on  P"  .  .  85    40 


Occurs  in  white  translucent  crystals,  having  an  adamantine 
lustre,  and  presenting  an  imperfect  cleavage  parallel  to  n. 
Fracture  conchoidal.  B  B,  it  phosphoresces,  and  becomes 
friable,  but  does  not  melt.  It  gelatinizes  in  acids  without 
effervescence. 

This  species  occurs  at  Capo  di  Bove,  near  Rome,  coating 
the  cavities  of  ancient  lava,  along  with  other  volcanic  minerals. 

AUGITE.     PYROXENE.* 
Augit,  W.    Pyroxene,  H.    Paratomous  Augite  Spar,  M.    Augitus  Diatomus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  lime,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  sometimes 
manganese  and  alumina. 

*  Augite,  from  the  Greek,  splendor,  in  allusion  to  the  brilliancy  of  its  crystals  j  Pyrox- 
ene, signifying  a,guest  in  the  domain  of  fire  — unaltered  by  heat. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Analyses  of  black  and  green  varieties. 

Black.  Green.  Green. 

Taberg.  New  York.  Dalecarlis 

Silica 53-36 52-66 54-08 

Lime 22-19 23-33 23-47 

Protoxide  of  iron 17  38 12  30 10-02 

Magnesia 4-99 5-73 11-49 

Alumina 0-00 6-ii6 00-00 

Oxide  of  manganese..    0-09 0-00 0-61 


98-01  Rose. 

100-68  Seybert. 

99-67  Rose. 

Green. 

Slack. 

Dalecarlia. 

Piko,  Azores.* 

Finland.t 

Silica  54-55  

50-40  

...5099 

Lime  20-2  1  

21-10  

.  .  .20-00 

Protoxide  of  iron  8-14  

.....22-00  

...21-00 

Magnesia  15-25  

2-40  

...  4-50 

Alumina  0-14  

2-90  

...  0-00 

Oxide  of  manganese.  .  0-73  

00-30  

...   3-00 

99-02  Rose.  99-18  Hochstetter.  98-50  Berzelius. 

Analyses  of  white  augite. 

Finland.  Wermeland.  Finland.! 

Silica 54-64 55-32 54-83 

Lime 24-94 23-01 24-76 

Magnesia 18-00 16-99 18-55 

Protoxide  of  manganese    2-00 1-59 0-00 

Peroxide  of  iron 1-08 2-16 0-99 

Alumina 0-00 0-00 0-28 


100-66  Rose.  99-07  Rose.  99-73  Bonsdorf. 

These  analyses,  divided  by  the  atomic  weights,  will  show 
the  mineral  to  consist  of  bisilicates  of  lime,  magnesia,  and 
iron.  Formula:  CalS2+(Mg+F)S2. 

Dr.  Thomson  has  separated  common  white  augite  from  the 
dark  varieties,  and  described  it  as  a  distinct  species,  under 
which  are  included  one  or  two  of  the  varieties  described  in  the 
present  connection.  Regarding  the  oxides  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese as  accidental,  they  give  a  formula  (CalS2+MgS2)  which 
slightly  differs  from  that  of  the  pyroxenes;  but  as  all  the  other 
characters  are  common  to  both,  it  does  not  seem  absolutely 
necessary  that  we  should  maintain  the  distinction.  In  all  the 
analyses  given,  both  of  white  augite  and  the  dark  varieties, 
there  is  a  very  close  agreement  in  atomic  constitution,  the 
atoms  of  silica  being  almost  exactly  double  those  of  the  bases, 
showing  the  mineral  to  consist  of  bisilicates  But  the  atoms 
of  the  bases  vary  among  each  other,  owing  to  their  well-known 
isomorphic  nature,  one  replacing  another  without  any  alteration 
in  the  crystalline  form  of  the  mineral :  whence  the  numerous 


*  Part  of  a  macled  crystal,  analyzed  by  Carl  Hochstetter.  Lond.,  Edin.,  and  Dub. 
Phil.  Jour,  and  Mag.,  1843.  Vol.  xxii.,  p.  370. 

f  Dark  reddish-brown  malacolite,  from  Degero,  Finland. 

J  The  specimens  from  Finland  were  from  different  localities  ;  one  from  Orrijervi,  the 
other  from  Tammare.  They  belonged  to  the  variety  called  malacolite. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


73 


varieties  depending  principally  on  color  and  the  variable  pro- 
portions of  iron  and  manganese.  Beudant  (  Traite,  t.  ii.,  p.  225) 
regards  the  mineral  as  a  simple  bisilicate  of  lime  and  iron 
and  makes  hedenbergite  (variety  sixth),  —  in  which  the  mag- 
nesia is  nearly  replaced  by  protoxide  of  iron,  and  the  iron  and 
lime  are  present  in  nearly  equal  atoms  —  the  true  type  of  the 
species.  Calculating  from  the  last  two  analyses  here  given, 
of  the  dark  colored  varieties,  we  shall  have  almost  precisely 
the  same  result.* 

Augite  ^occurs  crystallized,  also  in  grains,  and  amorphous; 
the  crystals  generally  small,  and  often  hemitrope  or  macled. 
Its  color  is  white,  green,  brown,  or  brownish-black,  sometimes 
black;  with  vitreous  or  resinous  lustre,  and  opake;  fracture 
conchoidal,  uneven.  It  cleaves  parallel  to  the  sides  of  an  ob- 
lique rhombic  prism  of  87°  5',  and  92°  55',  as  determined  by 
the  reflecting  goniometer,  which  therefore  is  its  primary  form. 
B  B,  it  fuses,  emits  a  few  bubbles,  and  finally  yields  a  glassy 
globule,  more  or  less  tinged  by  iron;  it  is  readily  soluble  with 
borax.  Several  varieties  of  augite  have  been  obtained  artifi- 
cially by  means  of  fusion ;  and  they  are  frequently  met  with 
among  the  iron  slags  of  Sweden.  All  varieties  of  this  mineral 
seem  to  owe  their  peculiarities  to  the  isomorphous  nature  of 
iron  and  some  of  the  other  substances  that  enter  into  its  com- 
position, and  replace  each  other,  without  producing  any 
change  in  the  crystalline  form  of  the  species;  and  probably 
to  no  one  variety  is  this  remark  more  applicable  than  to  Jef- 
fersonite,  the  variety  next  to  be  described. 


Primary  form. 


*  The  formula  given  on  the  opposite  page  applies  only  to  the  dark  colored  varieties  of 
his  mineral,  and  should  have  preceded  the  analyses  of  white  augite,  of  which  another 
ornmla  is  given. 

7 


74 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


M  on  M'  .  .  . 
M  or  M'  on  P 

fo 

'  —  /i 
—  =  #i 

gB 
e2 
M'  on  k  ... 

87°  5' 
100  10 
13333 
13440 
122  15 
144  25 
155  33 
132  00 
136  15 
106  15 
150  2 
131  30 

Pon  /I 
e  1  on  i  1 
6  1  on  h 

.  .  146°  15' 
.  .  120  38 

138  48 

e  2  on  e  3 
/I  on/1 
g  1  on  g  1 
g  1  on  c  1 
f'  3  on  g  3 
on  c  1 
P  on  F 
e  2  on  d  2 

in 

.  .  164  00 
.  .  131  30 
.  .  120  38 
.  .  150  18 
.  .  87  10 
.  .  105  20 
acle  148  30 
.  .  159  50 

P  on  h  .  .  . 

—      6  1 

e2  . 

Augite  is  a  common  volcanic  production  ;  but  that  it  existed 
prior  to  its  matrix  being  subjected  to  volcanic  action,  there  is 
no  doubt.  The  debris  of  the  Monte  Rossi  on  Etna  is  full  of 
detached  crystals  of  black  augite ;  and  in  the  volcanic  regions 
of  Vesuvius,  Stromboli,  Auvergne,  Teneriffe,  and  Bourbon, 
they  are  also  of  frequent  occurrence.  Augite  is  likewise  met 
with,  imbedded  in  basalt,  at  Aussig  and  Toplitz  in  Bohemia; 
in  Hungary,  Transylvania,  Hessia,  and  elsewhere  on  the  con- 
tinent; occasionally  also  in  primitive  rocks,  as  in  Greenland, 
and  in  the  iron  mines  of  Arendal  in  Norway.  The  crystals  met 
with  in  basalt  are  generally  larger  than  those  found  in  lava. 

Remarkably  beautiful  crystals  of  augite  have  been  found  at 
Bytown,  Upper  Canada,  specimens  of  which  have  been  very 
generally  distributed  by  Professor  Holmes  of  Montreal,  to  whom 
we  are  much  indebted  for  our  knowledge  of  the  mineralogy  of 
the  Canadas.  The  crystals  (sometimes  an  inch  in  diameter 
and  two  inches  long)  are  disseminated  through  calcareous 
spar ;  they  present  white  striated  faces,  and  are  often  semi- 
transparent.  Crystals  of  the  black  variety  occur  abundantly 
in  the  trap  of  Montreal  Mountain,  and  those  of  a  green  color 
at  Grenville,  Lower  Canada,  and  Perth, Upper  Canada:  at  the 
latter  place  finely  crystallized  in  a  reddish  calc  spar. 

The  following  are  varieties  of  the  preceding  species: 

1.  JEFFERSONITE,*  or  Polystomous  Augite  Spar,  Keating. 
Foliated  Pyroxene  of  Troost.  Var.  Pyroxene.  —  Dana  and 
Shepard. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Messrs.  Keating  and  Van- 
uxen  in  1821,  and  has  been  described  by  these  gentlemen  at 
length  in  vol.  ii.  of  the  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  From 
its  chemical  composition  and  other  characters,  they  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  it  was  a  new  species.  In  vol.  iii.  of  the  same 
journal,  Dr.  Troostt  has  instituted  a  careful  comparison  between 
this  mineral  and  pyroxene,  as  to  its  crystalline  forms,  and 
shown  that  its  primary  crystal,  as  well  as  many  of  its  secondary 

*In  honor  of  the  late  Thomas  Jefferson,  President  of  the  United  States. 

t  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences,  Philadelphia}  vol.  iii  ,  p.  105. 


EARTHY   MINERALS.  75 

modifications,  correspond  precisely  with  those  of  the  latter : 
and  it  is  now  usually  classed  as  a  variety  of  pyroxene  in  the 
systems.  The  editor  has  not  therefore  retained  it  in  the  pres- 
ent edition  of  this  work  as  a  distinct  species.  The  following 
is  the  analysis  of  Prof.  Keating : 

Silex 56-0 

Lime 15-1 

Protoxide  of  manganese 13-5 

Peroxide  of  iron 10-0 

Oxide  of  zinc 1-0 

Alumina 2-0 

Loss  by  calcination 1-0 

98-6 

The  formula  given  by  Keating,  and  which  we  obtain  by 
dividing  the  products  by  the  atomic  weights  —  leaving  out  the 
zinc  and  alumina  —  is  4CalS3+3MnS3+2FS:).*  It  will  be  ob- 
served that  protoxide  of  iron  is  replaced  by  protoxide  of  man- 
ganese. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-5.     H.  =  4'5. 

It  is  found  in  large  foliated  masses,  sometimes  a  foot  in 
length,  and  in  groups  of  large  and  well-defined  crystals,  from 
two  to  six  inches  in  diameter ;  usually  of  a  dark  olive-green 
color,  passing  into  brown ;  translucent  on  the  edges,  and  yield- 
ing to  mechanical  cleavage  in  three  directions,  parallel  with 
all  the  planes  of  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  the  angles  of  which 
correspond  with  the  measurements  given  by  Haiiy  of  Pyroxene, 
which  also  presents  the  same  secondary  forms.  The  cleavage 
is  easily  obtained  parallel  to  the  base  and  two  sides  of  the  prism, 
but  the  third  cleavage  is  obtained  with  difficulty.  On  the  planes 
of  cleavage  the  lustre  is  semi-metallic ;  on  the  cross  fracture 
resinous.  B  B,  it  fuses  readily  into  a  black  globule,  but  does 
not  act  upon  the  magnet.  In  heated  muriatic  acid  a  portion 
is  dissolved.  It  occurs  with  franklinite,  garnet,  &c.,  at  Frank- 
lin, Sussex  County,  N.  J. 

2.  DiopsiDE.t    Diopsid,W.    Var  de  Pyroxene,  H.    Mussite, 

Alalite.    Union  of  silica,  lime,  magnesia,  and  a  little  protoxide  of 

iron.    The  Piedmontese  variety  contains  silica  57*5,  lime,  16'5, 

magnesia  18'5,  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese  6'0  —  Laugier. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-31.     Scarcely  scratches  glass. 

Diopside  occurs  in  prismatic  crystals,  which  are  colorless, 
or  green  of  various  shades ;  and  translucent  or  transparent. 
Their  primary  is  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  of  the  same  form 
and  measurement  as  that  of  augite.  The  crystals  are  gene- 
rally striated  longitudinally,  have  a  shining  lustre,  and  may  be 
cleaved  parallel  with  the  planes  of  the  primary  prism.  B  B,  it 

*  Jour.  Aoad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philad.,  ii.,  p.  99. 

f  Prom  the  Greek,  signifying  transparency,  in  allusion  to  the  occasional  transparency 
of  its  crystals. 


76 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


fuses  alone  into  a  colorless  semi-transparent  mass  ;  with  borax 
into  a  diaphanous  glass. 


M  on  M' 87°    5' 

M  or   M'  on  P    .  100  25 

h     .  133  35 

/I  .  13445 

g  1  .  122  10 

g  2  .  144  12 

g3.  15535 

i  .  .  152  35 

M'  on  k 136  17 

P     on  h 106  30 

/I  on /I     ,  .  .  .  131  30 

g2  on  g2     .   .   .  .  95  25 

g3  on  g3     ....  87  18 

h     on  t 162  30 

dl  on  h 165  00  e.g. 

d2 175  00    " 

d2  on  d2  .  .  170  00   " 


It  was  first  discovered  by  Bonvoisin,  in  veins  traversing  ser- 
pentine, at  Ala  in  Piedmont  (hence  Alalite),  where  it  occurs 
in  translucent  crystals,  accompanied  by  epidote,  hyacinth,  red 
garnet,  and  crystallized  green  talc  ;  and  latterly  has  been  ob- 
tained in  large  individuals  and  crystalline  masses,  sometimes  of 
a  fine  pistachio-green  color,  at  the  Rothenkopf  in  the  Ziller- 
thal,  Tyrol.  In  the  United  States  fine  crystals  of  this  variety 
have  been  found  in  the  limestone  quarries  of  Bolton,  Mass. 

3.  PYRGOM.  Fassaite.*  Is  generally  of  a  dingy-green  color  : 
assumes  nearly  the  same  crystalline  form,  and  readily  yields  to 
mechanical  division  parallel  to  the  lateral  planes  of  a  prism  of 
the  same  measurements  as  that  of  augite. 


M  on  M' 87°    5' 

M  or  M'  or  P' 100  12 

/  2 146  30 

/3 169  5 

c  2 125  30 

g  3 155  20 

M'  on  A; 136  10 

/2  on/  2 120  20 

/3  on/  3 95  38 

g  3  on  g  3 87  5 

P  on   a 148  23 

/  2 137  50 

/3 114  40 

/2ona 150  1 

g-  3  on  c  2 133  32 


Fassaite,  from  its  locality    the  valley  of  Fassa. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


77 


It  is  found  in  the  valley  of  Fassa  in  the  Tyrol. 
4.  SAHLITE.     Sahlit,  W.    Pyroxene  laminaire  gris-verdatre, 
H.     Malacolithe,  Bt.     Baikalite. 

Finland.  Siberia. 

Silica 50-0 54-83 44-0 

.24-76 20-0 


Magnesia 19-0 18-55 30-0 

Oxide  of  iron  and  manganese  4-0 0-99 6-0 

Alumina 3-0 0-28 0-0 


96-0  Vauquelin.  100-41  Bonsdorf.    100-0  Lowitz. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-256. 

Sahlite  occurs  in  prismatic  crystals  of  four  or  eight  sides, 
and  generally  with  inclined  summits ;  it  is  greenish-grey,  fee- 
bly translucent,  and  scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  It 
also  occurs  massive.  The  structure  is  lamellar,  with  joints 
parallel  to  the  planes  of  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  of  the  same 
measurements  by  the  reflecting  goniometer  as  that  of  augite  ; 
the  primary  form  of  the  two  substances  is  therefore  the  same, 
but  sahlite  readily  allows  of  mechanical  division  parallel  to  the 
oblique  terminal  planes  of  the  prism,  which  augite  rarely  does. 
B  B,  it  melts  per  se,  with  slight  effervescence,  into  a  translu- 
cent glass;  and  is  soluble  in  borax,  salt  of  phosphorus,  and 
soda,  forming  with  them  a  clear  glass. 


/   M  on  M 

. 

87°  5' 



on  P 

100  40 



on  h 

133  34 

*   M  on  k  . 

. 

136  35 

P  on  h 

106  12 

. 

90  00 

1   h  on  k  . 

.  .  . 

90  00 

Sahlite  occurs  principally  in  the  silver  mines  of  Sahla*  in 
Sweden,  and  at  Arendal  in  Norway ;  the  variety  termed  Bai- 
kalite is  found  in  granite  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sljumanka  River, 
which  falls  into  Lake  Baikal  in  Siberia. 

This  variety  has  many  localities  in  the  United  States :  as  at 
West  Haven,  Ct.,  Monroe,  N.  Y.,  and  Bolton,  Mass. 

5.  COCCOLITE.  Kokkolith,  W.  Pyroxene  granuliforme, 
H.  Consists  of  50  silica,  1*5  alumina,  24  lime,  10  magnesia, 
7  oxide  of  iron,  and  3  oxide  of  manganese.  —  Vauquelin. 

A  specimen  of  American  coccolite,  analyzed  by  Seybert, 
gave  as  follows : 

*  Whence  Sahlite. 


78  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Ticonderoga. 

Silex 51-00 

Lime 23-00 

Magnesia 6-26 

Alumina 3-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 14-43 

Water 0-66 

98-55  Seybert. 

It  presents  various  shades  of  green  and  bluish  green,  and 
occurs  in  small  translucent  masses  or  grains*  of  irregular 
shapes,  which  are  very  slightly  coherent,  but  sufficiently  hard  to 
scratch  glass;  structure  lamellar  and  lustre  vitreous.  It  oc- 
curs principally  in  the  iron  mines  of  Arendal  in  Norway.  In 
the  United  States,  of  a  fine  green  color,  with  garnet  and  tabu- 
lar spar,  at  Williamsborough,  N.  Y.  Also  in  large  masses  at 
Boonville,  N.  Y.,  and  abundantly  at  Rogers  Rock,  Lake  George, 
imbedded  in  felspar,  and  associated  with  sphene  and  plumbago. 

6.  HEDENBERGITE  is  a  variety  from  Tunaberg  in  Sweden, 
the  analysis  of  which,  by  Rose,  gave  silica  49.01,  lime  20*87, 
protoxide  of  iron  26'08,  magnesia  and  protoxide  of  manganese 
2*98.     It  is  named  in  honor  of  the  chemist  Hedenberg,  and 
Beudant  makes  it  the  name  of  a  distinct  species,  under  which 
he  includes  several  varieties.     It  is  a  lime-iron   augite,  and 
agrees  in  composition  with  the  specimen  from   one   of  the 
Azores,  the  analysis  of  which  is  given  on  p.  72;  and  also  with 
that  analyzed  by  Berzelius,  next  recorded  on  the  same  page. 

7.  RENSsELAERiTE.t     This  name  has  been  given  by  Prof. 
Emmons  to  a  variety  of  pyroxene  found  in  the  northern  part  of 
New  York.    Hardness  35  to  4 ;    specific  gravity  2*874.     The 
crystalline  form  under  which  it  appears  is  an  oblique  rhombic 
prism  of  the  same  measurement  as  pyroxene.     Cleavage,  or 
natural  joints,  parallel  to  the  terminal  planes.     The  weathered 
surface  is  softer  than  the  interior,  and  is  easily  cut  with  a  knife. 
Color  usually  grey,  with  shades  of  red,  green,  yellow,  but 
sometimes  nearly  black.     Structure  compact,  slightly  crystal- 
line, though  the  individuals  are  not  perfectly  developed.     Dis- 
tinct crystals  of  a  reddish  hue  occur  singly  in  granular  carbon- 
ate of  lime.     Fracture  uneven  ;  individuals  strongly  coherent : 
B  B,  whitens  and  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  white  enamel.     It 
occurs  in  primitive  limestone,  in  extensive  masses,  at  Hermon, 
Gouverneur,  and  Canton.     By  some  the  mineral  has  been  re- 
ferred to  steatite  and  soapstone.     It  seems  to  have  the  charac- 
ter of  a  rock  as  well  as  a  simple  mineral.     It  has  not  been  an- 
alyzed. 

*  Whence  Coccolite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  a  granular  stone, 
t  In  honor  of  the  late  Stephen  Van  Eensselaer.    See  Natural  History  of  New  York, 
Part  iv.,  p.  74 ;  by  Prof.  Emmons. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  79 

BABINGTONITE.* 

Axotomous  Augite  Spar,  M.    Babingtonite,  Levy.    Augitus  Acrotomus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-5.     H.  55  —  6-0. 


j-Levy. 


.  —  —  • 

' 

P  on  T   .  .   .   .   88°  00  ") 

/    p 

' 

P  on  M   .  .       92  34' 

<-—  —  <;^' 

a 

TV1  on  h  137   5 

1 

M  on  g  132  15 

J 

M  on  T  112  30 

M 

% 

T  on  h  .        .   155  25 

P  on  d  .          150  25 

/ 

/ 

h  on  g  89  20 

Sometimes  the  faces  marked  M  are  wanting.  Color  dark- 
greenish-black  ;  the  splinters  faintly  translucent,  and  appearing 
green  perpendicular  to  P,  brown  parallel  to  it.  Lustre  vitre- 
ous. Surface  brilliant.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  P,  less 
so  to  T.  Fracture  imperfect  conchoidal.  Primary  form  as 
given  by  Brook,  a  doubly  oblique  prism. 

B  B  it  fuses  on  the  surface  into  a  black  enamel,  and  with 
borax  gives  a  transparent  amethystine  colored  globule,  which 
in  the  reducing  flame  becomes  bluish-green. 

Babingtonite  resembles  certain  dark-colored  varieties  of 
augite,  from  which  it  was  first  distinguished  by  Levy.  Acord- 
ing  to  Children,  it  is  composed  of  silica,  iron,  manganese,  and 
lime,  with  a  trace  of  titanium;  but  it  would  seem  that  no  one 
has  had  a  sufficient  quantity  of  the  mineral  for  a  thorough 
analysis.  It  occurs  in  very  distinct  crystals  at  Arendal  in 
Norway,  associated  with  epidote  and  massive  garnet ;  and  in  the 
Shetland  Isles  imbedded  in  white  quartz. 

The  only  locality  of  this  species  in  the  United  States,  is  at 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  the  sienite  containing  prehnite,  cha- 
basie,  &>c.,  where  it  was  first  observed  by  Prof.  Nuttall. 


CLINTONITE.t 

Seybertite  of  Clemson.  Holmesite  of  Dr.  Thomson.  Bronzite,  Shepard. 

Mohs. 


ertite,  Dana. 


This  mineral  has  been  analyzed  both  by  Mr.  Clemson  and 
Dr.  Thomson,  but  with  results  so  different  that  we  shall  not 
record  its  atomic  constitution,  until  we  have  the  analysis  of  a 
more  purely  crystallized  specimen.  It  is  possible,  however, 
that  the  specimen  sent  to  Dr.  Thomson,  was  not  so  pure  as 
the  one  taken  immediately  from  the  locality,  and  placed  in  Mr. 
Clemson's  hands  expressly  for  analysis. 

*  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  Babington.     Ann.  Phil.,  2nd  series,  vii.  275. 
f  In  honor  of  the  late  Governor  De  Witt  Clinton.    Named  by  Messrs.  Horton,  Finch 
and  Mather,  by  whom  it  was  discovered. 


80  EARTHY   MINERALS. 


Alumina  
Magnesia  

...37.60.... 
...24-30..., 
10-70 

,  44-75 
9-05 
11-45 

Protoxide  of  Iron  .  .  . 

...  5-00..., 

00-00 

Per  Oxide  of  Iron  
Zirconia  

...  0-00  
.  .     0-00 

4-80 
2-05 

Oxide  of  Manganese. 
Fluoric  Acid  

...  0-00.... 
..  0-00... 

1  35 

..  0-90 

98-20  Clemson.*     98-25  Thomson.f 

Sp.  gr.  3.07  to  3-10.     H  =  4-0  to  4.5 

Color  copper-red,  reddish  brown,  yellowish  brown,  and 
reddish  white.  Streak  yellowish  grey.  Occurs  in  masses 
which  are  imperfectly  crystallized,  or  present  a  foliated  struc- 
ture. Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  M  or  M'  about 
94°.  Cleavage,  according  to  Breithaupt,  parallel  with  planes 
tangent  to  the  angles  of  the  base,  perfect;  and  very  imperfect, 
parallel  with  the  primary  planes.  Lustre  metallic  pearly, 
opake  to  translucent;  its  thin  laminae  sometimes  transparent. 
Alone  B  B  infusible,  but  with  carbonate  of  soda  and  borax 
it  melts  into  a  transparent  white  pearl.  Reduced  to  an  impal- 
pable powder,  Clemson  observed,  that  it  was  attacked  by 
acetic,  nitric,  muriatic  and  sulphuric  acids. 

It  bears  some  resemblance  to  bronzite  as  well  as  to  some 
varieties  of  mica,  but  from  the  former  it  differs  entirely  in 
chemical  composition,  and  it  is  distinguished  from  the  latter 
by  its  difficult  separation  into  laminae,  and  by  its  want  of  flexi- 
bility. Its  hardness  also  exceeds  that  of  mica.  Its  only  local- 
ity is  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  near  the  village  of  Amity,  where 
it  occurs  both  in  serpentine  and  white  limestone.  It  is  asso- 
ciated with  spinelle,  and  several  other  crystalline  minerals. 
Dr.  Horton  remarks  that  it  sometimes  so  completely  and  uni- 
formly invests  the  larger  spinells  as  to  lead  at  first  sight  to  the 
impression  that  they  are  real  octahedrons  of  Clintonite.  Crys- 
tals have  been  observed  by  him  modified  both  on  the  terminal 
and  lateral  edges  of  the  primary,  but  their  exact  relations  to 
these  planes  have  not  been  ascertained. | 

BUCKLANDITE.§ 

Dystomic  Augite  Spar,  Haid.    Bucklandite,  Levy.     Augitus  Dystomus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-94.     Harder  than  augite. 
Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism  of  109°  20'  and  70°  40'. 

*  Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  xxiv.,  p.  171.  flbid.,  vol.  xxxi.,  p.  173. 

J  See  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  by  Prof.  Beck,  p.  362,  where  two  figures  are  repre- 
sented. It  seems  somewhat  doubtful  which  of  the  names  applied  to  this  mineral,  is  ulti- 
mately to  prevail.  I  concur  in  the  opinion  of  Prof.  Beck,  that  the  name  originally  given 
to  it  by  its  discoverers  should  claim  the  preference,  and  have  inserted  it  as  Clintonite. 
[AM.  ED.] 

§  In  compliment  to  Professor  Buckland  of  Oxford. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


81 


P  on  M 103°  56'  ^ 

Mon  M 70     40     | 

M  on  h 125     20     )>  Levy. 

P   on  h 114    55 

P   on  a 99    41    J 


Color  dark  brown,  nearly  black,  or  velvet  black.  Opake. 
Lustre  vitreous.  Cleavage  not  observable.  Fracture  uneven. 
According  to  Rose,  it  is  completely  soluble  in  muriatic  acid. 

This  very  rare  mineral  bears  much  general  resemblance  to 
augite.  It  was  distinguished  and  described  by  Levy,  to  whom 
we  are  indebted  for  the  above  measurements.  It  occurs  at 
Arendal  in  Norway,  with  black  hornblende,  felspar,  and  apa- 
tite ;  and  in  minute  brilliant  crystals  in  lava,  at  the  lake  of 
Laach  on  the  Rhine,  (Allan's  Manual.)  Also  imbedded  in 
the  granite  of  Werchoturgi  in  the  Urals. 


AMPHIBOLE.*    HORNBLENDE. 

Hornblende,  W.     Var.  de  Amphibole,  H.     Henri-prismatic  Augite  Spar,  M.     Augitus 
TrotEeus,  D. 

This  mineral  occurs  crystallized,  massive,  and  slaty.  It  is 
composed  essentially  of  silica  (partly  replaced  by  alumina,) 
magnesia,  and  lime. 

Black,  Pargas.  Deep  Green,  Aker. 

Silica 45-69 47-21 

Lime 13-85 12-73 

Magnesia 18-79 21-86 

J'rotox.  of  Iron 7-3-2 2-28 

Protox.of  Manganese 0-22 0-57 

Alumina 12-18 13.94 

Fluoric  Acid 1-50 0-90 


99-53  Bonsdorff. 


99-49  Bonsdorff. 


Dr.  Thomson  is  disposed  to  regard  white  tremolite  (amphi- 
bole  blanc  of  Haiiy)  as  exhibiting  this  species  in  its  purest 
form  ;  and  from  the  mean  of  several  accurate  analyses  by 
Bonsdorf,  rejecting  a  small  portion  of  alumine,  iron  and  man- 
ganese as  accidental,  he  obtains  this  formula,  CalS3-f3MgS2, 
which  is  the  same  as  that  given  by  Beudant.t  Adopting  this 
formula,  we  have  only  to  suppose  the  dark  colored  varieties, 


*  Named  by  Haiiy  from  CUU/H^U^O?,  ambiguous,  because  it  was  confounded  with 
tourmaline.  Under  the  term  amphibole  Haiiy  included  several  minerals  which  Werner 
had  described  as  distinct  species,  but  which  possess  the  same  crystalline  form,  differ- 
in"  like  the  garnets  in  the  proportions  of  their  chemical  constituents,  as  well  as  in  color, 
hardness,  and  specific  gravity.  They  are  thus  treated  of  in  this  work.  [AM.  ED.] 

|  See  the  two  first  analyses  by  Bonsdorff  under  tremolite,  p.  84,  of  this  work. 


EARTHS    MINERALS. 


as  the  two  above-mentioned,  to  be  composed  of  white  tremo- 
lite  mixed  with  variable  proportions  of  foreign  matter. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-0  to  3-1.     H  =  50  —  6'0. 

Crystallized  Horncblende  is  found  in  prismatic  crystals, 
occasionally  isolated,  but  more  often  confusedly  aggregated, 
and  frequently  macled.  The  crystals  cleave  readily  and  with 
brilliant  surfaces  parallel  to  the  sides  of  a  rhombic  prism  of 
124°  30'  and  55°  30'  by  the  reflecting  goniometer,  but  not 
parallel  to  the  terminal  planes,  which  are  assumed  to  be  ob- 
lique to  the  axis  of  the  prism;  and  hence  the  primary  crystal 
is  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  the  declination  of  the  terminal 
planes  being  from  one  obtuse  angle  of  the  prism  to  the  other. 
Color  dark  bottle-green  or  brownish-green,  or  brown  approach- 
ing to  black,  but,  when  pulverized,  of  a  greenish-grey  :  lustre 
vitreous;  yields  pretty  easily  to  the  knife ;  opake,  or  present- 
ing on  the  thinnest  edges  a  fine  red  color  by  transmitted 
light;  when  massive,  tough,  and  difficultly  frangible.  The 
black  varieties  invariably  contain  more  iron  than  those  of  a 
lighter  color,  as  may  be  ascertained  by  bringing  them  in  con- 
tact with  the  magnetic  needle;  some  of  them  have  been  found 
to  contain  about  nineteen  per  cent.  Dark-green  lamellar 
hornblende  fuses  alone  B  B,  with  effervescence  and  intumes- 
cence, into  a  black  brilliant  glass.  It  affords  with  borax  a 
transparent  globule,  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus  a  glass  which 
becomes  opaline  on  cooling. 

The  appellation  of  Basaltic  has  been  given  particularly  to 
those  cleavable  and  highly  crystalline  black  hornblendes  which 
occur  in  basaltic  and  amygdaloidal  rocks.  That  of  Carinthin 
applies  to  one  of  a  green  color  from  the  Sau  Alpe  in  Carinthia. 


M  on  M'  .....  124°  80' 
M  or  M'  on  P  .  .  103  01 
M'  on  k  .....  117  32 
P  on  g  or  g'  ...  145  43 
M  on  g  or  g'  .  .  .  68  42 
g  on  g'  ......  148  22 


P  on  k  .......    90°  00' 

gf  on  k'  ......  106    00 

g'  on  g"  } 

or        V  .....  148    42 

g'  on  g'"  ) 


The  3d  fig.  represents  a  hemitrope,  in  which  one  half  of  the  crystal  is 
turned  round,  and  is  thus  attached  to  the  other  half. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  83 

Massive  Hornblende  has  a  crystalline  structure,  consisting 
of  minute  and  often  of  long  crystals  intersecting  each  other, 
sometimes  confusedly  radiating.  Superficially  it  frequently 
assumes  a  ferruginous  brown  from  decomposition ;  is  very 
tough,  and  difficult  to  break. 

Hornblende-slate,  Hornblende  Schiefer,  W.  Is  commonly 
of  a  greenish-black  color;  and,  except  that  it  has  a  slaty  or 
schistose  structure,  agrees  in  all  its  characters  with  the  mas- 
sive. 

Hornblende  is  a  very  abundant  mineral,  being  an  essential 
ingredient  of  syenite  and  greenstone ;  and  occurring  frequently 
in  granite,  gneiss,  basalt,  and  lava.  It  is  therefore  found  in 
almost  every  country,  but  more  particularly  in  the  repositories 
of  magnetic  iron  at  Arendal,  and  other  mining  districts  of 
Norway  and  Sweden;  in  large,  frequently  hemitrope  crystals, 
in  amygdaloid,  near  Teising  and  Toplitz,  in  Bohemia;  in 
crystals  occupying  the  drusy  cavities  of  Vesuvian  minerals; 
and  in  Greenland  of  a  peculiar  asparagus-green  color.  Mas- 
sive hornblende  is  met  with  on  the  Sau  Alpe  in  Carinthia,  and 
in  several  parts  of  Saxony ;  while  hornblende-slate  forms  beds 
in  gneiss,  mica-schiste,  and  other  primitive  rocks. 

This  mineral  has  numerous  localities  in  the  United  States, 
a  few  only  of  the  most  important  of  which  will  be  given.  At 
Edenville,  N.  Y.,  highly  brilliant  crystals  of  a  hair-brown  color, 
occur  in  limestone;  also  at  Amity,  reddish-brown  crystals  ten 
inches  in  diameter ;  and  at  Gouverneur,  same  state,  beauti- 
fully perfect  crystals  of  a  dark  green  color,  three  inches  in 
diameter,  associated  with  crystallized  felspar  and  phosphate 
of  lime.  At  Franconia,  N.  H.,  the  crystals  in  long  slender 
prisms  penetrating  chlorite  and  magnetic  iron  ore,  are  of  a 
brilliant  black  color,  and  truncated  on  their  acute  lateral 
edges.  At  Chester,  Mass.,  with  their  obtuse  edges  truncated. 

The  following  are  the  varieties  of  the  present  species : 

1.  PARGASITE.  Composed,  according  to  the  analysis  of  two 
able  chemists,  of 

Silica 46-26 51-75 

Magnesia 19-03 18  97 

Lime 13-96 1 0-04 

Alumina  11-48 10-93 

Protoxide  of  iron    3-48 3-97 

Protoxide  of  manganese  0-36 

Fluoric  acid 1-60 ?    ,03 

Water 0-61 $ 

97.21  Bonsdorf.         97-49  Gmelin. 

It  occurs  disseminated  in  somewhat  round  semi-crystalline 
masses,  and  in  six-sided  crystals  with  diedral  summits.  It 
yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the  lateral  plane  of  a  rhombic 


84  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

prism  of  the  same  measurements  as  the  oblique  rhombic 
prism  of  hornblende;  but  not  parallel  to  the  terminal  planes. 
Color,  however,  is  the  principal  difference  between  hornblende 
and  pargasite,  the  latter  being  somewhat  translucent,  and  of  a 
lighter  green,  or  more  generally  of  a  bottle-green  hue.  It  is 
harder  than  fluor,  but  is  scratched  by  quartz.  Specific  gravity 
3-11,  Its  comportment,  B  B,  is  the  same  as  black  crystallized 
hornblende,  except  that  the  glass  is  less  colored. 

M  on  M' 124  30' 

M'on  k 118  10 

M  on  g  or  M'  on  g'  .  .  .   68  48 

gonk 105  32 

g  on  g 147  54 

It  is  found  at  Pargas,*  near  Abo,  in  Finland,  in  calcareous 
spar. 

In  the  United  States,  at  Antwerp,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Bolton 
Mass.,  in  limestone. 

2.  TREMOLiTE.t  Tremolith,  W.  Var.  de  Amphibole,  H. 
Tremolite,  Br.  Grammatite,  Bt.  Common  Tremolite,  J. 

Combination  of  silica,  magnesia,  and  lime. 

White  Gulsjo.         Yellowish  Fahlnn.         Aker.  Cziklowa. 

Silica 60-31. '. 60-10 47-21 59-50 

Magnesia 24-2:5 24-31 21-86 26-80 

Lime 13-66 12-73 12-73 12-30 

Alumina 0-26 00-42 13.94 1-40 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-15 1-00 2.28 0-00 

Fluoric  Acid 0.94 0.83 0.90 0-00 

Water 0.10 0.15 0.44 0-00 

99-65  Bonsdorff.   100.01  BonsdorfT.     99-93  Bonsdorff.  100-00  Beucl. 

Specific  gravity,  29  —  31. 

Its  color  is  white,  occasionally  grey  with  a  greenish,  blue- 
ish,  yellowish,  or  reddish  tinge.  It  occurs  in  masses  composed 
of  delicate  crystalline  fibres,  which  sometimes  radiate;  and 
in  flat  deeply  striated  four,  six,  or  eight-sided  prisms,  termi- 
nated, though  rarely,  by  diedral  summits.  It  cleaves  with 
brilliant  surfaces  parallel  to  the  sides  of  a  rhombic  prism  of 
the  same  measurement  as  that  of  horneblende ;  its  crystals 
often  exhibit  the  appearance  of  fissures  which  are  oblique 
to  the  axis  of  the  prism.  Semi-transparent  or  translucent, 
and  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  but  very  brittle ;  it  be- 
comes phosphorescent  both  by  heat  and  friction.  B  B,  it 
fuses,  in  a  very  strong  heat,  into  an  almost  opake  greyish- 
white  mass.  With  borax  forms  a  transparent  colorless  globule. 


*  Whence  Pargasite. 

t  Tremolite,  from  the  valley  of  Tremola,  where  it  was  first  discovered. 


EARTHY   MINERALS.  85 

Asbestiform  Tremolite,  occurs  in  masses  consisting  of  fas- 
ciculated groups  of  minute  diverging,  occasionally  radiating 
fibres;  its  fracture  exposes  a  delicately  fibrous  texture,  with 
a  glistening  pearly  or  silky  lustre.  It  becomes  phosphores- 
cent by  friction,  which  is  not  the  case  with  common  asbes- 
tus,  a  mineral  it  otherwise  much  resembles.  B  B,  fragments 
bubble  and  fuse  with  great  difficulty  into  a  vitreous  mass. 

Tremolite  occurs  in  dolomite,  at  St.  Gothard  in  Switzer- 
land; at  Sebes  in  Transylvania;  in  Corsica  in  talc;  near 
Nantes  in  granite  abounding  in  felspar;  the  fibrous  variety 
occurs  snow- white  and  translucent  in  a  bed  of  limestone  at 
Gulsjo  in  Sweden ;  in  Scotland,  in  primitive  limestone  in 
Aberdeenshire  and  lona,  and  in  the  marble  of  Glen  Tilt. 
Asbestiform  tremolite  forms  masses  of  thin  capillary  crystals 
in  Switzerland,  the  Tyrol,  the  Bannat,  and  other  places ; 
some  beautiful  specimens  are  met  with  at  St.  Gothard  in 
dark-green  groups.  In  the  United  States  this  variety  is  com- 
mon in  all  the  dolomite  and  granular  limestone  of  the  coun- 
try, but  the  dolomite  of  Connecticut  has  furnished  the  most 
interesting  specimens.  At  Canaan,  in  that  State,  they  appear 
in  flattened  crystals,  often  above  an  inch  long  and  three  quar- 
ters of  an  inch  wide.  The  limestone  quarries  of  Bolton,  Mass., 
afford  it  in  fibrous  masses  of  a  brownish  white  color.  It  occurs 
in  immense  quantities  at  Warren,  N.  H.,  forming  a  large  bed 
in  mica  slate. 

3.  NORWEGIAN  TREMOLITE.     This  variety  is  found  on  the 
Isle  of  Tiotten,  near  Heligoland,  Norway.     It  agrees  in  crys- 
talline structure  with  common  tremolite,  but  it  appears  from 
the  analysis  of  Retzius  to  contain  more  silica,  and  to  have 
a  large  portion  of  its  magnesia  replaced  by  lime. 

Catamite*  It  occurs  in  rhombic  prisms  of  a  light  aspar- 
agus-green color,  translucent,  striated  longitudinally,  and 
yielding  to  mechanical  division  readily,  parallel  to  the  sides  of 
a  rhombic  prism  of  the  same  measurements  as  that  of  horn- 
biende.  This  mineral  is  soft ;  in  form  it  resembles  tremolite. 

It  occurs  imbedded  in  serpentine  with  magnetic  iron  and 
calcareous  spar,  at  Norrnark  in  Sweden. 

4.  ACTYNOLITE.     Strahlstein,  W.     Var.  de  Amphibole,  H. 
This    mineral  is  green,  of  different   hues,  sometimes  almost 
black,  more  or  less  translucent,  and  by  reflected  light  yellow- 
ish or  brownish.     It  maybe  divided  into  three  varieties, — 
crystallized,  asbestiform,  and  glassy. 

Combination  of  silica,  magnesia,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  lime. 

*  Calamite  ;  calamus  (Lat.),  a  reed  ;  from  the  appearance  of  its  crystal. 
8 


86  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Taberg.  Zillerthal.  Zillerthal.  Penn. 

Silica 59-75 53-1 53-1 56-33 

Lime 14-25 11-4 10-6 10-66 

Protox.  of  iron 3-95 25-6 21-8 4-20 

Protox.of manganese   0-31 0-2 00-0 0-00 

Magnesia 21-1 0 7-8 10-4 24-00 

Alumina 000 1-7 4-1 1-66 

Fluoric  Acid 0-76 0-0 0-0 1-03 


100-12  Bonsdorf.     99-8  Beudant.      100-0  Beudant.      97-93  Seybert.* 

Crystallized  Actynolite  generally  occurs  in  acicular  hexa- 
hedral  prisms,  which  are  not  regularly  terminated,  but  which 
yield  by  mechanical  division  a  prism  of  the  same  measure- 
ments as  that  of  common  hornblende.  It  has  a  shining  lustre, 
and  is  translucent  or  transparent.  Occasionally  it  appears  in 
fine  fibres  having  a  silky  lustre,  and  sometimes  disposed  in  a 
radiating  form*.  It  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  Per  se 
it  fuses,  after  becoming  white,  into  an  opake  yellowish  or 
brownish  colored  glass. 

Asbestiform  Actynolite  presents  a  green,  greenish-grey,  or 
brownish-green  color ;  and  occurs  both  massive,  and  in  capil- 
lary crystals  which  are  elastic.  The  crystals  are  sometimes 
disposed  in  wedge-shaped  masses,  or  in  radii  promiscuously 
aggregated;  they  are  opake  or  slightly  translucent  on  the 
edges.  It  melts  B  B  into  a  yellowish-brown  opake  glass.  The 
Byssolite  of  Saussure  appears,  from  its  analysis  and  principal 
characters,  to  be  the  same  mineral. 

Glassy  Actynolite  differs  from  the  preceding  in  possessing 
an  external  lustre,  which  is  vitreous  inclining  to  pearly ;  and 
in  being  translucent  and  brittle. 

Actynolite  is  chiefly  found  in  primitive  rocks:  as  gneiss, 
mica-slate,  and  limestone.  It  occurs  in  long  six-sided  prisms, 
imbedded  in  white  talc,  at  Greiner  in  the  Zillerthal,  Tyrol; 
at  St.  Gothard  ;  near  Salsburg;  in  Norway;  and  in  Piedmont. 
In  Britain,  it  has  been  noticed  in  the  copper  veins  of  the 
Maudlin  mine,  near  Lostwithiel  in  Cornwall ;  in  Glen  Elg, 
Inverness-shire ;  in  Skye,  and  elsewhere,  in  small  quantities. 
In  the  United  States  very  beautiful  and  abundant,  of  a  leek 
green  color,  and  nearly  transparent  in  steatite  and  talc,  at 
Windham,  Vt.  Crystals  from  this  locality  in  the  form  of 
four-sided  prisms  were  obtained  by  Prof.  F.  Hall,  five  inches  in 
length  —  usually  replaced.  A  delicately  acicular  variety  (Bys- 
solite) is  occasionally  found  in  the  cavities  of  the  magnetic 
iron  ore  of  Franconia,  N.  H.  A  glassy  variety  has  been 
found  at  Concord,  Delaware  county,  Penn.,  the  analysis  of 
which  by  Seybert  is  given  above. 

*  Whence  Actynolite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  sun's  rays. 
t  Cleaveland's  Mineralogy,  (Second  Edition,)  p.  779. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  87 

5.  Of  ASBESTUS  there  are  several  varieties,  which  generally 
present  a  fibrous  texture,  but  vary  in  respect  of  flexibility. 
The  fibres  have  not  yet  been  seen  in  any  very  determinate 
form,  but  Haiiy  regarded  some  which  fell  under  his  observa- 
tion as  rhombic  prisms.  Asbestus*  is  extremely  difficult  of 
fusion  in  the  mass. 

According  to  Dr.  Thomson,  its  varieties  contain  the  follow- 
ing proportions  :  the  excess  being  owing  probably  to  the  for- 
mation of  a  double  salt  of  magnesia  during  the  analyses. 

White  Mountain  Mountain 

Amianthus,  Rockwood,  Leather,  Cork, 

Sardinia.  Tyrol.  Strontian.  Piedmont. 

Silica .55-91 54-92 57-65 57-75 

Magnesia 27-07 26-08 2.06 10-85 

Lime 14-63 0-00 10-00 14-05 

Alumina 1-82 1-64 9-50 1-95 

Protoxide  of  iron 6-52 12-60 5-80 18-90 

Water 0-00 5-28 21-70 O'OO 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  0-00 0-00 0-00 1-85 

105-95  100-52  106-71  105-35 

Amianthus.  Amianth,  W.  Asbeste  flexible,  H.  Amianthus 
occurs  in  long  and  extremely  slender  fibres,  longitudinally  co- 
hering with  each  other,  and  easily  separated ;  these  are  more 
or  less  flexible  and  elastic,  and  of  a  whitish,  greenish,  or  red- 
dish color.  It  is  somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch  ;  has  a  shin- 
ing or  silky  lustre;  and  is  slightly  translucent.  In  mass  it 
fuses  though  with  difficulty  into  a  white  enamel ;  but  when  in 
single  fibres  it  melts  at  the  flame  of  a  candle. 

It  usually  occurs  in  serpentine;  and  is  found  in  the  Taren- 
taise  in  Savoy,  in  the  longest  and  most  beautiful  fibres :  that 
of  Corsica  is  so  abundant  that  Dolomieu  used  it  for  packing 
his  minerals.  It  occurs  in  Dauphine,  and  at  St.  Gothard  in 
veins  in  mica-slate;  in  Saltzburg ;  the  Tyrol;  St.  Keverne, 
in  Cornwall ;  Portsoy,  in  Aberdeenshire  ;  arid  in  the  Shetland 
Isles  of  Unst  and  Fetlar. 

Amianthus  was  woven  by  the  ancients  into  a  kind  of  cloth, 
in  which,  being  incombustible,  they  wrapped  the  bodies  of 
their  dead,  before  being  placed  on  the  funeral  pile,  that  their 
ashes  might  be  collected  free  from  admixture. 

Common  Asbestus.  Asbest.  dur,  H.  Common  asbestus  is 
much  heavier  than  the  preceding  variety,  its  specific  gravity  be- 
ing nearly  3'0.  It  occurs  in  masses  consisting  of  fibres  of  a 
dull  greenish  color,  with  occasionally  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre ; 
and  yields  splintery  fragments.  It  is  scarcely  or  not  at  all  flex- 
ible, and  thereby  is  distinguishable  from  amianthus.  It  is 
somewhat  unctuous  to  the  touch ;  and  is  easily  fusible  B  B 
into  a  slightly  greyish  enamel.  It  is  of  more  frequent  occur- 

*  Its  name  is  derived  from  a  Greek  word  signifying  imperishable,  or,  according  to  some, 
unstained,  unsoiled. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 

rence  than  amianthus;  is  usually  found  in  veins  in  serpentine; 
and  is  met  with  in  Sweden,  Hungary,  Dauphine,  the  Ural 
Mountains,  &c. ;  also  in  serpentine  at  Portsoy,  in  Anglesey,  and 
at  the  Lizard  in  Cornwall.  The  various  forms  of  asbestus  have 
numerous  localities  in  the  United  States,  as  in  the  serpentine 
of  Nevvbury,  and  Westfield  Mass.,  in  the  rocks  containing  an- 
thracite, Worcester,  Mass. ;  in  the  serpentine  of  Kellyvale, 
Vt.,  in  masses  which,  in  color  and  texture,  resemble  the  finest 
cotton.  At  Bare  Hill,  in  Maryland,  it  also  occurs  in  serpentine. 

Mountain  Leather.  The  principal  difference  between  this 
and  the  foregoing  variety  appears  to  be  the  position  of  its 
fibres.  In  common  asbestus,  they  are  generally  even  and  par- 
allel;  in  mountain  leather,  they  are  interwoven  or  interlaced. 
It  occurs  in  flexible  flat  pieces,  having  much  the  aspect  of 
leather ;  but  when  very  thin  has  been  termed  mountain  paper, 
It  is  commonly  of  a  whitish  or  yellowish  white  color,  and  is 
meagre  to  the  touch.  It  occurs  at  Strontian  in  Argyleshire, 
and  at  the  Lead  Hills  in  Lanarkshire. 

Mountain  Cork.  Berg  Cork,  W.  Asbeste  tressee,  H.  Rock 
Cork,  J.  Mountain  cork  has  a  fibrous  texture,  the  fibres  be- 
ing interlaced  so  intimately  as  not  to  be  recognizable,  or  capa- 
ble of  separation.  It  is  opake,  has  a  meagre  feel,  somewhat 
resembling  that  of  common  cork;  about  the  same  hardness; 
is  sectile  like  that  substance;  rather  elastic,  and  swims  on 
water.  It  forms  veins  in  serpentine,  and  is  met  with  in  Nor- 
way, Saxony,  Spain,  &c. ;  and  at  Portsoy  and  the  Lead  Hills 
in  Scotland. 

Mountain  Wood.  Berg-holz,  W.  Asbeste  Ligniforme,  H. 
Rock  Wood,  J.  Is  generally  of  a  brownish  color  and  massive, 
and  has  somewhat  the  aspect  of  wood,  being  occasionally  so 
hard  and  compact  as  to  resemble  petrified  wood.  It  breaks 
into  long  masses  in  the  direction  of  the  fibres,  which  are  some- 
times curved,  and  separable  with  ease.  It  is  opake  ;  the  fibres 
rarely  elastic.  It  is  fusible  into  a  black  slag  ;  and  is  about 
twice  the  weight  of  water.  It  occurs  at  Schneeberg  near 
Sterzing  in  the  Tyrol,  with  asbestus  and  other  minerals;  in 
Dauphine;  Styria;  and  at  Portsoy  in  Scotland. 

PYRALLOLITE.* 

Tersilicate  of  Magnesia,  Thomson.    Prismatic  Tabular  Spar,  Shepard. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  and  analyzed  by  Norden- 
skiold,  who  found  it  to  consist  of  56  62  silica,  23*38  mag- 
nesia, 5'58  lime,  0*99  peroxide  of  iron,  0'99  protoxide  of  man- 
ganese, 3%58  water. 

*  From  the  Greek  TCVQ,  aMog,  li&og,  in  allusion  to  the  change  of  color  it  presents 
when  exposed  to  the  action  of  fire. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  89 

Sp.  Gr.  2-55.     H.  =  3.5. 

Color  white,  inclining  to  greenish;  lustre  dull,  sometimes 
slightly  resinous  ;  streak  white ;  opake  in  the  mass,  but  when 
reduced  to  thin  laminae,  transparent.  If  thrown  in  the  state  of 
powder  upon  a  red-hot  iron,  it  gives  out  a  bright-bluish  phos- 
phorescence. B  B  it  first  becomes  blackish,  afterwards  white, 
and  the  edges  are  reduced  to  a  white  enamel ;  with  borax  it 
fuses  with  facility  into  a  diaphanous  glass. 

It  occurs  massive,  and  crystallized  in  prisms  which  are 
usually  an  inch  in  length.  It  offers  distinct  cleavages  parallel 
to  M  and  T,  of  a  doubly  oblique  prism;  M  on  T  94°  36', 
P  on  T  80°.  One  of  the  acute  and  the  opposite  obtuse  ter- 
minal edges  of  the  prism  B  F,*  are  almost  always  replaced  by 
single  planes,  which  frequently  extend  over  the  whole  termi- 
nal plane  P,  forming  a  bihedral  summit  to  the  crystal,  and  in- 
clining upon  T,  at  an  angle  of  140°  49'.  The  opposite  termi- 
nal edges,  C  D,  are  also  replaced  in  the  same  manner,  making 
an  angle  with  M  of  about  138°  30'.  The  face  T  is  consider- 
ably larger  than  the  face  M.  Sometimes  only  one  of  the 
obtuse  terminal  edges  is  replaced  by  a  single  plane. 

Pyrallolite  was  discovered  by  Count  Steinheil,  at  Storgood, 
in  the  parish  of  Pargas,  Finland,  in  calcareous  spar,  with 
augite,  felspar,  and  scapolite.  In  the  United  States,  accord- 
ing to  Prof.  Nuttall,  this  rare  mineral  occurs  at  Kingsbridge, 
N.  Y.,  in  granular  limestone,  and  at  Franklin,  N.  J  ,  in  sien- 
ite.  In  the  former  editions  of  this  work,  this  substance  was 
comprehended  under  the  species  hornblende,  with  which  other 
systems  had  arranged  it ;  but  it  is  obviously  so  distinct  from 
that  mineral  in  some  of  its  characters,  particularly  in  its  chem- 
ical composition  and  crystalline  form,  that  the  editor  has 
coincided  with  several  others  in  designating  it  as  a  distinct 
species.  It  should  be  observed,  however,  that  Beudant  re- 
gards it  as  a  variety  of  talc. 

CANAANITE. 

Canaanite,  S.  L.  Dana.    Massive  Scapolite,  or  Scapolite  Rock,  of  Prof.  Hitchcock. 

This  substance  has  been  described  under  several  names,  as 
nephrite,  saussurite,  and  pyroxene.  Occurring  in  the  massive 
form,  and  never  crystallized,  its  character  has  necessarily  been 
rather  ambiguous,  though  Prof.  Hitchcock  has  compared  it 
with  scapolite,  and  finds  that  it  bears  a  close  resemblance  to  that 
mineral  in  several  of  its  properties,!  and  has  hence  very  prop- 

*  See  fig.  of  double  oblique  prism,  p.  xi.  of  the  Introduction. 

f  Final  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Massachusetts,  vol.  ii.,  p.  569;    and  First  Report 
(Second  Edition),  1835,  p.  315. 
8* 


90  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

erly  characterizes  it  as  above.  But  it  has  since  been  analyzed 
by  S.  L.  Dana,  Esq.,  by  whom  its  composition  has  been  shown 
to  differ  so  considerably  from  common  scapolite  as  to  author- 
ize its  separation  into  a  distinct  species,  for  which  he  has  pro- 
posed *  the  name  derived  from  the  place  where  it  was  first  dis- 
covered. The  results  of  two  very  careful  analyses  gave  Mr. 
Dana, 

Silica 53-366 

Protoxide  of  iron 4-499 

Alumina 10-380 

Lime 25-804 

Magnesia 1-624 

Carbonic  acid 4-000 

Loss 0-327 


100-000 

By  deducting  the  equivalent  of  lime  for  the  carbonic  acid, 
and  throwing  out  the  magnesia  with  the  carbonate  of  lime, 
which  belongs  to  the  dolomite  in  which  the  substance  occurs,  the 
constitution  of  this  mineral,  as  atomically  expressed  by  Mr.  Dana, 
is  1  atom  bisilicate  of  lime,  1  atom  tersilicate  of  alumina,  and  1 
atom  silicate  of  protoxide  of  iron.  Formula:  CalS2-hAlS3+FS. 
Its  composition  thus  appears  different  from  that  of  any  other 
mineral  with  which  we  are  acquainted.  The  silicate  of  iron 
Mr.  Dana  is  rather  disposed  to  regard  as  accidental. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-07.  H.  about  65. 

As  described  by  Prof.  Hitchcock,  its  color  is  white,  grey,  or 
bluish-grey.  B  B,  its  behavior  is  exactly  like  that  of  crystal- 
lized scapolite,  melting  readily  with  intumescence  into  a  shining 
enamel.  It  sometimes  presents  aggregations  of  imperfect 
prisms,  the  forms  of  which  are  too  imperfect  to  be  determined, 
though  the  foliated  structure  is  quite  obvious;  no  regular 
cleavages  observed;  sometimes  exhibits  a  splintery  fracture. 

Canaanite  occurs  very  extensively  in  Canaan,  Ct.,  where, 
according  to  the  observations  of  Prof.  Hitchcock,  it  seems  to 
repose  between  dolomitic  limestone  and  mica  slate,  forming 
lofty  ridges  of  mountains.  It  is  often  intermixed  with  the  dol- 
omite into  which  it  seems  to  pass,  and  it  contains  both  tremo- 
lite  and  augite. 

BARSOWITE.t 

This  mineral  bears  some  near  resemblance  to  the  preceding, 
according  to  the  description  we  have  of  it.  Both  externally 
and  in  chemical  composition  it  also  resembles  scapolite,  but  is 


*  In  a  private  communication  to  the  editor,  the  mineral  not  having  been  before  described 
wider  that  name, 
f  Jameson's  Edin.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  «ix.,  p.  416. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  91 

distinguished  from  it  by  its  structure,  and  by  its  relations  to 
the  blowpipe  and  to  acids.     It  is  composed  of 

Silica 49-08 

Alumina 32-76 

Lime J8-16 

100-00 

Calculation  from  these  results  shows  the  mineral  to  consist 
of  1  atom  bisilicate  of  lirne,  I  atom  silicate  of  alumina ;  or  it  dif- 
fers from  Canaanite  in  containing  3  times  its  quantity  of  alu- 
mina, without  the  addition  of  any  iron.  It  may  thus  be  re- 
garded as  a  mixture  of  table  spar  (CalS2)  and  bucholzite  ( A1S). 
Sp.  Gr.  2-740.  H.  =  5'5. 

Color  snow-white;  occurs  massive,  and  in  granular  distinct 
concretions.  Lustre  of  the  granular  varieties  feebly  pearly; 
the  compact  dull.  Fracture  splintery  or  imperfectly  foliated. 
Translucent  on  the  edges.  B  B,  it  melts  (but  only  on  the 
edges)  with  difficulty ;  with  borax  it  melts  slowly  and  calmly 
into  a  transparent  glass.  Pounded  and  heated  with  muriatic 
acid,  it  is  easily  decomposed,  and  forms  a  thick  jelly. 

It  has  been  found  only  in  loose  blocks,  sometimes  several 
cubic  feet  in  size,  in  the  gold  sand  of  Barsowskoj,  in  the  Ural 
Mountains.  Blue  crystals  of  corundum,  and  white  folia  of 
mica,  are  imbedded  in  it.  It  is  named  Barsowite  from  its  fre- 
quent occurrence  at  Barsowskoj. 


ARFWEDSONITE.     (Brooke,  AnnaU  of  Phil,  May,  1823. 

Peritomous  Augite-Spar,  M.     Augitus  Peritomus,  D. 

This  mineral  has  been  separated  from  hornblende  (of  which 
it  was  commonly  assumed  to  be  a  ferriferous  variety),  owing 
chiefly  to  the  measurements  which  its  cleavages  afford,  and  on 
account  of  its  inferior  hardness.  It  yields  to  cleavage  only 
parallel  to  the  lateral  planes  of  an  (oblique?)  rhombic  prism, 
M  on  M  123°  55',  the  measurements  of  those  of  hornblende, 
as  usually  given,  being  124°  30'.*  Its  color  is  black  without  a 
shade  of  green  ;  and  it  is  opake  and  has  a  resinous  lustre.  It  has 
not  been  observed  regularly  crystallized,  but  its  cleavage  planes 
are  very  brilliant,  much  more  so  than  those  of  hornblende,  from 
which  they  also  serve  to  distinguish  it.  B  B,  according  to 
Children,  in  the  platinum  forceps,  it  fuses  readily  into  a  black 
globule.  With  borax  it  affords  a  glass  colored  by  iron.  With 
salt  of  phosphorus,  a  similar  but  paler  globule  is  obtained ;  it 
becomes  colorless  on  cooling,  and  leaves  a  skeleton  of  silica. 

According  to  Dr.  Thomson  it  contains  in  100  parts, 

*  [n  statins,  in  the  pressnt  edition,  that  the  primary  form  of  this  mineral  is  an  oblique 
rhombic,  prism,  it  should  b9  observed  that  no  cleavage  has  been  obtained  parallel  to  the 
base  of  the  prism,  and,  therefore,  its  oblique  character  ia  assumed  rather  than  proved. 
[AM.  ED.J 


92  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Silica 50-508 

Peroxide  of  iron 35-144 

Sesquioxide  of  manganese 8-920 

Alumina 2-488 

Lime ]  -560 

Water 0-960 

99-560 

Omitting  the  alumina  and  lime  as  accidental,  it  is  composed 
of  4  atoms  tersilicate  of  iron,  and  1  atom  tersilicate  of  manga- 
nese. Formula:  4FS3+MnS3. 

Sp.  Gr.  34  —  35.     H.  =  6-0. 

This  mineral  was  brought  from  Kargardluarduk  in  Green- 
land, by  Sir  Charles  Giesecke,  and  was  for  a  time  known  as 
ferruginous  hornblende,  until  Mr.  Brooke  examined  it,  and, 
from  the  difference  in  the  measurements  of  its  angles,  com- 
pared with  hornblende,  separated  it  from  that  species  under  the 
name  which  it  now  bears,  in  honor  of  Professor  Arfwedson. 
It  has  also  been  brought  from  Norway. 

According  to  Professor  Shepard,  the  mineral  usually  taken 
for  a  variety  of  hornblende,  and  found  in  trap  porphyry  at 
Plymouth,  Vt.,  agrees  with  this  species. 


NEUROLITE.*     Dr.  Thomson.     (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  #c.,  vol.  i., 

p.  354. 

This  mineral,  which  Dr.  Thomson  has  analyzed  and  de- 
scribed as  a  new  species,  occurs  at  Stamstead  in  Lower  Can- 
ada, and  was  sent  to  him  by  Prof.  Holmes  of  Montreal.  Its 
analysis  gave  the  following  results  : 

Silica 73-00 

Alumina 17-35 

Lime 3-25 

Magnesia 1-50 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-40 

Water 4-30 


99-80 

Leaving  out  the  peroxide  of  iron,  and  uniting  the  lime  and 
magnesia,  Dr.  Thomson  thus  states  its  constitution :  5  atoms 
quartersilicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  quatersilicate  of  lime  and 
magnesia,  and  2£  atoms  water.  Formula:  5AlS4+(fCal-f^ 
Mg)S4+2£Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  476.      H.  =  4  25. 

Color  greenish-yellow;  texture  imperfectly  foliated,  being 
composed  of  thin  fibres  of  some  breadth ;  fracture  uneven ; 
opake,  or  only  translucent  on  the  edges;  brittle;  has  no  ap- 
pearance of  crystallization ;  B  B,  it  gives  out  water  and  be- 

*  From  VSVQOV,  a  tendon,  or  string.    Named  from  its  fibrous  texture. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  93 

comes  snow-white  and  friable,  but  does  not  melt;  with  car- 
bonate of  soda  fuses  slowly  into  a  transparent  glass,  slightly 
yellow,  which  cracks  in  various  directions  on  cooling ;  in  bo- 
rax does  not  dissolve,  but  a  snow-white  opake  matter  remains 
in  the  centre  of  the  colorless  globule. 

WITHAMITE.* 

Augitus  Withami,  D. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  minute,  translucent,  brilliant,  car- 
mine-red crystals,  which  in  form  bear  considerable  resemblance 
to  epidote,  of  which  it  is  considered  by  Haidinger  to  be  a  new 
and  remarkable  variety.  Lustre  vitreous;  streak  white.  The 
crystals  are  in  spherical  radiated  groups,  which  terminate  at 
the  circumference  in  separate  individuals,  which,  by  reflected 
light,  have  a  dark  red  color,  like  that  of  arterial  blood.  Very 
fine  groups  of  transparent  crystals  also  penetrate  the  quartz 
which  occasionally  accompanies  the  mineral. 

Its  constituents,  as  determined  by  Dr.  Coverdale,  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

Silica 55-28 

Alumina 16-74 

Peroxide  of  iron 21-13 

Lime 8-13 

Water 3-25 

104-53 

The  formula  deduced  from  these  numbers  is  thus  stated  by 
Dr.  Thomson  :  3AIS2+2FS2+CalS2+l  Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-137.     H.  =  6-0  —  <r5 

B  B,  it  intumesces,  and  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  dark 
greenish-grey  scoria.  With  biphosphate  of  soda  it  dissolves 
with  effervescence  into  a  globule,  which  contains  a  skeleton 
of  silica;  is  yellow  while  hot,  but  becomes  opake  on  cooling. 
It  behaves  very  nearly  the  same  as  the  epidote  from  Arendal ; 
is  not  affected  by  acids  either  cold  or  hot. 

Minute  crystals  have  been  observed,  exhibiting  the  common 
secondary  form  of  epidote,  and  indicating  a  right  rhombic 
prism  for  the  primary ;  but  according  to  the  measurement  of 
Sir  David  Brewster,  M  on  T  is  116°  40',  thus  differing  con- 
siderably from  the  angle  formed  by  the  similar  planes  on  the 
crystals  of  epidote,  as  usually  stated  in  the  books. 

The  following  figure  shows  the  form  of  the  crystals  described 
by  Sir  David  Brewster :  ^____ 

*This  mineral  was  described  by  Dr.  Brewster  in  vol.  ii.,  p.  218,  of  his  Journal  j  and 
named  by  him  in  honor  of  its  discoverer,  Henry  Witham,  Esq. 


94  EARTHY    MINERALS. 


M  on  T 116°  40' 

r  on  T' 123     20 


The  most  interesting  optical  property  of  Withamite,  observes 
Dr.  Brewster,  is  its  dichroism,  or  double  color,  which  it  exhib- 
its both  in  common  and  polarized  light.  When  common  light 
is  transmitted  through  the  two  parallel  faces  of  the  prism,  the 
tint  is  of  a  crimson  or  amethyst  color,  with  a  mixture  of  straw- 
yellow.  Upon  turning  the  crystal  round,  the  yellow  tint  disap- 
pears, and  the  color  becomes  a  deep  crimson-red.  On  continu- 
ing to  turn  the  prism,  the  color  changes  to  straw-yellow,  and, 
at  the  end  of  half  a  revolution,  the  crystal  resumes  its  com- 
pound tint.  In  the  groups  of  crystals  which  have  penetrated 
the  quartz,  some  of  them  occupy,  accidentally,  the  position 
which  gives  the  yellow  color,  others  that  which  gives  the  red 
color,  and  some  that  which  gives  the  compound  tint ;  so  that, 
without  a  knowledge  of  their  dichroitic  property,  the  group 
might  have  been  considered  as  composed  of  three  different  sets 
of  crystals. 

Withamite  occurs  in  a  trap  rock  of  a  reddish-brown  color, 
at  Glenco  in  Argyleshire,  disseminated  in  grains,  or  small 
masses,  which  shoot  out  into  regular  crystals  in  the  larger  cav- 
ities. Having  no  other  locality,  it  is  a  very  scarce  mineral. 

HYPERSTHENE.* 

Labradorische  Hornblende,  W.      Var.  de  Diallage  Metalloide,  H.     Paulite.      Hyper- 
sthene,  Bt.     Prismatoidal  Schiller  Spar,  M.     Phyllinius  Mctallinus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  magnesia,  and  protoxide  of  iron. 

St.  Paul.     Wilmington,  Pa.      Isle  of  Skye.       St.  Paul. 

Silica 54-25 52-17 51-348 4fr  112 

Magnesia 14-00 11-33 11-092 25-872 

Protoxide  of  iron 24-50 10-73 33-924 12-701 

Lime 1.50 20-00 1.836 5-292 

Alumina 2-25 4-00 0-000 4.068 

Water 1-00 1-00 0-500 0480 


97-50  Klaproth.    99-23  Seybert.     98-700  Muir,    99-905  Muir. 

These  several   specimens  analyzed  differ  so  essentially  in 
their  constitution,  that  we  shall  not  record  any  formula. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-3  to  3-4. 

Hypersthene  is  met  with  either  massive,  or  imbedded  in 
rocks.  Its  color  is  dark-brown,  or  greenish-black;  it  has  a 
lamellar  structure  and  cleavage  parallel  with  the  diagonals  and 

*  From  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  difficult  frangibility. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  95 

sides  of  a  rhombic  prism  of  about  93°  30',  and  86°  30'  or  ac- 
cording to  Necker,  93°  12'  and  81°  48'.  The  cleavage  of  one 
side  of  the  prisrn  is  more  easily  obtained  than  the  other;  and 
an  indistinct  cleavage  has  been  obtained  transverse  to  the  axis 
of  the  prism,  and  indicating  an  oblique  termination,  on  an 
oblique  rhombic  prism  for  the  primary.  When  fractured,  it 
exhibits  reflections  which  are  strongly  metallic,  and  sometimes 
greenish,  sometimes  of  a  copper-red  color:  this  lustre  is  ob- 
servable in  one  direction  but  not  in  the  other ;  when  reduced 
to  very  thin  laminae,  it  is  translucent,  with  a  slight  tinge  of 
green  in  one  direction,  but  opake  in  the  other ;  when  pulver- 
ized it  is  dark  grey.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  fuses  easily  into  a 
greyish-green  opake  glass;  with  borax  into  a  greenish  glass. 

It  is  found  at  the  island  of  St.  Paul,  on  the  coast  of  Labra- 
dor, chiefly  in  rolled  masses,  but  also  as  a  constituent  of  a 
syenitic  or  greenstone-rock;  along  the  shores  of  Newfound- 
land, and  in  Greenland.  In  the  United  States  at  Warwick, 
N.  Y.,  it  is  found  with  Brucite,  &c.,  in  crystals  which  are 
several  inches  long,  and  half  an  inch  in  diameter;  being  fre- 
quently a  modification  of  the  primary,  having  its  acute  lateral 
edges  beveled.  The  most  metallic  varieties  when  cut,  en  ca- 
bochons,  and  set  as  jewels,  produce  a  very  pretty  effect. 

SCHILLER  SPAR.* 

Schillerstein.  W.    Van  de  Diallage  Metalloide,  H.     SchiHerspath,  Br.      Diallage  Cha- 
toyante,  Bt.     Diatomous  Schiller  Spar,  M.     Phyllinius  Schilleri,  D. 

This  mineral  was  first  noticed  by  Von  Trebna,  in  1783,  in 
his  mineralogical  description  of  the  Hartz,  but  for  the  best 
account  of  it,  and  its  accurate  analysis,  we  are  indebted  to 
Dr.  F.  Kohler  of  Cassel.t  According  to  this  chemist  it  con- 
sists of, 

Silica 43-900 41-0 62-00 

Magnesia 25-856 29-0 10-00 

Alumina 0-000 3-0 00-00 

Lime 2-642 1-0 13-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 13-021  \ 14-0 13-00 

Protoxide  of  manganese..  0-535 00-0 00-00 

Water 12-426 10-0 00-00 

99-660  Kohler.  93  0  Drapier.  98-OJ  Vauquelin. 

Dr.  Thomson,  regarding  the  iron,  &-c.,  as  accidental,  states 
the  formula  of  this  mineral  thus,  MgS2-hAq  ;  or  it  is  a  hydrous 
bisilicate  of  magnesia.  It  is  evident  from  the  two  other 
analyses,  that  Vauquelin  could  not  have  experimented  on  real 
schiller  spar.  Beudant  includes  the  atoms  of  iron,  &c.,  in  his 
formula. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-0  — 2-8.     H.  r=35  —  4-0. 

*  From  the  German,  signifying  Chatoyant  Spar.        f  PoggendorPs  Annalen,  11, 192. 
J  Including  a  small  portion  of  chromium. 


96  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

It  occurs  in  broad  foliated  masses,  which  cleave  in  two 
directions  parallel  to  the  planes  of  a  rhombic  prism  of  about 
93°  30',  and  86°  30',  one  of  these  cleavages  highly  perfect  and 
easily  obtained,  the  other  appearing  only  in  traces.  No  traces 
of  cleavage  planes  have  been  observed,  to  show  whether  the 
prism  is  right  or  oblique,  but  analogy  would  seem  to  indicate 
the  latter,  which  has  been  assumed.  Color  olive-green,  occa- 
sionally pinchbeck  brown  ;  with  a  shining  metallic  lustre  on 
the  faces  of  cleavage;  opake;  and  yields  to  the  knife.  Streak 
greyish  or  yellowish-white.  Becomes  hard  when  exposed  to 
heat;  and  B  B  assumes  a  metallic  aspect,  and  is  attracted  by 
the  magnet,  but  does  not  completely  fuse.  Is  with  difficulty 
soluble  in  borax,  exhibiting  the  reaction  of  iron  ;  and  with 
salt  of  phosphorus  leaves  a  skeleton  of  silica.  With  carbonate 
of  soda  it  does  not  fuse,  but  exhibits  on  platinum  foil  the  pres- 
ence of  manganese.  Reduced  to  powder,  it  is  readily  acted 
upon  by  sulphuric  or  muriatic  acid. 

It  is  found  in  serpentine  and  greenstone,  at  Baste  in  the 
Hartz.  Dana  in  his  Mineralogy,  cites  two  localities  in  Mas- 
sachusetts—  Blandford,  where  it  is  associated  with  serpen- 
tine, and  Westfield. 

BRONZITE. 

Hemi-prismatic  Schiller  Spar,  M.      Bronzit,  Karsten.     Var.  de  Diallage  Metalloide,  H. 
Phyllinius  ><Ereus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  magnesia,  lime,  and  the  protoxides 
of  iron  and  manganese. 

Stiriii.  Marburg.  Ulten-Thal. 

Silica 60-0 57-19 56-81 

Magnesia 27-5 32-67 29-67 

Lime 00-0 1-29 2-J9 

Protoxide  of  iron 10-5 7*46 8-46 

Protoxide  of  manganese. .00-0 0-00 0-61 

Water 0-5 0-OU 0-22 

98-61  Klaproth.  99  61  Kohler.  97-96  Kohler. 

Formula,  as  given  by  Beudant  from  the  analysis  by  Klaproth, 
4MgS3+FS. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-3.     H.  between  4'0  and  5-0. 

Its  color  is  brown,  dark-green,  or  ash-grey.  It  has  a  pseudo- 
metallic  lustre,  frequently  approaching  that  of  bronze;*  struc- 
ture lamellar.  Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism. 
Cleavage  very  distinct,  and  readily  obtained,  parallel  to  the 
lateral  planes  of  the  prism ;  and  also  with  P,  though  often  a 
little  curved.  M  on  M  93°  30'.  Frequently  thin  layers  of 
calcareous  spar  appear  between  the  laminae  :  surface  striated; 
opake  when  in  mass;  translucent  if  reduced  to  thin  laminae. 
Dana  gives  the  figure  of  a  secondary  crystal,  showing  very 

*  Whence  its  name. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  97 

deep  replacements  on  the  oblique  and  lateral  edges  of  the 
primary. 

It  is  found  in  imbedded  crystalline  masses  in  serpentine,  near 
Kraubat  in  Upper  Styria ;  very  abundantly  on  the  Monte  Bracco, 
near  Sestri,  in  Piedmont ;  imbedded  in  greenstone  at  the  Baste, 
in  the  Hartz ;  near  Hoff,  in  Bayreuth  ;  at  Stempel  near  Mar- 
burg ;  in  the  Ulthen-Thal,  Tyrol ;  in  the  Lizard  district  of 
Cornwall ;  and  elsewhere. 


CORUNDUM.* 

Rhombohedral  Corundum,  M.     Sapphirus  Rhombohedra,  D. 

This  species  includes  sapphire,  corundum-stone,  and  emery. 
It  consists  of  pure  alumina,  colored  from  admixture  with  oxide 
of  iron. 

Blue  Sapphire.  Red  Sapphire.        Corundum.  Emery. 

China.  Bengal.  Naxos. 

Alumina 98-5 84-0 90-0 89-50 86-0 

Lime 0-5 0-0 0-0 0-00 30 

Silica 0-0 6-5 7-0 5-50 3-0 

Oxide  of  iron.   1-0 7-5 1-2 1-25 4-0 

100-0  Klaproth.    98-0  Chenevix.  98-2  Klaproth.     96-25  Tennant.   97-0  Ten. 

Sp.  Gr.  39  —  397.     H.  =  9. 

From  the  analysis  of  a  perfectly  white  crystal  of  sapphire, 
by  Dr.  Muir,  it  would  appear  that  this  gem  is  composed  of  pure 
alumina  (aluminum,  53  29  ;  oxygen  46*71) ;  and  it  is  probable 
that  a  portion  of  the  silica  named  in  the  first  analyses,  was 
abraded  from  the  mortar  in  which  the  mineral  was  pulverized. 

1.  SAPPHIRE. f  Saphir,  W.  Corindon  hyalin,  H.  Perfect 
Corundum,  —  Bournon.  Asteria,  of  Pliny.  This  consists  of 
two  varieties,  the  sapphire  properly  so  called,  and  the  oriental 
ruby,  whose  chief  difference  consists  in  their  color,  although  the 
specific  gravity  of  the  latter  is  also  distinctly  lower.  They  as- 
sume crystalline  forms,  which  are  derived  from  the  same  primary 
crystal,  a  slightly  acute  rhomboid,  by  the  reflective  goniometer 
of  86°  4'  and  93°  56',  in  which  measurements  brilliant  fragments 
of  the  sapphire  and  corundum-stone  perfectly  agree.  It  possesses 
double  refraction.  Alone  B  B  it  suffers  no  change  whether  in 
fragments  or  powder ;  with  borax  fuses  slowly,  but  perfectly, 
into  a  colorless  glass.  It  is  not  acted  upon  by  acids;  but  be- 
comes electric  when  rubbed,  a  peculiarity  which  the  transpa- 
rent polished  specimens  preserve  for  a  considerable  time. 

The  sapphire  is  only  inferior  in  hardness  to  the  diamond;  it 
occurs  crystallized,  in  six-sided  prisms  variously  terminated ; 
and  in  rolled  masses,  which  are  colorless,  or  of  a  blue-red, 

*  Corundum  is  the  name  given  to  common  corundum  by  the  inhabitants  of  India. 
|  Sappheiros,  Greek,  its  ancient  name. 

9 


98 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


yellow,  or  yellowish-green  tinge,  and  transparent  or  translu- 
cent. The  crystals  yield  to  cleavage  pretty  readily  in  one 
direction,  with  a  most  brilliant  surface;  but  they  are  ex- 
tremely difficult  to  cleave  parallel  with  the  other  planes  of  the 
primary  rhomboid.  The  fracture  is  conchoidal. 


P  on  P'  .  .  . 

86° 

4' 

V 

P  or  P'  on  a 

122 

27 

\\ 

h 

154 

2 

r\ 

h  on  h  ... 

128 

20 

/ 

a  ... 

118 

56 

o  ... 

151 

17 

0 

J 

a  on  o  ... 

120 

00 

See  Corundum  Stone. 


Sapphire  has  obtained  several  names  dependent  on  its  color 
and  lustre:  the  transparent  or  translucent,  white  sapphire; 
the  blue,  oriental  sapphire;  the  red,  oriental  ruby ;  the  yel- 
low, oriental  topaz  ;  the  green,  oriental  emerald ;  violet,  orien- 
tal amethyst ;  the  greenish  blue,  oriental  aqua-marine ;  with 
pearly  reflections,  the  chatoyant  or  opalescent  sapphire ;  when 
transparent,  and  with  a  pale  reddish  or  bluish  reflection,  gira- 
sol  sapphire.  Some,  when  cut  en  cabochon,  present  a  silvery 
star-like  opalescence  of  six  rays,  in  a  direction  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  axis;  this  variety  is  termed  Asteria.  The  same 
crystal  occasionally  exhibits  a  union  of  two  or  three  of  these 
different  colors. 

The  Oriental  Ruby*  which  is  the  most  highly  prized  as  an 
ornamental  stone,  is  of  a  blood-red,  or  occasionally  a  rose-red 
color ;  and  chiefly  occurs  in  the  form  of  six-sided  prisms.  If 
exposed  to  a  great  heat,  it  becomes  green,  but  when  cold,  re- 
turns to  its  original  color.  The  green  sapphire  undergoes  no 
change  when  thus  exposed. 


For  an  illustration  of  the  passage  of  the  primary  rhomboid  into  a  six- 


*  Ruby,  from  the  Latin  ruJer,  red. 


EAKTHY    MINERALS. 


99 


sided  prism,  see  page  100.  In  fig.  1  and  2  the  alternate  triangular  planes 
are  the  small  remains  of  the  primary  rhomboid ;  the  alternate  planes  of 
fig.  3  are  also  those  of  the  rhomboid. 


P  on  P' 86°  4' 

P  or  P'  on  a    ...  122  30 

o    ...  137  30 

p  on  o 151  30 

a 118  30 

a  on  o 90  00 

P  on  P  orj9  on  P'  154  7 


Blue  sapphires  are  principally  brought  from  Ceylon,  either  in 
six-sided  prisms  variously  terminated,  or  in  rolled  masses  from 
the  beds  of  torrents ;  perfect  specimens  have  been  found  up- 
wards of  three  inches  in  diameter.  The  finest  red  sapphires 
are  found  in  the  Capelan  Mountains,  twelve  days'  journey 
from  Sirian,  a  city  of  Pegu;  it  also  occurs  near  Billin  and 
Meronitz,  in  Bohemia;  in  the  sand  of  the  brook  Expaillie,  in 
France  ;  at  Brendola,  in  the  Vicentine  ;  on  Mont  St.  Gothard; 
and  in  Portugal. 

In  the  United  States  a  beautiful  blue  sapphire  is  met  with 
in  the  altered  limestone  of  Newton,  Sussex  county,  N.  J. 
The  finest  specimens  are  found  loose  in  the  soil,  usually  con- 
nected with  hornblende  or  felspar.  Small  masses  externally 
composed  of  a  dull,  greyish-white  color,  present,  when  broken, 
a  nucleus  of  deep  blue,  which  is  translucent  on  the  edges. 
No  crystals  of  large  size,  and  regular  form,  have  been  dis- 
covered ;  but  it  is  not  unusual  to  find  small  individuals  pre- 
senting a  figure  very  similar  to  that  on  page  98.  The  mineral 
also  occurs  in  the  same  limestone  at  Warwick,  N.  Y.,  but 
inferior  in  point  of  color  and  size.  In  Connecticut,  near 
Litchfield,  pale,  bluish  crystals  have  been  found  associated 
with  kyanite;  and  in  North  Carolina  single  loose  crystals 
exist  in  the  soil. 

Prof.  Rogers,  in  his  report  on  Pennsylvania,  cites  a  locality 
of  massive  and  crystallized  sapphire  in  Newling  township, 
Chester  county,  where  it  is  accompanied  by  green  tourmaline, 
beryl,  and  red  oxide  of  titanium,  in  beds  of  limestone.  It 
occurs  also  in  large,  detached  brownish-yellow  crystals,  in 
Delaware  county,  some  of  them  measuring  four  inches  across 
the  longer  diameter  of  the  base. 

"  Tavernier  describes  two  large  oriental  rubies,  said  to  have 
belonged  to  the  king  of  Visapur,  one  of  which  weighed  fifty 
and  three  quarter  carats,  and  the  other  seventeen  and  a  half 
carats.  The  first  was  valued  at  sixty  thousand  francs,  and  the 
latter  at  seventy-five  thousand  five  hundred  and  thirty  francs. 


100  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

The  king  of  Pegu,  and  the  monarchs  of  Siam,  monopolise  the 
fine  rubies,  as  the  sovereigns  of  the  peninsula  of  India  have 
done  the  diamonds.  The  finest  ruby  in  the  world  is  in  pos- 
session of  the  first;  its  purity  is  a  proverb,  and  its  worth  when 
compared  with  gold,  is  inestimable.  The  Subah  of  the  Divan 
is  also  in  possession  of  one  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  the  em- 
press Catherine  of  Russia,  possessed  one  of  the  size  of  a 
pigeon's  egg." 

"A  blue  sapphire  is  described  by  the  English  embassy  to 
Ava,  of  the  weight  of  nine  hundred  and  fifty-one  carats.  In 
the  crown  jewels  of  France  there  is  one  natural  crystal  of  one 
hundred  and  sixty  carats,  and  in  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  there 
was  one  valued  at  ^3,000  sterling." — Feuchtw anger  on  Gems. 

Probably  the  most  splendid  oriental  ruby  in  the  United 
States,  is  that  now  in  possession  of  Col.  George  Bomford,  of 
Washington  city.  It  was  originally  purchased  at  the  cost  of 
about  $7,000,  in  Paris,  by  Mr.  Barlow,  whilst  acting  as  Amer- 
ican minister  to  the  court  of  France. 

2.  CORUNDUM-STONE,  or  Common  Corundum,  has,  proba- 
bly from  its  texture,  received  the  name  of  imperfect  corundum, 
and  from  its  hardness,  or  from  its  occasional  peculiar  lustre, 
that  of  Adamantine  Spar.  It  is  sometimes  nearly  colorless, 
and  somewhat  translucent;  but  more  often  has  a  greyish  or 
greenish  tint,  occasionally  reddish  ;  also  brown,  with  a  metal- 
lic chaytoyant  lustre ;  more  rarely  blue,  yellow  and  transpa- 
rent, or  black  and  opake.  The  common  form  of  its  crystal  is 
the  six-sided  prism,  which  rarely  exhibits  a  tendency  to  flat 
triedal  terminations;  it  occurs  also  in  obtuse  and  in  acute 
hexahedral  pyramids.  Is  likewise  found  granular  or  com- 
pact. The  form  of  the  primary  rhomboid,  which  perfectly 
agrees  with  that  of  sapphire,  is  pretty  easily  obtained  by  cleav- 
age, because  some  foreign  substance  is  commonly  interposed 
between  the  laminae.  B  B,  this  substance  comports  itself  like 
the  sapphire. 

Granular  corundum  has  the  general  appearance  of  a  rough, 
purplish-colored  jasper;  but  it  consists  of  grains,  here  and 
there  of  a  rose-color,  closely  associated  with  fibrolite;  it  is 
described  by  Bournon  as  compact  corundum. 

345 


Fig.  1  is  the  primary  rhomboid.     Fig.  2  represents  a  rare  variety,  in 
which  all  the  lateral  edges  of  the  primary  rhomboid  are  deeply  replaced 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


101 


by  planes,  tending  to  a  six-sided  prism,  but  terminated  by  portions  of  the 
planes  of  that  rhomboid.  Fig.  3  is  a  six-sided  prism,  arising  from  the 
complete  replacement  of  the  summits  of  fig.  2.  Fig.  4,  a  very  acute 
double  six-sided  pyramid  ;  of  these  there  are  several  varieties ;  as  well 
as  of  obtuse  six-sided  pyramids,  h'g.  5.  The  two  latter  are  rarely  found 
presenting  both  pyramids. 


P  on  P  .  .   . 

86° 

4' 

P  or  P  on  P'  .  . 

93 

56 

o  on  o  ,  .  .  . 

120 

00 

a  on  o  .  .  . 

90 

oo 

P  on  a  

122 

50 

b  1  on  b  1  .... 

130 

00  c.  g. 

62  on  b  2  .  .  .  . 

114 

00 

h  1  on  h  1  over  a 

58 

00 

2—  2  

50 

00 

Q     q 

40 

00 

4         A 

*±\j 

OK 

I/  If 

oo 

5    5 

oO 

30 

uu 

oo 

6—  6  

24 

00 

7  —  7  

20 

00 

8—8  

12 

00 

The  planes  o  o  o  in  conjunction  with  a  tend  to  the  production  of  a  regu- 
lar six-sided  prism. 

b  1  and  &  2  to  obtuse  rhomboids,  by  planes  situated  on  those 

of  the  primary  rhomboid,  and  inclining  on  its  summit. 

h  1 — 8  to  double  six-sided  pyramids  with  triangular  planes ; 

they  do  not  however  occur  as  above  represented  on  the  same  crystal,  but 
on  separate  crystals,  first  noticed  and  measured  by  Bournon,  and  since 
verified  by  the  author's  own  measurements. 

Common  corundum  occurs  in  granitic  rocks,  accompanied 
by  fibrolite,  talc,  garnet,  zircon,  and  magnetic  iron  ;  in  China, 
in  the  kingdom  of  Ava,  on  the  coast  of  Malabar,  and  in  the 
Carnatic.  In  smaller  quantities  also  imbedded  in  magnetic 
iron  at  Gellivara  in  Sweden ;  near  Mozzo  in  Piedmont  in  com- 
pact felspar ;  and  at  St.  Gothard,  of  a  red  or  blue  tinge,  in 
dolomite. 

In  the  East  Indies  it  is  used  for  polishing  steel,  and  cutting 
gems;  but  the  lapidaries  of  Europe  prefer  diamond  powder,  on 
account  of  the  greater  rapidity  with  which  it  works. 

3.  EMERY.  Schmiergel,  W.  Corindon  Granulaire,  H. 
Emeril,  Bt.  Emery,  though  it  bears  little  resemblance,  is, 
from  its  hardness  and  analysis,  considered  to  be  a  variety  of 
the  preceding.  It  usually  occurs  in  masses  of  a  blackish  or 
bluish-grey  color,  having  the  aspect  rather  of  a  fine-grained 
rock,  than  of  a  simple  mineral.  It  occurs  both  massive  and 
disseminated,  with  a  somewhat  glistening  lustre,  and  is  ex- 
tremely tough  and  difficult  to  break.  Its  specific  gravity  is 
3'66.  In  the  Isle  of  Naxos,  emery  is  found  in  rounded  masses 
at  the  foot  of  primitive  mountains.  It  occurs  also  near  Smyr- 
na, in  Italy,  and  in  Spain;  but  that  of  Ochsenkopf,  near 
9* 


102  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Schneeberg,  in  Saxony,  seems  to  be  the  only  variety  which  has 
been  seen  in  situ :  it  there  occurs  with  talc-slate,  is  of  a  dark 
blue  or  black  color,  and  has  much  resemblance  to  fine-grained 
basalt. 


DIASPORE. 

Euklastic  Disthene  Spar,  Haidinger.    Diaspora,  H.  Bt.     Epimecins  Dissiliens,  D.     Dihy- 
drate  of  Alumina  of  Dr.  Thomson. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  water ;  often  mixed  with  hy- 
drate of  iron. 

Ural. 

Alumina 85-14 80-0 76-06 

Water 14-56 17-0 14-70 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-00 3-0...  ..  7-78 


99-70  Hess.  100-0  Vauquelin.   98-54  Children. 

The  protoxide  of  iron  being  regarded  as  accidental,  the  con- 
stitution of  this  mineral  is  thus  represented,  taking  Children's 
analysis :  Al'2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-43.     H.:=6-  —  6'5 

Diaspore  is  yet  a  scarce  mineral.  It  occurs  massive,  in 
slightly  curvilinear  laminae  of  a  shining  pearly  lustre  and  green- 
ish-grey color,  and  which  may  be  readily  separated ;  also  in 
cellular  masses,  constituted  of  slender  crystals,  which  have  a 
pearly  lustre,  and  intercept  each  other  in  every  direction ;  of 
a  brown  hue  externally,  but  perfectly  transparent  and  colorless 
when  reduced  to  thin  laminae;  rarely  also  in  separate  crystals, 
in  the  form  of  a  doubly  oblique  prism,  M  on  T  64°  54',  P  on 
T  101°  20',  P  on  M  103°  30'.*  It  scratches  glass.  Ex- 
posed to  heat  in  a  matrass,  it  decrepitates  violently,  is  dis- 
persed (hence  its  name,  from  the  Greek),  and  splits  into  small, 
white  brilliant  scales,  which,  B  B,  with  borax  fuse  readily  into 
a  colorless  glass.  Berzelius  says  that  these  small  scales  restore 
the  blue  color  of  reddened  litmus  paper;  but  Mr.  Children  did 
not  find  this  to  be  the  case  with  the  specimen  which  he  exam- 
ined. When  digested  in  muriatic  acid,  it  becomes  colorless, 
the  oxide  of  iron  being  dissolved,  but  the  mineral  itself  remain- 
ing unchanged. 

The  oblique  edges  of  the  prism  are  sometimes  replaced  by  a 
single  plane,  probably  a  tangent  plane,  but  it  is  not  sufficiently 
smooth  for  measurement. 

It  is  described  as  occurring  only  near  the  village  of  Kosoi- 
brod  in  the  Oreribourg  government  of  Asiatic  Russia,  where  it 
forms  veins  in  primary  limestone.  Its  superior  lustre  distin- 
guishes it  from  the  last  species,  some  varieties  of  which  it 
nearly  resembles. 

*  According  to  Mohs,  it  is  a  rhombic  prism  of  about  130C. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  103 

GIBBSITE.* 

Hydrate  of  Alumina.     Gibbsite,  Torrey.     Cleavdand.     Hydrolus  Gibbsianus,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  water.  Analysis  by  Dr.  Torrey  : 
Alumina  64'8,  water  34'7.  It  is  a  simple  hydrate  of  alumina. 
Specific  gravity  2*4  ;  hardness  between  3*0  and  3'5. 

It  is  described  as  commonly  occurring  in  aggregations  of 
irregular  stalactites  from  1  to  3  inches  in  length,  and  not  less 
than  an  inch  in  diameter ;  and  sometimes  in  a  botryoidal  crust 
lining  the  cavities  of  the  hematite  iron  ore,,  in  connection  with 
which  it  occurs.  Structure  indistinctly  fibrous,  fibres  radiating 
from  the  centre  ;  a  little  harder  than  calcareous  spar,  but  easily 
reduced  to  powder  ;  slightly  translucent,  and  lustre  faint;  color 
greenish-  or  greyish-white.  B  B,  it  whitens  but  is  infusible; 
yields  in  the  matrass  much  water,  but  does  not  effervesce  with 
acids. 

This  mineral  was  first  discovered  by  Prof.  Emmons  in  the  beds 
of  hematite  iron  ore  in  Richmond,  Mass.  More  recently  it  has 
been  found  in  a  similar  ore  bed  in  the  neighboring  town  of 
West  Stockbridge,  where  Prof.  Hitchcock  has  observed  it  in 
the  form  of  delicate  needles  implanted  on  the  hematite;  and 
also  under  the  same  circumstances  in  Lenox,  Mass.  It  was 
analyzed  at  about  the  same  time  by  Dr.  Torrey  and  Prof. 
Dewey,  both  of  whom  found  it  to  be  a  pure  hydrate  of  alumina. 
Dr.  Thomson  has  since  analyzed  what  must  have  been  an  im- 
pure specimen,  as  he  is  himself  inclined  to  admit;  for  his  re- 
sults give,  besides  alumina  and  water,  nearly  9  per  cent  of  sil- 
ica and  4  of  peroxide  of  iron. 

HYDRARGILLITE. 

This  mineral  has  been  described  by  Prof.  G.  Rose  in  Pogg. 
Ann.  xxxvii.  277.  It  has  not  been  analyzed,  but  appears  to  be, 
as  its  name  indicates,  a  pure  hydrate  of  alumina,  analogous  to 
Gibbsite.  But  it  occurs  in  regular  crystals,  or  six-sided  prisms 
terminated  by  single  plane  faces,  with  their  lateral  edges  re- 
placed. Surfaces  streaked.  Cleaves  parallel  to  the  terminal 
faces.  Terminal  faces  possess  a  pearly  lustre,  while  the  late- 
ral faces  have  a  feeble,  vitreous  lustre.  Color  reddish-white. 
Hardness  little  less  than  that  of  calcareous  spar,  which 
scratches  easily  the  terminal  planes,  but  less  easily  the  lateral 
ones.  Specific  gravity  not  stated.  B  B,  it  becomes  white 
and  opake,  exfoliating  without  melting.  It  gives  out  an  intense 
light  without  coloring  the  flame.  Heated  in  a  close  tube,  it 
gives  out  abundance  of  water  without  any  re-action,  and  the 
presence  of  hydro-fluoric  acid  cannot  be  discovered  in  the 

*  In  honor  of  the  late  Col.  George  Gibbs,  who  was  so  well  known  for  his  zeal  and  mu- 
nificence in  the  cause  of  science. 


104  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

tube.  With  borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus  it  produces  readily 
a  limpid  pearl.  With  boracic  acid  and  iron  it  does  not  pro- 
duce the  re-action  of  phosphorus.  Does  not  melt  with  soda. 
With  nitrate  of  cobalt  it  gives  a  beautiful  blue  color. 

The  locality  of  this  mineral  is  Achmatowsk,  near  Statoust 
in  Siberia.  There  is  a  mineral  found  on  the  hill  of  Beaux, 
near  Aries,  which  resembles  the  hydrargillite  and  has  been 
described  and  analyzed  by  Berthier.*  It  is  a  hydrate  of  alu- 
mina of  nearly  a  blood-red  color,  but  it  is  not  crystallized,  and 
occurs  more  nearly  in  the  form  of  Gibbsite.  It  is  mechani- 
cally mixed  with  oxide  of  iron. 


HYDROUS  TRISILICATE  OF  ALUMINA. 

Kollyrite,  L.     Alumine  Hydrate  Silicifere,  Levy.     Hydrolus  Argilliformis,  D. 

Alumina 45-0 44-5 

Silica 14-0 15-0 

Water 4:2-0 40-5 

101-0  Klaproth.        100-0  Berthier.  | 

The  atomic  proportions,  as  deduced  from  these  analyses, 
show  the  mineral  to  be  a  hydrous  trisilicate  of  alumina. 
—  Thomson.  Formula,  Al3S+oAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-06  to  2-11.     H.  =  3-25. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  white  and  nearly  opake  masses, 
which  are  perfectly  sectile.  When  broken,  it  presents  an 
earthy  fracture,  with  a  somewhat  vitreous  lustre. 

It  dissolves  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  and  is  con- 
verted into  a  saline  magma  without  crystals;  but  is  not  affected 
by  the  blowpipe.  When  calcined,  it  gives  off  much  water, 
separates  into  columnar  masses  like  starch,  and  loses  weight; 
adheres  to  the  tongue,  absorbs  water  with  a  slight  noise,  and 
becomes  almost  transparent. 

It  occurs  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary,  and  in  the  gallery  of  a 
lead  mine  on  the  bank  of  the  river  Oo,  in  the  Pyrenees. 

The  following  are  similar  compounds,  and  most  probably 
mere  varieties  of  this  species,  differing  in  the  proportions  of 
their  constituents,  and  in  containing  some  accidental  admix- 
tures : 

1.  SEVERITE.  Analysis  by  Pelletier  :  alumina  22,  silica  50, 
water  26,  loss  2.  It  occurs  in  small  masses  of  a  white  color, 
without  lustre,  but  possessing  a  slight  degree  of  translucency ; 
occasionally  it  is  semi-transparent.  It  is  a  little  harder  than 
lithomarge,  which  it  somewhat  resembles.  The  surfaces  pro- 
duced by  fracture  are  dull ;  it  is  extremely  brittle,  and  yields 
easily  to  the  knife ;  is  soft,  but  receives  a  high  polish  by  fric- 
tion ;  adheres  strongly  to  the  tongue,  and  emits  no  argillaceous 

*  Ann.  des  Mines,  v.  531.  t Ann-  de  Chim-  et  de  Phys.,  vi.,  333. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  105 

odor  when  breathed  on.  It  does  not  effervesce  with  acids,  nor 
form  a  paste  with  water.  It  was  found  by  M.  Dufour  in  the 
neighborhood  of  St.  Sever*  in  France,  in  a  gravelly  soil,  in 
masses  from  2  to  4  or  5  inches  in  diameter. 

2.  LENziNiTE.t  —  John.     It  has  been  divided  into  two  vari- 
eties, the  opaline  and  the  argillaceous,  the  first  consisting  of 
alumina  37'5,  silica  37'5,  water  25'0,  and  a  trace  of  lime.     Of 
a  milk-white  color;  to  the  touch  smooth  and  slightly  greasy; 
surface  not  shining;  fracture  large  and  flat  conchoidal ;  trans- 
lucent, or  transparent  on  the  edges;  sectile ;   easily  reducible 
to  a  white  powder ;   adheres  to  the  tongue.     Specific  gravity  2'1. 
In  water  it  separates  into  numerous  pieces,  which  are  nearly 
transparent,  and  which,  on  the  slightest  touch,  fall  into  small 
hard  grains. 

The  argillaceous  variety  consists  of  alumina  35'5,  silica  39'0, 
water  25'0,  lime  a  trace.  —  John.  Color  snow-white  ;  occasion- 
ally tinged  yellow  by  oxide  of  iron ;  dull,  with  an  earthy  frac- 
ture, and  slight  coherence.  In  minute  pieces  only  it  is  slightly 
translucent;  it  becomes  shining  and  unctuous  by  friction,  and 
strongly  adheres  to  the  tongue.  Its  specific  gravity  is  I '80. 
Placed  in  water,  it  breaks  down  with  much  sediment,  but  less 
than  that  of  the  opaline,  without  increasing  its  transparency. 
Exposed  to  a  red  heat,  it  becomes  hard  enough  to  scratch 
glass,  but  undergoes  no  other  change.  Both  varieties  occur 
at  Kail  in  Eifeld. 

Dr.  Thomson  is  led  by  analysis  and  other  characters  to  re- 
gard both  this  mineral  and  severite  as  varieties  of  halloylite, 
which  last,  with  scarbroite,  he  makes  into  two  other  species. 
He  has  also  added  to  the  class  of  hydrous  aluminous  minerals 
a  few  others,  for  which  he  has  proposed  new  specific  names: 
as  Gilbertite,  Hydrous  Bucholzite,  Tuesite,  Hydrous  Bisilicate 
of  Magnesia,  and  Quartersilicate  of  Alumina.  A  part  of  these 
have  been  transferred  to  this  work,  but  it  does  not  appear  cer- 
tain that  the  others  are  strictly  definite  combinations. 

3.  ALLOPHANE.     Stromeyer.     (Gilbert's  Annalen,  liv.,  120.) 
Alumina  32202,  silica  21:922,  water  4 1 '30 1,  lime  0-/30,  car- 
bonate of  copper  3-050,  sulphate  of  lime  0*517,  hydrate  of 
iron  0  270. 

This  mineral  was  analyzed  three  different  times  by  Stro- 
meyer, with  almost  precisely  the  same  results,  showing  a  con- 
stancy in  the  proportions  of  its  constituents.  It  is  sometimes 
described  as  a  distinct  species,  and  Dr.  Thomson  thus  records 
its  formula  from  the  first  analysis :  2AlS+Al2SH-10Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-8  —  1-9.  H.  =  3-0. 

*  Whence  Severite.  t  Named  in  honor  of  Lenz,  a  German  mineralogist. 


106  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

It  occurs  in  translucent  masses,  possessing  a  somewhat  vit- 
reous Justre,  and  a  pale  blue,  green,  or  brown  color ;  it  is  ex- 
tremely brittle,  but  may  occasionally  be  cleaved  into  prisms, 
which  apparently  are  rectangular.  B  B,  it  intumesces  without 
fusing,  and  falls  into  powder,  communicating  to  the  flame  a 
green  tinge;  with  borax  it  melts  into  a  colorless  glass,  and  in 
acid  it  gelatinizes.  It  occurs  at  Saalfeld  in  Thuringia,  at 
Gersbach  in  the  Black  Forest,  in  the  Upper  Palatinate,  and  at 
Schneeberg  in  Saxony. 

4.  SCARBROITE.     Contains  alumina  42'75,  silica  7'90,  water 
48'55,  peroxide  of  iron  0*80.  —  Vernon.     Sp.  Gr.  I  '48.    Easily 
scratched  by  the  knife;  massive;  color  pure  white;  devoid  of 
lustre;  fracture  conchoidal;  highly  adhesive  to  moist  surfaces, 
and  polished  by  the  nail ;    breathed  upon,  it  emits  a  strong 
earthy  smell,  and  when  immersed  in  water  neither  becomes 
translucent    nor    falls    to   pieces,    but   gains   considerably   in 
weight.     It  occurs   in   a  calcareous  rock   on   the  Yorkshire 
coast,  near  Scarborough,  between  septae  of  oxide  of  iron. 

5.  HALLOYSITE.     Consists  of  alumina  34'0,  silica  39  5,  wa- 
ter 26'5. — Earthier.     Sp.  Gr.  I'S  —  2'1.     In  compact  amor- 
phous masses,  having  the  aspect  of  steatite;  color  white,  gen- 
erally with  a  slightly  bluish  tint;  translucent  on  the  edges; 
fracture  conchoidal,  like  that  of  wax;  imbibes  water,  giving 
off  numerous  globules  of  air,  and  becoming  more  translucent; 
adheres  to  the  tongue  ;  yields  to  the  nail,  and  is  polished  by  it ; 
when  exposed  to  a  high  temperature  it  loses  in  weight,  but  ac- 
quires much  hardness,  and  its  color  becomes  milk-white;  sul- 
phuric acid  decomposes  it  readily,  dissolving  the  alumina,  and 
leaving  the  silica  in  a  gelatinous  state. 

It  occurs  along  with  ores  of  zinc,  iron,  and  lead,  in  the  vi- 
cinity of  Liege  and  Namur ;  and,  according  to  Boussingault, 
also  in  the  province  of  Bogota,  in  New  Granada.  It  was  de- 
scribed as  a  new  species  by  Berthier,  and  named  by  him  in 
honor  of  his  uncle,  M.  Omalius  d'Halloy,  who  first  noticed  it. 
(Allan's  Manual.) 

KYANITE. 

Sappare,  Saussure,    Kyanit,  W.     Disthene,  H.    Prismatic  Disthene  Spar,  M.    Rheetiz- 
ile.     Fibrolite.    Ephimecius  Cyaneus,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  silica. 

Far.  Fibrolite.  White, 

St.  Gothaid.  Carnal  c.  Norway.  Zillerthal. 

Alumina 55-50 58-a5 62-5 67-8 

Silica 43-00 38-75 37-0 31  6 

Oxide  ofiron  00-50 00-75 0-0 0-0 

99-00  Klaproth.     97-00  Chenevix.    99-5  Arfwedson.  99-4  Beud. 

The  mean  of  four  accurate  analyses  by  Arfwedson,  gave 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


107 


silica   36-66,  alumina   6397,  which   divided   by  the   atomic 
weight,  gives  1  atom  silica,  l£  atom  alumina:  formula  Al^S 

Sp.  Gr.  3-5—3-7.     H.  —  5-0  —  7'0. 

Primary  form  a  doubly  oblique  prism,  of  which  the  termina- 
tions are  nearly  rhombs;  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the 
prism,  with  difficulty  parallel  to  those  which  may  be  consid- 
ered as  the  terminal.  The  angles  of  the  prism  are  106°  15' 
and  73°  45' ;  of  the  terminal  plane  on  the  prism,  in  one  direc- 
tion 100°  50'  and  79°  10',  and  in  the  other  93°  15'  and  86° 
45'.  Generally  occurs  in  irregularly  terminated  four-sided 
prisms.  Its  colors  are  white,  grey,  and  blue.*  It  has  some- 
times a  greenish  tinge;  the  grey  and  blue  are  often  inter- 
mixed in  the  same  crystal ;  lustre  pearly ;  the  edges  of  the 
crystals  scratch  glass,  but  the  broad  surfaces  yield  to°it.  Some 
crystals  by  friction  acquire  negative  electricity,  others  posi- 
tive.t  B  B  even  its  powder  is  infusible,  and  it  remains  unal- 
tered in  very  high  degrees  of  temperature ;  with  borax  it  fuses 
slowly  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass,  and  with  salt  of  phos- 
phorus forms  a  translucent  silica  skeleton,  and  a  glass  which 
does  not  become  opaline  on  cooling.  Is  not  acted  upon  by 
acids. 

^ — v 

Mon  T 106°  15 

P  on  M 100  50 

T 93  15 

i 97  48 

k 83  38 

M  on  i 145  16 

T  on  i 140  55 

k 122  20 

It  occurs  only  in  primitive  rocks.  In  St.  Gothard  in  mica 
slate,  associated  with  garnet,  staurolite,  and  quartz;  in  the 
Sau-alp  in  Carinthia,  with  garnet,  actynolite,  &c. ;  in  the  Ty- 
rol with  quartz  and  hornblende;  in  very  large  crystals  in 
Bohemia;  at  Villa  Ricca  in  South  America.  In  the  United 
States  exceedingly  rich  and  beautiful,  at  Litchfield,  Washing- 
ton, Plymouth,  and  Oxford,  Conn. ;  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  in 
mica  slate,  and  Charlestown,  N.  H.,  in  quartz.  At  Chester- 
field prisms  are  sometimes  met  with  two  feet  long  and  nearly 
two  inches  wide. —  Webster.  At  Windham,  Me.,  it  is  very 
abundant,  and  of  fine  color,  in  a  vein  of  quartz  which  tra- 
verses mica  slate,  and  it  is  accompanied  by  staurotide,  espe- 
cially near  the  walls  of  the  vein. — Cleaveland. 

*  Whence  Kyanite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  blue. 

f  Hence  the  name  Disthene  was  given  by  Haiiy  to  this  mineral,  on  account  of  its  dou- 
ble electric  powers. 


108  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Rhatizite  is  a  nearly  white  or  somewhat  reddish  variety 
in  aggregated  masses,  from  the  Pfitsch-thal  in  the  Tyrol. 

When  in  sufficiently  large  masses,  of  a  fine  blue  color  and 
transparent,  this  species  is  cut  and  polished  as  an  ornamental 
stone,  bearing  some  resemblance  to  sapphire. 

FIBROLITE.  With  this  mineral  should  now  be  classed^/z&ro- 
lite,  which  was  before  described  as  a  distinct  species.  They 
agree  in  chemical  composition  and  in  their  characters  B  B  ;  nor 
is  there  any  thing  in  the  crystalline  structure  of  the  fibrolite  to 
oppose  the  union,  so  far  as  this  structure  has  been  developed. 
The  principal  authority  we  have  for  uniting  them  is  Prof. 
Vanuxem,  who  experimented  on  the  kyanite  from  St.  Gothard, 
from  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  and  a  fibrolite  from  Wilmington, 
Del.  He  thus  states  their  composition.* 

St.  Gothard.        Chesterfield.          Wilmington. 

Silica 42-00 42  56 42-77 

Alumina 57-50 57-00 55-50 

Loss 00-50 00-44 01-73 

100-00  100-00  100-00 

These  results  very  nearly  accord  with  those  obtained  by 
Chenevix  of  the  analysis  of  the  Carnatic  fibrolite. 

Fibrolite  is  white,  or  of  a  greenish-grey  color,  and  some- 
times of  the  lustre  of  pearl  and  water  blended.  It  is  fibrous,t 
harder  than  quartz,  giving  sparks  with  steel.  The  fibres  of 
which  it  is  composed  are  rarely  so  large  as  to  present  any  very 
determinate  form,  and  are  obliquely  traversed  by  cracks.  It  is 
infusible ;  acquires  a  sensible  resinous  electricity  by  friction,  and 
emits  a  reddish  phosphorescent  light  when  two  pieces  are  rub- 
bed together.  It  is  found  accompanying  crystals  of  corundum  in 
the  Carnatic,  and  as  a  component  part  of  the  granite  which  is 
the  matrix  of  that  of  China.  It  was  first  described  by  Count 
Bournon.  In  the  United  States,  it  is  found  at  Lancaster, 
Mass.,  in  mica  slate,  in  a  fibrous  form,  and  also  in  long  bladed 
or  foliated  prisms;  and  at  Walpole,  N.  H.,  in  mica  slate;  at 
Bellows  Falls,  in  gneiss,  according  to  Dr.  Jackson.  In  Scot- 
land, it  occurs  at  Botrifiny  in  Banflfshire  in  gneiss;  in  primi- 
tive rocks  near  Banchory  in  Aberdeerishire;  and  in  mica-slate 
in  Mainland,  Shetland. 

WORTHITE. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  in  1830,  by  Von  Worth, 
Secretary  of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Peters- 

*  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philad.,  vi.  41.  f  Whence  fibrolite. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 

burg.  It  has  been  twice  analyzed  by  Dr.  Hess,  who  named  it 
in  honor  of  Von  Worth.*  The  following  are  his  mean  results  : 
silica  40-79,  alumina  53'06,  magnesia  0*88,  water  4-63. 

These  results,  including  the  magnesia  with  the  alumina,  give 
very  nearly  five  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  one  atom  hydrate  of 
alumina.  Formula :  5AlS+AlAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-1.     H.  —  8-5. 

It  is  found  in  rolled  masses  or  boulders  destitute  of  any  regu- 
lar crystalline  structure,  but  sometimes  presenting  very  small, 
apparently  four-sided  prisms,  or  plates  similar  to  common 
kyanite ;  a  mineral  with  which  it  is  classed  by  some  authors, 
but  from  which  it  differs  in  containing  essentially  combined 
water,  and  in  its  much  superior  hardness.  It  is  translucent, 
of  a  white  color,  vitreous  lustre,  and  is  harder  than  quartz,  or 
even  topaz.  When  heated  in  a  matrass  it  gives  off  its  water 
and  becomes  opake.  B  B,  alone,  on  charcoal,  it  is  infusible. 
With  borax  it  dissolves  very  slowly,  and  with  carbonate  of  soda 
it  intumesces,  but  the  assay  does  not  fuse  completely  in  the 
strongest  heat  Moistened  with  nitrate  of  cobalt  and  strongly 
heated,  it  gives  a  beautiful  dark  blue.  This  mineral  occurs 
near  St.  Petersburg,  and  on  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Finland. 

BUCHOLZITE.t 

Brandes,  (Schweigger's  Jour.,  xxv.  125.)    Anhydrous  Silicate  of  Alumina.    Dr.  Thomson, 
( Trans.  Roy.  Soc.  Edinb.,  xi.  263.)     Epimecius  Bucholzianus,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  silica. 

Tyrol.  Chester,  Penn.  Xenolite. 

Silica 46-0 46-40 47-44 

Alumina 50-0 52-92 52-54 

Potash 1-5 0-00 0-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-5 traces 0-00 


100-0  Brandes.  99-3:2  Thomson.        99-98  Komonen. 

The  atoms  of  silica  are  23-46,  while  those  of  the  alumina 
are  23-43,  showing  that  the  mineral  is  evidently  a  simple  anhy- 
drous silicate  of  alumina.     Formula  :  AISi,  or  Al  Si. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-19.      H.  =  6  — 7. 

This  mineral  is  amorphous,  spotted  white  and  black,  with  a 
glistening  lustre,  which  is  waxy,  pearly,  or  vitreous  ;  separating 
into  fibres,  especially  in  the  black  part,  but  in  the  white  and 
grey  the  texture  is  often  with  difficulty  perceivable.  The  cross 
fracture  is  occasionally  conchoidal.  The  fragments  are  mostly 
wedge-shaped  and  sharp,  and  when  thin  are  slightly  translucent. 

Specimen  from  Chester  ;  color  greyish-white,  with  a  slight 
tinge  of  yellow ;  structure  fibrous,  the  fibres  sometimes  bent, 

*  Transactions  of  the  Imperial  Soc.  of  St.  Petersburg,  vol.  i.  part  i.  p.  76. 
f  So  named  in  honor  of  Buebolz  the  ehemut,  by  Brandes,  ita  discoverer. 

10 


110  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

and  when  viewed  through  a  microscope  assuming  the  appear- 
ance of  imperfect  prismatic  crystals;  lustre  silky. 

It  was  first  found  at  Fassa-thal  in  the  Tyrol,  by  Dr.  Brandes. 
In  the  United  States  it  is  found  at  Chester,  on  the  Delaware 
river,  Penn. ;  also  at  Humpreysville,  Ct.,  and,  according  to  Dr. 
Horton,  at  several  places  in  Monroe,  Orange  county,  N.  Y. 

XENOLITE  was  discovered  by  Von  Worth,  near  Petershoff,  in 
boulders,  on  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Finland,  and  was  named 
by  Nordenskiold,  from  £eros,  a  stranger.*  Its  color  is  white, 
greyish  and  yellowish,  and  externally  it  very  much  resembles 
Worthite  ;  is  translucent,  has  an  uneven  fracture,  and  a  vitre- 
ous lustre  ;  is  in  fibrous  masses,  which  sometimes  divide  into 
three-sided  prisms,  two  sides  of  which  form  an  angle  of  45° 
38',  and  the  third  appears  to  be  at  right  angles  with  one  of  the 
others.  In  its  blowpipe  characters,  and  chemical  composition, 
it  agrees  with  Bucholzite ;  and  its  complete  identity  with  that 
mineral,  was  first  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Teschemacher,  in  the 
Jour,  of  the  Boston  Soc.  of  Natural  History,  for  May,  1843. 

STAUROLITE. 

Grenatitf,  W.      Staurolite,  H.      Piismatoidal  Garnet,  M.       Carbunculus  decusaatus,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina,  silica,  and  oxide  of  iron. 

St.  Gothard. 
Bretagne.          Reddish-brown.        Blackish-brown. 

Alumina 44 -Of) 39-d8 4 1-00 

Silica 33-00 36-09 37-50 

Protoxide  of  Iron 13-00 18-14 lt<-25 

Protoxide  of  manganese...   J'OO 4-04 0-50 

Lime 3-84    Magnesia..  0-68 0-05 

98-84  Vauquel in.   99-52  Thomson.     97-75  Klaproth. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-3—3-9.     H.  =  7-0—7-5. 

From  the  mean  of  the  two  first  analyses,  uniting  the  oxides 
of  iron  and  manganese,  we  obtain  four  atoms  silicate  of  alumina, 
one  atom  hexasilicate  of  iron.  Formula:  4A1S-|-F6S. 

Staurolite  presents  a  reddish-brown  color,  and  occurs  some- 
times in  rhombic  prisms,  of  which  the  acute  edges  are  fre- 
quently replaced,  thus  converting  them  into  six-sided  prisms. 
The  crystals  often  intersect  and  cross  each  other  at  particular 
angles,  and  are  then  superficially  of  a  dull  brown  color ;  the  pri- 
mary crystal  is  a  right  rhombic  prism  of  129°  20'  and  50°  40', 
by  the  reflective  goniometer ;  it  is  divisible  parallel  to  its  sides 
and  diagonals,  the  latter  with  the  greatest  brilliancy.  Stauro- 
lite is  opake  or  translucent ;  has  a  vitreous  or  resinous  lustre  ; 

*  Transactions  of  the  Imperial  Soc.  of  St.  Petersburg,  vol.  1.  part  i.  p.  76. 
f  Staurolite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  a  cross  stone.    Greuatite,  in  allusion  to  its 
(occasional;  garnet  color. 

fl* 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Ill 


and  in  the  apparently  pure  varieties,  a  conchoidal  fracture. 
B  B  it  assumes  a  darker  hue,  but  per  se  does  not  fuse;  with 
borax  it  melts  slowly  into  a  transparent  deep-green  colored 
glass. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  form;  a  right  rhombic  prism.  Fig.  2,  the  same, 
of  which  the  acute  edges  are  replaced  by  planes,  forming  a  six-sided 
crystal.  Fig.  3  differs  only  from  fig.  2  in  having  the  obtuse  solid  angles 
replaced  by  triangular  planes.  Fig.  4,  a  made,  consisting  of  two  crystals 
resembling  fig.  2,  crossing  each  other  at  right  angles.  Fig.  5,  a  macle, 
in  which  the  crystals  cross  each  other  at  a  different  angle. 


M  on  M' 129°  20' 

P  on  M  or  M'  .  .  90  00 
M  or  M'  on  a  .  .  .  137  58 
M'onft  ,  .  115  18 


The  staurolite  belongs  to  primitive  countries.  It  occurs  in 
the  form  of  fig.  2  at  St.  Gothard  in  Switzerland,  accompany- 
ing kyanite,  and  imbedded  in  talc  slate ;  also  in  the  Greiner 
Mountain,  Tyrol :  macles  of  considerable  size,  superficially  of 
a  dull  brown  color,  and  opake,  are  met  with  in  Bretagne  in 
micaceous  clay,  considered  to  be  the  debris  of  a  primitive 
rock.  Several  other  varieties  occur  at  Compostella  in  Spain, 
in  some  of  the  Hebrides,  generally  dark  colored  and  opake. 

It  is  an  abundant  mineral  in  the  United  States,  usually  in  mica 
slate.  In  Windham,  Me.,  single  prisms,  double  prisms,  cross- 
ing at  right  and  oblique  angles,  and  even  three  prisms  interr 
secting  each  other,  sometimes  all  occur  in  the  same  specimen. 
— Cleaveland.  At  Sheffield,  Northfield  and  Cummington, 
Mass.,  Litchfield,  Ct,  in  well  characterized  specimens.  On 
the  Wichicon,  near  Philadelphia,  in  reddish-brown  six-sided 
prisms,  with  dihedral  summits,  associated  with  kyanite  and 
garnet.— Lee.  At  Mink  Cove,  Lisbon,  N.  H.,  finely  formed 
crystals  are  found  both  loose  and  imbedded  in  mica  slate.  At 
Charlestown,  N.  H.,  the  same  rock  contains  hemitrope  crystals 


112  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

resembling  andalusite,  but  preserving  the  distinct  angles  of 
Staurolite.  When  the  slate  becomes  argillaceous,  the  mineral 
appears  to  pass  into  andalusite  made  by  gradual  changes. 
— C.  T.  Jackson. 

STAUROLITE  MACLE.*  This  name  has  been  given  by  Dr, 
Jackson  to  a  variety  of  this  species  which  is  remarkable 
for  presenting  a  structure  similar  to  that  of  andalusite  ma- 
cle,  while  it  preserves  the  angles  and  general  character  of 
Staurolite.  The  macles  are  generally  crossed  at  the  natural 
joints  of  the  crystal  by  two  black  lines  passing  along  the 
diagonals  of  the  rhombic  prism,  while  a  small  central 
black  rhomboid  is  formed  at  the  centre,  where  the  two 
lines  intersect.  The  crystals  are  frequently  surrounded  by 
a  softer,  pearly  crust,  which  Dr.  Jackson  regards  as  a 
hydrous  variety  of  andalusite.  The 
two  annexed  figures  represent  the 
common  appearance  of  these  macles 
when  their  faces,  obtained  by  cross- 
sections,  have  been  ground  down  and 
polished.  In  the  most  perfect  speci- 
mens the  entire  rhomboidal  crystal  is 
enveloped  by  a  uniform  coat  of  black, 
fine-grained  clay  slate,  and  the  interior 
substance  is  of  a  reddish-yellow  color, 
of  a  glistening  and  somewhat  folia- 
ceous  or  sparry  appearance,  sometimes  opake,  sometimes  trans- 
lucent. The  black  lines  passing  from  the  angles  of  the  cen- 
tral black  prism,  or  from  one  of  the  same  reddish-colored  sub- 
stance just  mentioned,  which  takes  its  place,  to  the  correspond- 
ing angles  of  the  outer  prism,  are  usually  very  faint  and  deli- 
cate in  the  transverse  diagonal  of  the  crystal ;  thicker  and  more 
strongly  marked  in  the  longitudinal  diameter;  spreading  a  lit- 
tle as  they  approach  the  outer  casing,  so  as  to  give  the  idea  of 
being  formed  by  a  duplicature  of  that  investment.  In  one 
or  two  crystals,  indeed,  this  formation  has  been  distinctly 
marked.  In  other  crystals,  less  perfect,  the  outer  black  case 
is  much  thicker,  the  yellowish  contained  matter  less  regular  in 
its  figure  (the  angles  being  rounded  off),  and,  instead  of  an 
inner  crystal  resembling  the  outer,  it  is  divided  by  transverse 
diagonals  of  the  black  matter  into  four  portions.  This  inter- 
esting variety  occurs  in  mica  slate,  generally  in  boulders  at 

*For  the  characters  of  this  mineral  1  am  indebted  to  the  notes  of  Dr.  Jackson,  and  to 
a  paper  by  Dr.  S.  Webber,  published  in  the  second  number  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Na- 
tional Institution  for  the  Promotion  of  Science.  [An.  ED.] 


EARTHY   MINERALS.  H3 

Charlestown  and  Walpole,  N.  H.,  and  it  is  accompanied  by 
garnets.  According  to  Dr.  Jackson,  these  staurolite  macles 
pass  by  imperceptible  shades  into  andalusite  macles,  when  the 
micaceous  slate  passes  into  argillaceous  slate. 


AUTOMALITE. 

Automalith,  W.    Spinelle  Zincifere,  H.    Octahedral  Corundum,  M.    Gahnite.    Sapphi- 
rus  Eutoma,  D. 

It  consists  essentially  of  alumina  and  zinc. 

Fahlun.  America. 

Alumina 60-00 55-14 .57-09 

Silica 4-7I5 3-84 1-22 

Oxide  of  zinc 24-25 30-02 34-80 

Protoxide  of  iron. . .  9-25 5-85 4-55 

Magnesia 0.00 5-25 2-2J 


98-25  Ekeberg.  100-10  Abich.  99-88  Abich. 

Beudant  adopts  the  first  analysis,  which  gives  the  atomic 
ratio  of  the  alumina  to  the  oxide  of  zinc,  as  6  to  I.  The  two 
last  Dr.  Thomson  thinks  are  the  most  entitled  to  confidence, 
and  these,  rejecting  the  iron  and  manganese,  give  us  4  atoms 
of  alumina  to  one  of  oxide  of  zinc,  which  he  regards  as  the 
true  composition  of  the  mineral.  Formula:  ZA14. 
Sp.Gr.  4-1  to  4-3.  H.i=8-0. 

Automalite  by  some  mineralogists  is  considered  a  variety  of 
spinel ;  and  as  it  contains  so  large  a  proportion  of  the  oxide  of 
zinc,  it  has  been  designated  Zinciferous  Spinel ;  sometimes  it 
is  called  Gahnite,  in  honor  of  Gahn,  its  discoverer.  It  occurs 
in  regular  octahedrons,  which  may  be  cleaved  parallel  with  all 
its  planes  ;  it  also  occurs  in  tetrahedrons  of  which  the  angles 
are  replaced;  and  in  macles.  It  is  much  heavier  than  spinel, 
from  which  it  also  differs  in  being  nearly  opake,  and  of  a  dark 
bluish-green  color  by  transmitted  light,  as  well  as  essentially 
in  respect  of  composition.  B  B  it  is  unalterable  alone,  and 
nearly  so  with  salt  of  phosphorus  or  borax. 

It  occurs  in  a  talcose  rock  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  associated 
with  galena,  blende,  garnet,  gadolinite,  &c.  In  the  United 
States,  crystals  of  a  large  size  are  found  at  Franklin,  Sussex 
County,  N.  J.,  accompanying  quartz,  felspar,  and  Jeffersonite; 
and  in  granite  associated  with  chrysoberyl,  garnet,  and  colum- 
bite,  at  Haddam  in  Connecticut.  The  most  perfect  crystals 
found  in  New  Jersey,  have  been  detached  from  the  matrix  of 
limestone,  and  are  found  in  alluvial  situations.  They  are  occa- 
sionally met  with  from  three  to  four  inches  round  the  base, 
having  all  their  edges  emarginated,  and  presenting  a  beau- 
tiful indigo-blue  color  by  transmitted  light. 
10* 


114  EARTHiT    MINERALS. 

DYSLUITE. 

W.  H.  Keating.*    Sapphirus  Infusilis,  D. 

This  mineral  is  by  some  supposed  to  be  a  mere  variety  of 
zinciferous  spinelle,  in  which  a  large  portion  of  oxide  of  zinc 
is  replaced  by  protoxide  of  iron.  It  has  the  same  crystalline 
form  as  automalite,  but  differs  essentially  in  many  of  its  phys- 
ical characters.  Dr.  Thomson  has  analyzed  it  and  obtained 
these  products : 

Alumina 30-490 

Oxide  of  zinc 16-800 

Peroxide  of  iron 41-934 

Protoxide  of  manganese 7-600 

Silica 2-966 

Moisture 0-400 

100-22 

In  other  trials  he  found  no  silica,  and  rejecting  this  as  acci- 
dental, the  mineral  appears  to  be  composed  of  simple  alumi- 
nates;  the  alumina,  as  in  other  cases,  acting  the  part  of  an 
acid,  and  giving  5  atoms  aluminate  of  iron,  2  atoms  aluminate 
of  zinc,  1  atom  aluminate  of  manganese.  Dr.  Thomson  ob- 
serves that  it  offers  the  only  example  known,  in  the  mineral 
kingdom,  of  a  congeries  of  simple  aluminates.  Formula : 
5FAl+2ZAl+lMnAl. 

Sp.  Gr.  45.     H.  =  4-551. 

Its  color  is  usually  yellowish-brown,  varying  in  intensity 
in  different  crystals.  Lustre  vitreous,  inclining  to  resinous. 
Streak  paler  than  the  color.  Fracture  conchoidal.  Opake, 
or  sub-translucent.  Easily  frangible.  The  crystals  are  very 
splendent  when  the  faces  are  very  smooth,  which  is  usually 
the  case. 

Primary  form  a  regular  octahedron,  parallel  with  the  faces 
of  which  it  presents  imperfect  cleavages.  The  crystals  are 
modified  on  their  edges  by  single  replacements. 

B  B,  it  assumes  a  red  color  which  it  loses  on  cooling,  and 
the  assay  remains  unaltered  in  its  appearance.  When  heated 
on  charcoal  it  becomes  darker  colored,  but  does  not  melt. 
With  carbonate  of  soda  it  does  not  fuse,  but  the  soda  while  in 
fusion  has  a  fine  red  color,  which  it  loses  on  cooling.  With  bi- 
phosphate  of  soda,  no  fusion,  but  the  salt  when  melted  assumes 
a  fine  red  color,  which  changes  to  a  yellow  on  becoming  solid, 
and  when  cold  it  resumes  its  white  color  and  transparency, 
the  assay  remaining  unaltered  in  the  centre.  In  borax  it  dis- 
solves very  slowly.  The  bead  is  transparent,  and  has  a  very 
deep  garnet-red  color. 

This  mineral  occurs  at   the   Sterling   zinc   mine,  Sussex 

*  Jour.  Acad.  flat.  Sci.,  Philad.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  287. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  115 

County,  N.  J.,  associated  with  Franklinite  and  the  other  well 
known  productions  of  that  place.  The  best  crystaL  are  im- 
bedded in  calcareous  spar. 

KAMMERERITE.* 

Nordenskibl.     (Trans.  Russian  Imp.  Min.  Soc.,for  1842, p.  80.) 

This  is  a  violet  blue  mineral,  which  accompanies  the  Uwar- 
owite  from  the  Ural  mountains.  It  has  been  carefully  de- 
scribed both  by  Von  Worth  and  Nordinskiold  in  the  Trans- 
actions above  named,  in  which  its  analysis  by  Hartwall  is  also 
thus  stated : 

Silica 37-0 

Alumina 14-2 

Oxide  of  chrome 1-0 

Magnesia 31-5 

Lime 1-5 

Water 13-0 

98-2 

Sp.  Gr.  2-640.  —  H.  =  2  —  25. 

It  is  described  as  resembling  in  its  most  compact  form, 
fluor  spar,  though  usually  composed  of  fine  lamina?,  like  lepid- 
iolite.  Colors,  sometimes  dark-violet  blue,  sometimes  yellow- 
ish, greenish  or  greenish-white.  Translucent  on  the  edges, 
particularly  after  being  immersed  in  water.  Fracture  compact, 
fine  grained,  becoming  splintery  or  leafy  in  the  less  compact 
varieties ;  flexible.  Dull,  or  of  a  greasy  lustre,  often  glisten- 
ing. When  scratched,  it  gives  a  light,  peach  blossom-red,  or 
almost  white  streak.  The  common  form  of  its  crystal  is  a 
hexahedral  prism,  presenting  a  perfect  cleavage  perpendicular 
to  its  axis,  but  yielding  in  no  other  direction.  A  portion  of 
a  clear,  transparent  prism  in  polarized  light,  showed  a  dark 
cross  with  the  surrounding  rings  being  indistinctly  marked; 
whence  Nordenskiold  concluded  that  its  crystallization  was 
rhombohedric.  But  he  did  not  obtain  any  measurable  planes, 
and  its  more  complete  crystallographical  characters  yet  remain 
to  be  determined.  The  cleavage  planes  are  lustrous,  like 
mother  of  pearl.  The  color  of  some  crystals,  which  by  day- 
light are  so  dark  that  the  red  color  can  hardly  be  seen,  appears 
by  candle-light  quite  red,  and  some  parts,  which  would  be  taken 
in  the  day  for  chlorite,  are  red  in  the  night.  It  is  thus  dichor- 
ous  like  the  Siberian  chrysoberyl,  but  in  a  less  degree. 

B  B,  per  se,  gives  water  without  any  trace  of  acid,  becoming 
darker ;  swells,  but  does  not  fuse  even  on  the  edges.  In  greater 
heat  becomes  again  reddish,  but  opake.  On  charcoal  it  is  in- 

*  In  honor  of  M.  Kammerer,  Superintendent  of.  the  Russian  mines.. 


116  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

fusible,  becoming  green  in  the  inner  flame,  and  reddish-grey 
in  the  outer.  With  borax  in  the  outer  flame  it  sputters,  and 
then  is  slowly  but  perfectly  dissolved  into  a  fine  chrome-green, 
transparent  vitreous  globule.  This  globule  is  brownish  while 
hot,  and  the  chrome-green  appears  first  after  cooling.  With 
the  addition  of  a  little  tin  the  globule  becomes  of  a  still  more 
brilliant  green.  With  salt  of  phosphorus  it  partially  dissolves, 
leaving  a  skeleton  of  silica.  With  solution  of  cobalt  it  shows 
bluish  spots,  both  in  splinters  and  when  powdered.  With  fluor 
spar  it  fuses  to  a  fine  turquoise  blue  globule. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  the  clefts  of  the  compact  chromium 
ore  on  the  western  declivity  of  Sananowskaja,  in  the  Ural 
mountains,  twelve  wersts  from  Bissensk.  No  other  locality  is 
named. 

PYROSKLERITE.* 

Von  KobelL    (Berzelius*  Jahres-Bericht,  1835,  p.  208.) 

This  mineral  is  quite  similar  to  Kammererite  in  its  com- 
position, as  appears  by  Von  Kobell's  analysis;  which  gave 
of  silica  37'03,  alumina  13'50,  magnesia  31*62,  oxide  of 
chrome  1'43,  protoxide  of  iron  3'52,  and  water  II '00.  The 
formula  given  by  Von  Kobell,  from  these  numbers,  also  re- 
presents the  true  composition  of  the  last  species  described. 
It  is  thus  stated  :  2(MgF)S+(  AlCh)S+l £Aq.t  Specific  grav- 
ity, 2'74  Hardness  between  rock  salt  and  fluor  spar.  Streak 
white.  Fracture  uneven  and  splintery;  lustre  dull.  Color 
apple-green  and  emerald-green.  In  thin  edges  translucent. 
B  B  melts  slowly  into  a  greyish  glass.  With  borax  dissolves 
slowly  to  a  chrome-green,  transparent  glass.  Decomposable 
by,  and  forms  a  jelly  in  muriatic  acid.  Exposure  to  a  red 
heat  causes  it  to  lose  11  per  cent,  in  weight,  and  it  becomes 
hard  and  brittle.  It  has  a  crystalline  structure,  and  presents 
a  perfect  cleavage  in  one  direction,  and  a  less  perfect  one 
at  right  angles  with  it. 

As  this  mineral  has  the  same  composition  as  the  species 
just  described,  and  yet  differs  from  it  in  crystallization,  color, 
and  other  characters,  Berzelius  observes  that  the  two  minerals 
may  be  viewed  as  isomeric  combinations,  such  as  we  see  in 
calc  spar  and  arragonite.  It  came  from  the  Island  of  Elba, 
but  with  what  it  occurs  is  not  stated. 


HYDROUS  BUCHOLZITE. 
This  name  is  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  to  a  mineral  brought 

*  From  nvQ,  fire,  and  dxlrjQos,  hard,  alluding  to  its  hardening  in  the  fire, 
f  The  protoxide  of  iron  being  replaced  by  lime  and  alumina  in  kammererite. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  117 

from  the  island  of  Sardinia,  and  composed  according  to  the 
analysis  given  in  Berzelius'  Report  for  1833,*  as  follows: 


Silica 41-350 

Alumina 49-350 

Sulphuric  Acid 2-010 

Lime 1-105 

Water 4-850 


93-865 

The  atomic  constituents  into  which  these  results  are  re- 
ducible,  are  5  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  water;  sup- 
posing the  sulphate  of  lime  to  be  accidental,  and  admitting  a 
small  excess  of  alumina.     Formula :  5AlS+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2.855.     H.  —  3. 

Color  light  bluish-green ;  streak  white ;  powder  white. 
Structure  granular,  being  composed  of  small  scales ;  brittle. 
Lustre  vitreous;  translucent.  B  B  becomes  snow-white,  and 
falls  into  powder,  from  loss  of  water.  With  carbonate  of 
soda  effervesces,  and  forms  slowly  an  opake-white  frit,  or  an 
enamel,  if  the  quantity  of  soda  be  more  considerable.  With 
borax  it  fuses  immediately  into  a  transparent  bead,  leaving  a 
portion  of  silica  undissolved. 

PHOLERITE. 

This  is  another  hydrous  silicate  of  alumina,  which  should 
properly  be  considered  in  this  place.  It  has  been  described 
and  analyzed  by  M.  Guillemin.t  Three  different  specimens 
gave  him  as  follows  : 

Silica 42-925 41-65 40-750 

Alumina 4  2-075 43-35 43-886 

Water 15-000 15-00 15-364 

100-000  10000  100-000 

Taking  the  mean  of  these  analyses,  the  atomic  constituents 
of  this  mineral,  approach  pretty  nearly  1£  atom  silica,  1£  atom 
alumina,  1  atom  water  ;  formula,  1^-AlS+Aq. 

Hardness  and  specific  gravity  not  accurately  given.  It  has 
a  fine  white  color,  and  is  formed  of  small  convex  scales,  having 
a  pearly  lustre.  It  is  soft  to  the  touch,  and  may  be  crushed 
between  the  fingers.  It  adheres  to  the  tongue.  When  plunged 
into  water  it  disengages  air  bubbles ;  but  does  not  exhibit  the 
appearance  of  lenzinite.  It  forms  a  paste  with  water.  When 
heated  it  gives  out  water,  but  is  infusible  B  B,  per  se. 

It  occurs  in  the  coal  formation  of  Fins  (Alliex)  in  France, 
occupying  fissures  in  the  strata. 

*  Jahres-Bericht,  1833,  p.  174.  t  Ann-  des  Mines,  xi.,  489. 


118  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

ANDALUSITE.* 

Andalusit,  W.     Feldspath   Apyre,  H.     Prismatic  Andalusite,  M.     Chiastolite.     Made. 
Crusite.     Micaphyelite.    Stanxaite.     Andalusius  Prismaticus,  D. 

This  mineral  is  essentially  composed  of  silica  and  alumina, 
but  contains  several  other  accidental  ingredients.  The  fol- 
lowing analyses  have  been  published. 

Tyrol.  Herzagau.  Spain. 

Silica 34-000 36-5 32 

Alumina 55-750 60-5 52 

Potash 2-000 00-0 08 

Protoxide  of  iron 3-375 4-0 02 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  0-625 0-0 00 

Lime 2-125 0-0 00 

Magnesia 0-375 0-0 00 

Water I -000 0-0 06 


Brandes.  101-0  Bucholz.  100  Vauquelin. 

Andalusite, 
Tyrol.  Ireland.  Lancaster,  Mass. 

Silica 35-304 30-92 33-0 

Alumina 60-196 64-60 61-0 

Potash 0-000 175 00-0 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-324 0-00 4-0 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  0-000 0-50 0-0 

Magnesia 1-000 0-96 0-0 

Water 2-032...  ..  0-90 1-5 


99-856  Dr.  Thomson.     99-63  Dr.  Coverdale.    99-5  Dr.Jackson. 

Beudant,  who  records  only  the  analyses  by  Brandes  and 
Vauquelin,  gives  a  probable  formula,  in  which  he  includes  the 
potash.  But  it  is  evident  that  this  alkali  is  rather  to  be  re- 
garded as  adventitious,  from  its  variableness  and  entire  absence 
in  most  of  the  analyses.  Dr.  Thomson  regards  the  fourth  anal- 
ysis as  the  most  correct,  as  pure  crystals  were  employed ;  and 
the  atomic  constitution  he  obtains  from  it  is  thus  stated  by 
him,  1  atom  silica,  2  atoms  alumina  —  Al  S  —  or  it  is  a  disil- 
icate  of  alumina.  This  will  probably  prove  to  be  the  consti- 
tution of  the  pure  crystallized  mineral. 

Sp.  Gr.  316.     H.  =  7'5. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive,  and  in  the  primary  form,  a 
right  rhombic  prism,  M  on  M'  91°  33'  and  88°  27'.  It  has  a 
lamellar  structure  with  joints  parallel  to  the  sides  of  this  prism, 
affording  cleavage  planes,  which  may  be  measured  with  the 
reflecting  goniometer .t  Its  color  is  grey,  or  of  a  reddish,  or 
purplish-red  tinge,  often  flesh-red.  Lustre  vitreous;  translu- 
cent on  the  edges,  or  opake.  Fracture  uneven ;  tough.  It 
is  infusible,  B  B,  alone,  and  with  borax  it  fuses  with  extreme 
difficulty ;  except  it  be  reduced  to  powder,  when  it  passes  into 
a  transparent  colorless  glass.  It  is  not  affected  by  acids. 

*  From  its  having  been  first  found  in  Andalusia  in  Spain. 

f  Mr.  Brooke  gives  90°  40',  as  the  angle  of  M  on  M',  afforded  by  a  transparent  crystal 
from  the  United  States.—  Article  Mineralogy,  Encyclopedia  Metropolitana. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


119 


In  the  Linsenz  valley,  above  Inspruck,  in  the  Tyrol,  where 
it  occurs  in  very  large  crystals,  this  species  is  accompanied 
with  another  which  presents  the  same  form,  and  has  hence 
been  taken  for  grey  andalusite.  But  these  latter  crystals  are 
supposed  to  be  pseudo-morphous,  their  hardness  amounting 
only  to  5*0,  while  their  specific  gravity  exceeds  35. 


M  on  M 91°  20'  91°  33' 

P  on  M  or  M'  .  .    90    00  90    00 

c 140    00  144    44 

M  on  g 145    00  161    43 

g  on  g 125    00  123     6* 


Andalusite  was  first  observed  by  Count  Bournon  in  a  granite 
mountain  in  Forez,  France,  and  described  by  him  in  the  Jour- 
nal de  Physique,  for  1789.  It  was  soon  afterwards  found  in 
Andalusia,  Spain,  whence  its  name;  and  also  near  Braunsdorf 
in  Saxony ;  at  Guldenstein  in  Moravia;  in  Bavaria;  in  the 
Tyrol ;  at  Killiney  Bay,  Ireland,  and  Cumberland,  in  England. 

In  the  United  States,  it  has  been  found  at  Readfield,  Sears- 
mont,  and  Mount  Abraham,  Me. ;  both  massive  and  in  large 
and  perfect  crystals  of  a  pure  flesh  color,  and  sometimes  with 
their  solid  angles  replaced,  at  Westford,  Mass.  Also  in  very 
perfect  crystals  at  Litchfield,  and  Washington,  Ct.,  and  in 
rough,  light-yellowish  prisms,  near  Chester,  Penn. 

CHIASTOLITE  or  MACLE.!  This  mineral,  described  in  the 
former  editions  of  this  work  as  a  distinct  species,  is  now  to  be 
regarded  as  a  variety  of  andalusite,  both  having  the  same  crys- 
talline form  and  general  physical  characters,  and  agreeing  also 
in  chemical  composition ;  as  has  been  fully  shown  by  Dr.  C. 
T.  Jackson,  in  a  very  interesting  paper  inserted  in  the  Journal 
of  the  Boston  Natural  History  Society,  vol.  i.  1834  f  Its 
only  peculiarity,  is  in  the  singular  crystalline  arrangement  as- 
sumed by  the  separate  prisms  of  the  mineral,  apparently  while 
imbedded  in  a  soft  medium,  in  which  sufficient  freedom  was  not 


•These  measurements  in  the  last  column,  are  given  in  Dana's  Mineralogy. 

f  Chiastolite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  being  marked  with  the  form  of  an  X, 
in  dark  lines,  visible  on  the  ends  of  the  crystals. 

J  It  should  be  observed  that  Beudant  proposed  to  unite  these  two  minerals  in  the  first 
edition  of  his  Mineralogy  (1824) ;  and  that  in  the  edition  for  1832,  he  has  described  ohiaa- 
tolite  as  a  variety  of  andalusite.  These  opinions  were  arrived  at  independently  of  each 
other,  but  to  Dr.  Jackson  we  are  indebted  for  the  analysis  which  fully  confirms  them.— 
(An.  ED.) 


120 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


given  to  allow  them  to  unite  perfectly,  though  they  seem  to  have 
been  governed  by  a  uniform  law  of  attraction,  or  groupement, 
approaching  each  other  nearly  at  right  angles.  When  not  at 
right  angles,  they  may  have  been  subject  to  some  disturbing 
force  while  the  rock  yet  continued  soft.  The  following  figures 
have  been  drawn  from  several  characteristic  specimens  of  this 
mineral  from  Lancaster,  Mass.  It  is  rare  that  the  faces  of  the 
prisms  are  of  the  same  length,  as  they  generally  appear  in  paral- 
lelograms, with  their  entering  edges  truncated,  whence  by 
their  mode  of  aggregation,  they  assume  perfect  imitations  of  a 
cross,  as  shown  by  the  first  figure,  in  the  centre  of  which  a 
small  prism  of  white  andalusite  is  interposed ;  the  black  portion 


surrounding  it,  being  a  thin  layer  of  clay  slate.  The  crystals 
are  sometimes  four  inches  long,  but  their  extremities,  as  well 
as  the  cross  sections  made  in  different  parts  of  them,  present 
very  different  appearances,  attributable,  in  Dr.  Jackson's  opin- 
ion, to  a  disturbed  crystallization.  In  the  last  figure,  the  cen- 
tral prism  has  its  four  lateral  edges  truncated. 

Chiastolite  occurs  imbedded  in  clay-slate  or  schiste  in  many 
places,  particularly  near  Bareges  in  the  Pyrenees  ;  at  St.  Jago 
di  Compostella  in  Spain  ;  in  clay-slate  near  Santa  Elena  in  the 
Sierra  Morena,  as  observed  by  Dr.  Traill ;  at  Bretagne  in  Nor- 
mandy ;  on  Skiddaw  in  Cumberland,  England  ;  and  at  Agna- 
ranagh  in  Wicklow,  Ireland.  But  the  specimens  from  these 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 

localities  are  small  compared  with  those  from  Lancaster  and 
Sterling,  Mass.,  where  the  mineral  is  exceedingly  abundant  in 
clay-slate,  sometimes  approaching  to  mica-slate.  It  occurs 
also  in  mica-slate  at  Bellows  Falls,  Vt.,  in. clay-slate  at  Charles- 
town,  N.  H.,  and  according  to  Cleaveland,  in  small  quantities 
at  Brunswick,  and  Georgetown,  Maine. 

DAVIDSONITE.* 

This  mineral,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  is  composed  of 
silica  66*59,  alumina  32  12,  water  1'30. 

Sp.  Gr.  2362.     H.  =6-5. 

Its  color  is  greenish-yellow;  is  translucent ;  easily  frangi- 
ble ;  brittle.  Texture  foliated ;  cleaves  in  the  direction  par- 
allel to  M  of  an  oblique  rhombic  prism.  The  planes  are  too 
rough  to  admit  of  very  accurate  measurement,  but  M  on  M' 
appears  to  be  about  94°,  and  P  on  M  100°. 

B  E,per  se,  it  becomes  white,  but  does  not  fuse.  With  car- 
bonate of  soda  fuses  imperfectly  into  a  white  enamel.  With 
borax  it  fuses  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass,  having  a  silica 
skeleton  in  the  centre. 

It  was  found  by  Dr.  Davidson  in  the  granite  quarry  of  Ru- 
bislaw,  near  Aberdeen,  constituting  a  detached  mass  in  the 
rock.  It  is  intimately  mixed  with  thin  plates  of  mica,  from 
which  it  is  so  difficult  to  separate  it,  that  the  fullest  confidence 
cannot  be  had  in  the  analysis  of  the  mineral.! 


STELLITE.t 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  vol.  i.,  p.  313.) 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Thomson  and  his  son, 
in  the  greenstone  trap  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Forth  and 
Clyde  Canal,  in  Scotland.  It  is  composed,  according  to  his 
analysis,  of 

Silica 48-465 

Lime 30-960 

Magnesia 5-580 

Alumina 5-301 

Protoxide  of  iron 3-534 

Water 6-108 

99-948 

Its  atomic  constitution,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson,  is  4 
atoms  bisilicate  of  lime,  1  atom  bisilicate  of  magnesia,  1  atom 

*  In  honor  of  Dr.  Davidson,  Professor  of  Natural  History,  Aberdeen. 

t  Berzelius  (Jahres-Bcricht,  1838,  p.  231)  says  that  this  mineral  has  been  shown  by  Lam- 
padius,  to  be  a  variety  of  emerald. 

J  Named  from  stella,  a  star,  because  the  crystals  are  spread  out,  in  a  starlike  form,  on 
the  rock  in  which  the  mineral  occurs. 
11 


122  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

silicate  of  alumina,  24- atoms  water.  Formula:  4CS2+MS24- 
AlS+2Mq.  It  differs  from  the  zeolites  in  containing  no  al- 
kali, and  so  large  a  portion  of  lime  in  the  place  of  alumina: 
from  thomsonite,  which  it  most  resembles,  it  may  be  distin- 
guished by  its  inferior  hardness,  and  by  blowpipe  characters. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-612.  H.  =  3  25. 

Color  snow-white ;  lustre  silky,  shining;  translucent;  tough, 
having  some  slight  resemblance  to  asbestus,  or  still  more  to 
nemalite;  B  B,  fuses  into  a  beautiful  white  enamel;  with  car- 
bonate of  soda  fuses  with  effervescence  into  a  transparent  white 
bead  ;  with  borax,  into  a  perfectly  transparent  glass  when  the 
quantity  of  stellite  is  small;  if  it  be  larger,  the  bead  exhibits  a 
silica  skeleton. 

It  consists  of  a  congeries  of  small  crystals,  issuing  like  rays 
from  several  centres,  and  these  different  circles  run  into  each 
other ;  so  that  the  termination  of  each  crystal  is  confused. 
They  seemed  to  be  oblique  four-sided  prisms,  but  their  angles 
could  not  be  measured.  An  interesting  fact,  therefore,  in  the 
character  of  this  mineral,  remains  to  be  determined. 

Professor  Beck,  in  his  report  on  the  Mineralogy  of  New 
York,  p.  343,  has  described  and  given  the  analysis  of  a  mineral 
manifestly  very  similar  to  the  stellite.  It  was  found  in  the  trap 
rocks  of  Bergen  Hill,  N.  J.,  and  Piermont,  N.  Y.  It  has  the 
same  external  characters,  exhibits  the  same  behaviour  B  B, 
and  differs  but  little  in  the  proportions  of  its  silica  arid  bases. 
It  should  be  observed,  however,  that  many  of  the  specimens 
passing  among  mineralogists  for  stellite,  from  the  above-named 
localities,  have  the  hardness  and  other  characters  of  thomson- 
ite, and  contain  soda,  which  is  readily  indicated  by  the  blow- 
pipe. 


DYSCLASITE. 

Connell.    (Trans.  Roy.  Soc.  of  Edin.,  vol.  xiii.,  p.  46.)    Vulcanus  Fenax,  D. 

The  following  are  the  constituents  of  this  mineral,  according 
to  the  analysis  of  Mr.  Connell : 

Okenite. 

Silica 57-69 56-99 

Lime 26-83 26-35 

Soda  and  potash 0-67 00-00 

Oxide  of  iron 0-32 00-01) 

Oxide   of  manganese  0-22 00-00 

Water 14-71 16-65 


100-44  99-99  Kobell.* 

Formula,  expressing  its  atomic  constitution,  as  given  by  the 
analyst :  5CalS4+CalS2+9Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  228  —  2-36.      H.  =  45  —  6. 

*Kastner's  Archiv.,  vol.  xiv.,  p.  333., 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  123 

Occurs  in  white  masses  which  have  an  opalescent  appear- 
ance, and  exhibit  considerable  translucency.  Lustre  glistening 
and  vitreous.  Its  texture  is  imperfectly  fibrous,  but  the  fibres 
in  some  places  diverge  with  considerable  regularity,  exhibiting 
an  approach  to  crystalline  structure.  It  is  remarkably  tough, 
and  difficultly  frangible,  so  as  to  require  much  time  and  labor 
to  separate  a  mass  into  smaller  fragments,  —  from  which  prop- 
erty its  name  has  been  derived.  It  gives  off  water  at  a  red 
heat,  and,  B  B,  is  per  se  fusible  only  on  the  edges,  and  without 
intumescence;  in  soda  it  yields  with  effervescence  a  semi- 
transparent  glass ;  with  borax,  and  salt  of  phosphorus,  it  pre- 
sents colorless  glasses;  and  with  nitrate  of  cobalt  exhibits  no 
re-action  of  alumina.  When  reduced  to  powder  it  gelatinizes 
readily  with  muriatic  acid. 

This  mineral  was  brought  from  the  Faroe  Islands  by  that 
active  and  enlightened  cultivator  of  Mineralogy,  Count  Vargas 
de  Bedemar,  of  Copenhagen,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  so 
many  of  the  rare  and  beautiful  productions  of  those  regions. 
It  was  first  distinguished  as  a  new  species,  by  Mr.  Connell. 

The  OKENITE*  of  Kobell  (from  Disco  Island  and  Tupaur- 
sak  in  North  Greenland)  is  undoubtedly  identical  with  this 
species,  as  both  occur  under  the  same  form,  have  the  same 
composition,  and  are  associated  with  minerals  of  the  same  class. 
Berzelius  has  at  once  united  them,  and  cites  the  dysclasite  as 
a  new  locality  of  okenite,  giving  preference  to  the  latter  name 
probably  on  account  of  its  priority.!  The  great  tenacity  ob- 
served in  the  former  mineral  does  not  seem  to  have  been  no- 
ticed in  the  latter,  arid  is  therefore  to  be  attributed  to  some- 
thing independent  of  its  chemical  composition. 

HAYDENITE.t 

Cleaveland.    (Mineralogy,  Second  Edition,  1822  ;  p.  478.) 

This  mineral  has  usually  been  described  as  a  variety  of  cha- 
basie  by  the  mineralogists  of  this  country  (U.  S.),  even  in  the 
latest  treatises  on  the  science,  notwithstanding  that  the  descrip- 
tion given  by  Cleaveland  was  such  as  to  give  it  strong  claims 
to  the  distinction  of  a  new  species.  No  further  examination 
was  made  of  it  until  1639,  when  its  crystallographical  characters 
were  fully  investigated,  and  the  evidence  of  its  distinct  nature 
satisfactorily  determined.  For  this  we  are  indebted  to  the  late 


*  In  honor  of  Prof.  Oken,  of  Munich.        t  Berzelius.    Jahres-Bericht,  1835,  p.  221. 
J  Named  in  honor  of  Dr.  H.  H.  Hayden,  of  Baltimore,  by  whom  it  was  discovered. 


124  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

crystallographer,  M.  Levy.*  The  mineral  has  not,  however, 
been  analyzed.  The  following  comprises  the  essential  points 
in  M.  Levy's  description  : 

Sp.  Gr.  not  given.     H.  =  4. 

It  is  regularly  crystallized,  the  crystals  having  the  form  of  small 
oblique  rhombic  prisms,  in  which  the  incidence  of  the  lateral 
faces  is  98°  22',  and  the  incidence  of  the  base  on  each  of  the 
lateral  faces  is  96°  5'.  They  are  frequently  macled,  and  the 
axis  of  revolution,  around  which  one  of  the  two  crystals  form- 
ing the  made  is  supposed  to  have  turned  180°,  is  perpendicu- 
lar to  the  base  of  the  primary  form  (oblique  rhombic  prism), 
and  the  face  by  which  the  two  crystals  are  united  is  parallel  to 
the  same  base.  The  crystals  are  thickly  grouped  together,  oc- 
cupying the  spaces  in  the  narrow  fissures  of  the  rock,  which 
readily  separates  into  layers  having  both  surfaces  coated  with 
this  mineral  and  the  pearly  heulandite  already  described.  No 
modifications,  either  upon  the  edges  or  angles,  have  been  ob- 
served ;  so  that  the  relation  between  the  sides  of  the  base  and 
the  lateral  edges  remains  undetermined.  Cleavage,  apparently 
with  the  same  facility,  parallel  to  every  face  of  the  primary 
form.  The  cleavage  planes  sometimes  present  an  uneven  sur- 
face on  account  of  dark  spots,  as  if  the  substance  had  suffered 
incipient  decomposition.  The  crystals  are  usually  covered 
by  a  thin  layer  of  hydrate  of  iron,  which  seems  to  be  the 
result  of  the  decomposition  of  the  mineral.  This  is  readily 
detached  by  the  knife,  and  the  planes  thus  exposed  are  suffi- 
ciently brilliant  to  be  measured  by  the  reflecting  goniometer. 
Color  is  brownish-yellow  or  greenish-yellow ;  the  crystals, 
which  are  all  either  translucent  or  transparent,  are  readily 
scratched  by  the  knife,  and  very  friable.  B  B,  a  pure  crys- 
tal, freed  entirely  from  its  ferruginous  covering,  fuses  with 
some  difficulty  without  intumescence,  and  accompanied  by 
slight  phosphorescence,  into  a  white,  blebby,  opaline  globule ; 
and  with  its  own  bulk  of  borax,  into  a  perfectly  transparent 
glass.  It  gives  out  little  or  no  water  in  the  bulb-tube.  These 
characters  sufficiently  distinguish  this  mineral  from  chabasie, 
and  it  probably  contains  a  much  smaller  proportion  of  lime. 
It  is  soluble  in  sulphuric  acid  or  muriatic  acids,  and  the  solution 
yields  small  white  prismatic  crystals,  almost  equal  in  mass  to  the 
quantity  dissolved.  The  presence  of  potash  is  readily  shown  by 
the  precipitate  thrown  down  by  chloride  of  platinum. 

According  to  Dr.  Hayden,  this  mineral  is  found  at  Jones's 


*  Paper  read  before  the  French  Academy  of  Sciences,  and  inserted  in  "  L"Institut,'* 
No.  313.    See  also  Lond.  and  Edin.  Phil.  Mag.,  vol.  xvi.,  1840,  p.  156.    [AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  125 

Falls,  near  Baltimore,  Md.,  in  the  fissures  of  gneiss.  It  is  as- 
sociated with  heulandite,  stilbite,  and  small  lenticular  crystals 
of  carbonate  of  iron ;  the  largest  crystals  vary  from  ^  to  £  of 
an  inch  across  their  planes.  The  fact  stated  by  M.  Levy,  that 
he  had  observed  no  modifications  of  the  crystals  of  haydenite,* 
is  at  the  present  time  worthy  of  special  notice,  as  a  large  num- 
ber of  specimens  have  since  been  examined,  without  any  evi- 
dence of  such  modifications. 


ANHYDROUS  SCOLEZITE.t 

Nordenskiold,  Bidrag,  p.  67. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  the  large  masses  of  scapolite  at  Ers- 
by,  in  Finland.  It  was  taken  for  scapolite  until  its  analysis  by 
the  chemist  above  named,  proved  that  it  could  not  be  that  min- 
eral, and  induced  him  to  constitute  it  a  peculiar  species.  It 
occurs  crystallized,  but  the  form  of  the  crystals  has  not  been 
stated  by  Nordenskiold.  Presents  one  cleavage. 
Sp.  Gr.  not  given.  H.  =  6. 

Its  color  is  white;  lustre  vitreous;  translucent;  fracture 
small  conchoidal ;  B  B,  its  behaviour  is  like  that  of  common 
scolizite,  except  that  more  heat  is  required  to  fuse  it  into  a 
glass  with  soda.  The  constituents  are  as  follow  : 

Silica 54-13 

Alumina 29-23 

Lime 15-46 

Water 1-07 

99-«9 

They  give  3  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  tersilicate  of 
lime;  the  water  being  considered  as  accidental,  not  con- 
stituting an  atomic  proportion. 

VERMICULITE4 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  vol.  ii.,  p.  373.) 

This  mineral  has  been  included  by  some  under  the  species 
talc,  but  its  composition  agrees  with  no  variety  of  that  mineral, 
and  it  seems  proper  to  describe  it  by  itself.  Dr.  Thomson  ob- 
tained the  following  results:  silica  49'08,  magnesia  16*964, 
peroxide  of  iron  16- 12,  alumina  7*28,  water  10'276.  Formula : 
2MgSH-AlS2+FS2+3Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-525.     H.=  l, 

It  is  composed  of  shining,  micaceous-looking  plates,  ce- 
mented together  by  a  whitish  matter;  lustre  soapy;  feel 

*  He  had  seen  only  three  specimens. 

f  From  dxioltf,  a  worm ;  alluding  to  the  appearance  assumed  by  the  mineral  B  B. 
1  From  vermia.  a  worm,  because  it  twists  itself  up  like  a  worm  when  heated  to  redness. 
11* 


126  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

greasy ;  sectile.  When  heated  to  redness  it  projects  out  with 
a  vermicular  motion,  as  if  it  were  a  mass  of  small  worms,  and 
becomes  of  a  silvery  aspect,  with  a  shade  of  red  or  yellow;  it 
is  infusible  per  se,  B  B ;  with  carbonate  of  soda  in  the  reducing 
flame  gives  a  greenish,  in  the  oxidizing  flame  an  amethystine 
colored  glass. 

This  mineral  was  sent  to  Dr.  Thomson  by  Prof.  Holmes  of 
Montreal,  and  it  came  from  Vermont,  but  unfortunately  its  lo- 
cality is  not  given.  There  has  recently  been  found  at  Mill- 
bury,  Mass.,  a  mineral  which  Mr.  Teschemacher  has  recog- 
nized as  vermiculite,  from  the  similarity  in  its  physical  prop- 
erties, and  in  its  behavior  B  B.  According  to  Hayes,  it  gives 
a  greenish  glass  with  borax  in  the  reducing  flame,  and  with 
salt  of  phosphorus  gives  a  skeleton  of  silica ;  alone,  increases 
to  about  twenty  times  its  size,  exfoliating  into  laminae,  and  in 
the  glass  tube  gives  off  water.  It  has  not  been  analyzed. 

ONKONSITE. 

This  is  a  mineral  described  and  analyzed  by  Von  Kobell. 
He  has  named  it  from  its  property  of  swelling  up  *  at  a  red 
heat,  a  character  which  is  possessed  to  the  same  extent  by 
several  other  minerals,  and  which  should  not  be  too  much 
relied  upon  in  establishing  new  species.  The  following  are 
the  results  of  his  analysis: 

Silica 52-52 

Alumina 30-88 

Magnesia 3-82 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-80 

Potash 6-38 

Loss 4-60 

99-00 

Von  Kobell  adds  a  formula ;  but  Berzelius  says  that  the 
analysis  allows  no  formula,  and  thinks  that  the  mineral  must 
have  been  a  mixture.t 

Sp.  Gr.  2'80.     H.  between  rock  salt  and  calc-spar. 

The  color  is  bright  apple-green,  sometimes  grey  or  brown- 
ish; lustre  greasy;  translucent;  fracture  imperfectly  con- 
choidal  or  uneven ;  structure  compact,  has  no  determined 
crystalline  form ;  B  B,  readily  fusible  into  a  transparent  glass ; 
gives  in  the  alembic  a  little  water ;  is  dissolved  slowly  but  com- 
pletely with  borax,  the  globule  opalizing  in  cooling ;  it  is  not 
decomposed  by  muriatic  acid  before  or  after  exposure  to  heat, 
but  is  so  by  sulphuric  acid.  While  fusing  B  B,  it  loses  4*6 
per  cent. 

*  From  ovxo&tQ ,  swelling  up.  f  Jahres-Bericht,  1835,  p.  210. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  127 

This  mineral  is  found  in  a  kind  of  micaceous  dolomite  at 
Possinger  in  Salzburg.  It  bears  some  resemblance  to  the  two 
previously  described  species. 

HUDSONITE, 

Prof.  Beck.     (Mineralogy  of  JVew  York,  p.  405.) 

This  name  has  been  given  by  Prof.  Beck  to  a  mineral  con- 
sisting, by  his  analysis,  chiefly  of  silica  and  protoxide  of  iron. 
It  was  found  by  Dr.  Horton  at  Cornwall,  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Hudson  River.  It  contains  silica 
37 '90,  oxide  of  iron  36*80,  alumina  12*70,  lime  11*40,  magne- 
sia 1-92. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-50.     H.  =  45  —  5. 

Color  black,  often  with  a  brownish  tarnish ;  streak  green  ; 
lustre  vitreous  to  resinous ;  opake.  It  occurs  massive,  exhib- 
iting one  very  perfect  cleavage,  like  some  varieties  of  pyroxene. 
Alone,  B  B,  it  fuses  with  effervescence  into  a  black  bead,  which 
is  attracted  by  the  magnet.  Its  powder,  which  is  green,  has 
its  color  heightened  by  exposure  to  heat.  It  resembles  in  com- 
position the  mineral  called  Polylite  by  Dr.  Thomson,  but  con- 
tains no  protoxide  of  manganese,  to  the  absence  of  which,  ap- 
parently, must  be  ascribed  its  different  behavior  B  B,  and  its 
inferior  hardness.  Its  crystalline  character  deserves,  from  the 
hands  of  the  gentleman  who  has  proposed  it  as  a  new  species, 
further  investigation  ere  its  claims  to  that  distinction  will  be 
fully  admitted. 

TOPAZ.* 

Topaz,  W.    Silice  Fluatee  Alumineuse,  H.    Prismatic  Topaz,  M.    Topazius  Rhombi- 
cus,  D.     Fluosilicate  of  Alumina,  Thomson. 

Combination  of  alumina,  silica,  and  fluoric  acid. 

Brazil.  Saxony. 

Alumina 47-5 58-38 57-45 57-74 

Silica 44-5 34-01 34-24 34-36 

Fluoricacid 7-0 7-79 7-75 7-77 

99-0  Klaproth.    100-18  Berzelius.    99-44  Berzelius.    99-87  Berzelius. 

Composition  deduced  from  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses : 

3A1S+A1FI. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-49  —  3*56.     H.  =  8*0. 

The  topaz  occurs  massive,  in  rounded  pieces,  and  crystal- 
lized. General  form  prismatic,  variously  and  dissimilarly  ter- 
minated ;  the  prism  usually  striated  longitudinally  and  modi- 
fied. Its  structure  is  lamellar  at  right  angles  to  the  axis  of  the 
prism ;  it  also  cleaves,  though  with  difficulty,  parallel  to  the 

*  The  name  of  the  island  whence  this  mineral  was  procured  by  the  ancients. 


128  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

sides  of  a  right  rhombic  prism  of  about  124°  22'  and  55°  387; 
and  it  appears  to  yield  to  mechanical  division  on  all  the  angles 
of  the  prism ;  cross  fracture  conchoidal,  with  a  shining  vitre- 
ous lustre:  it  is  sometimes  limpid  and  nearly  transparent,  or 
of  various  shades  of  yellow,  green,  blue,  or  red,  and  translu- 
cent; it  becomes  electric  by  heat  with  polarity,  and  is  easily 
excited  by  friction,  the  opposite  terminations  of  the  crystals 
presenting  opposite  kinds  of  electricity.  But  Haiiy  has  de- 
scribed a  crystal  which  presented  negative  electricity  at  both 
extremities,  and  the  opposite  kind  in  the  middle.* 

The  pale-greenish tand  almost  transparent  topaz  of  Siberia 
becomes  electric  by  heat,  not  by  friction ;  the  Saxon  topazes 
of  a  pale-yellow  color,  become  electric  by  friction,  not  by  heat, 
but  lose  their  color  when  exposed  to  fire ;  the  deep-yellow  to- 
paz of  Brazil  becomes  electric  by  heat,  and  red  when  placed 
in  the  fire.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  does  not  fuse,  but  the  faces 
of  crystallization  appear  covered  with  minute  blisters,  which 
crack  as  soon  as  formed ;  with  borax  it  melts  slowly  into  a 
transparent  glass;  its  powder  gives  a  green  color  to  the  tinc- 
ture of  violets. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary ;  a  right  rhombic  prism.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  termin- 
ated by  four  planes,  of  which  two  replace  the  acute  solid  angles,  and  the 
other  two  the  obtuse  solid  angles.  In  fig.  3,  each  acute  solid  angle  is  re- 
placed by  one  plane,  and  each  obtuse  solid  angle  by  two  planes,  leaving 
apparent  a  portion  of  the  flat  summit  of  the  primary  prism  :  there  are  sev- 
eral modifying  planes  on  the  prism  itself.  The  crystals  are  rarely 
pyramidal  at  both  ends  ;  when  they  are  so,  the  terminations  are  dissimilar.! 


*  Sir  David  Brewster  explains  this  by  supposing  the  crystals  to  be  composed  of  two, 
united  with  their  vitreous  poles  in  contact,  and  thus  developing  resinous  electricity  at 
their  opposite  ends.  A  similar  phenomenon  has  also  been  noticed  in  a  crystal  of  tourma- 
line by  Prof.  Forbes  ;  but,  unlike  tourmaline,  topaz  possesses  the  remarkable  property  of 
retaining  its  excitability  long  after  the  temperature  has  ceased  to  change.  (Lond.  and 
Edin.  Jour.,  vol.  v.,  p.  142.)  [AM.  ED.] 

•f  The  Atlas  accompanying  the  Catalogue  of  Mr.  Heuland's  (now  Mr.  Turner's)  collec- 
tion, and  prepared  by  the  late  M.  Levy,  gives  figures  of  eighty-two  different  forms  of 
this  species.  See  vol.  i.,  p,  260.  [An.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


129 


M  on  M' 124°  22'  H. 

P  on  M  or  M'    .  ,    90  00   " 

61 124  36   " 

62 135  59  « 

M  on  i  1 150      6 

i2 161  16 

i  3 169  34 

Pond 128  26  H. 

c2 135  59 

c3 117  21 

d 138  26 

61 145  24 

62 134      1 

6  2  on  6  2 140  46 

6  2  on  6  3 162  00 

6  3  on  i  2 148  22 

a  1  on  / 134  00 

/on  i  2 122  17  H. 

c  2  on  c  2  over  P  .     92  45 

d  on  t  2 131  34  H. 

6  3  on  a  2 155  20 


Topaz  is  almost  peculiar  to  primitive  countries.  It  is  not, 
like  quartz,  a  component  part  of  any  particular  rock;  but  at 
Schneckenstein  in  Saxony,  and  in  several  parts  of  Cornwall,  it 
occurs  associated  with  tourmaline,  quartz,  and  lithomarge, 
producing  the  mixture  named,  by  Werner,  topaz-rock.  Its 
usual  matrix  is  granite,  accompanying  beryl,  mica,  tourmaline, 
fluor,  apatite,  and  tin. 

The  district  of  Cairngorm  in  Aberdeenshire  has  produced 
the  largest  and  most  magnificent  crystals  of  topaz.  Jameson 
mentions  one  which  weighed  nineteen  ounces ;  they  are  usually 
of  a  fine  sky-blue  color,  except  on  the  edges  of  the  prism, 
which  appear  pale  brown  ;  topazes  from  this  locality,  however, 
are  rare ;  in  the  Ural  and  Altai  Mountains  of  Siberia  they  are 
more  common ;  in  Brazil  they  occur  imbedded  in  an  argilla- 
ceous earth,  resulting,  it  is  believed,  from  the  decomposition 
of  primitive  rocks;  in  smaller  crystals  topaz  is  met  with  in  the 
tin  mines  of  Schlaggenwald  and  Zinnwald  in  Bohemia;  at 
Schneckenstein,  Ehrenfriedersdorf,  and  Eibenstock,  in  Sax- 
ony ;  at  St.  Michael's  Mount  in  Cornwall,  and  in  other  places, 
with  tin.  In  the  Mourne  Mountains  of  Ireland  it  is  found  in 
small  but  extremely  perfect  limpid  crystals,  associated  with 
beryl,  albite,  and  mica,  in  the  drusy  cavities  of  granite.  The 
term  goutte  d'eau,  has  been  applied  to  those  natural  stones 
employed  by  the  lapidary  which  possess  the  greatest  limpidity, 
like  those  from  Minas  Novas,  in  Brazil ;  the  larger  portion  of 
such  as  are  used  in  jewelry  being  more  or  less  altered  in  color 
by  exposure  to  heat. 


130  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

In  the  United  States  we  have  as  yet  but  one  locality  of  to- 
paz, which  occurs  at  Trumbull,  Ct,  in  a  vein  about  a  foot  in 
width,  accompanied  by  fluor  spar,  mica,  and,  rarely,  with 
wolfram;  it  affords  small  druses  of  perfectly  transparent  crys- 
tals, but  the  larger  crystals,  which  are  sometimes  several  inches 
in  diameter,  have  but  little  transparency  or  lustre,  though,  in 
addition  to  the  lateral  faces,  they  present  many  of  the  replace- 
ments on  the  summits  that  are  shown  in  the  accompanying 
figure.  Shepard  has  given  drawings  and  measurements  of 
three  of  these  crystals  in  his  Mineralogy,  p.  237. 

According  to  Tavernier,  the  Grand  Mogul  possesses  an  oc- 
tangular polished  topaz  of  157f  carats  weight,  which  was  pur- 
chased for  $60,000:  and  M.  d'Esteuege  notices  a  crystal  10 
inches  in  length  and  4  in  diameter.  (Feuchtwangcr  on  Gems.) 

1.  PYROPHYSALITE.    PHYSALITE.   Pyrophysalith. — Hisinger. 
Contains  alumina  57*74,  silica  34'36,  fluoric  acid  7'77,  being 
the  same  ingredients  as  in  topaz,  and  with  very  little  variation 
of  relative  quantity,  according  to  Berzelius.     It  is  in  fact  a 
coarse  opake  variety  of  topaz,  found  occasionally  in  yellowish- 
white  crystals  of  considerable  dimensions,  and  resembling  that 
mineral  in  form.     Its  structure  is  lamellar  in  one  direction, 
and  splendent ;  the  cross  fracture  glimmering  and  uneven;  it 
is  translucent  on  the  edges,  and  not  so  hard  as  topaz ;  specific 
gravity  3'41  ;   it  intumesces  when  heated,*  and  gives  out  a 
greenish  phosphoric  light. 

It  is  found  at  Finbo,  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  in  a  granite 
composed  of  white  quartz,  felspar,  and  silvery-white  mica.  A 
single  well-pronounced  crystal,  weighing  80  pounds,  is  pre- 
served in  the  College  of  Mines  at  Stockholm. 

2.  PYCNITE.    Schorlartiger  beryl,  W.    Var.  de  silice  fluatee 
alumineuse,  H. 

Altenberg  in  Saxony. 

Contains  Alumina 51-00 49-5 

Silica 38-43 43-0 

Fluoric  acid 8-84 4-0 


98-27  Berzelius.  96-5  Klaproth. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-51. 

Pycnite  is  a  variety  of  topaz  which  occurs  in  long  six-sided 
prisms,  deeply  striated  longitudinally,  often  closely  aggregated  t 
laterally,  and  exhibiting  transverse  rents,  but  without  any  ap- 
parent regular  structure;  it  is  usually  of  a  dull,  yellowish  or 
reddish-white  color,  and  translucent;  is  brittle,  and  may  be 
readily  broken  across  the  prism ;  in  other  directions  its  frac- 

*  Whence  Pyrophysalite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  effect  of  heat  upon  it. 
•f  Whence  Pycnite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  closely  aggregated. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  131 

ture  is  imperfectly  conchoidal,  with  a  shining  lustre;  scratches 
quartz  ;  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  does  not  fuse ;  with  borax  it  melts 
slowly  into  a  transparent  glass ;  becomes  electric  on  exposure 
to  heat. 

It  is  found  entering  into  the  composition  of  a  rock,  chiefly 
consisting  of  quartz  and  mica,  at  Altenberg  in  Saxony ;  it  is 
said  also  to  occur  in  Bavaria,  and  other  places ;  but  Altenberg 
is  its  most  noted  locality. 

THULITE. 

Brooke.    (Crystallography,  p.  494.)  ^Ceritus  Rhombicus,  D. 

The  composition  of  this  mineral,  which  by  some  is  still 
regarded  as  a  variety  of  epidote,  is  not  yet  satisfactorily  de- 
termined. According  to  Beudant  (Traite,  t.  ii.,  p.  73),  it 
consists  of  silica  42'5,  alumina  25' 1,  lime  194,  magnesia  0*6. 
And  a  more  recent  analysis  by  Prof.  Esmark,  of  Christiana,* 
nearly  accords  with  it  as  here  stated :  silica  42-808,  alumina 
21-144,  lime  18'726,  soda  and  potash  1-891,  oxide  of  iron 
2-282,  oxide  of  manganese  1-638,  water  0-640.  This  last 
analysis  was  made  in  consequence  of  Dr.  Thomson  having 
announced  the  presence  of  cerium  in  the  specimen  which  he 
examined.  These  are  the  constituents,  according  to  Dr. 
Thomson  :  silica  46'10,  peroxide  of  cerium  25'95,  lime  12'50, 
peroxide  of  iron  5'45,  potash  8-00,  water  l'55.t  We  shall  omit 
the  formula. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-1.     H.  =  55  — 6. 

It  occurs  in  crystalline  masses  of  a  rose-red  color,  the  form 
when  visible  resembling  that  of  epidote;  translucent;  streak 
greyish-white;  particles  of  granular  varieties  easily  separable; 
cleavage  in  two  directions  parallel  to  the  sides  of  an  (oblique?) 
rhombic  prism  of  92°  30',  and  87°  30',  according  to  Brooke; 
no  distinct  cleavage  transverse  to  the  axis  of  this  prism ;  B  B, 
it  fuses  with  carbonate  of  soda  into  an  opake  greenish-white 
bead,  and  with  borax  into  a  colorless  transparent  bead,  which 
assumes  a  sensible  violet  color,  if  a  little  saltpetre  be  added, 
showing  the  presence  of  manganese,  as  recorded  in  the  analy- 
sis by  Esmark.  It  occurs  at  Tellemarken,  in  Norway,  asso- 
ciated with  quartz,  fluor  spar,  and  the  variety  of  idocrase 
termed  cyprine. 


*  Annales  des  Mines,  tome  xvii. 

|There  is  but  one  locality  of  this  mineral,  and  I  can  explain  the  discrepancy  in  the 
analyses  only  by  supposing  that  two  different  minerals  from  the  same  locality  have 
passed  under  the  same  name.  [AM.  ED.] 


132  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

MASONITE. 

C.  T.  Jackson.    (Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Rhode  Island,  p.  88.) 

This  mineral  has  been  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson,  exten- 
sively distributed  in  large  boulders  at  Natick  and  Wickford  in 
Rhode-Island.  Its  appearance  led  him  to  regard  it  as  a  new 
mineral :  and  subsequently,  by  an  analysis  and  other  examina- 
tions of  it,  he  has  clearly  shown  it  to  be  entitled  to  that  distinc- 
tion. He  has  thus  stated  its  composition : 

Silica 33-200 

Alumina 29-000 

M  agnesia 0-240 

Protoxide  of  iron 25-934 

Oxide  of  manganese 6-000 

Water 5-600 

99^)74 

Sp.  Gr.  3-450.     Scratches  glass. 

Its  color  is  brown  or  brownish-black,  with  a  shining  metallic 
lustre  on  the  faces  of  cleavage;  occurs  in  masses  of  a  foliated 
and  interwoven  structure,  sometimes  in  distinct  tabular  crys- 
tals which  cleave  very  readily  perpendicular  to  their  axes,  but 
with  great  difficulty  in  the  other  direction;  its  primary  form 
appears  to  be  a  ri^ht  rhombic  prism,  but  the  specimens  have 
not  afforded  crystalline  planes  of  sufficient  perfection  for  go- 
niometrical  measurement.  B  B,  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a 
greenish  enamel. 

It  occurs  in  large  rolled  masses  at  the  localities  above  named, 
associated  with  garnets  and  mica :  also,  according  to  Prof. 
Hitchcock,  in  situ,  in  the  town  of  Ward,  Mass.,  whence  Dr. 
Jackson  supposes  the  scattered  fragments  may  have  proceeded. 
It  is  named  in  honor  of  Owen  Mason,  Esq.,  of  Providence. 


INDIAN  PIPE  STONE.* 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  287.) 

SCOULERITE.  This  mineral,  examined  and  analyzed  by  Dr. 
Thomson,  came  from  North  America,  and  is  similar  to  that 
used  by  the  Indians  in  making  their  tobacco-pipes.  He  ob- 
tained it  from  Dr.  Scouler,  who  had  spent  a  summer  on  the 
Northwest  Coast  of  America,  between  Nootka  Sound  and  the 
Columbia  River ;  but  he  was  unable  to  learn  from  what  part  of 
the  country  it  came,  or  the  nature  of  the  rocks  with  which 
it  was  associated.  The  mean  of  two  analyses  gave  him, 


*  Under  this  head  t  include  two  substances,  of  whose  claims  as  distinct  species  of  sim- 
ple minerals,  I  am  not  fully  satisfied.  For  convenience  I  have  placed  them  here,  though 
the  soda,  if  it  prove  essential,  may  carry  one  of  them  into  the  next  class.  [AM.  Eo.J 


EARTHY"    MINERALS.  133 

Silica 56-11 

Alumina 17-31 

SSoda 12-48 

Peroxide  of  iron 6-96 

Lime 2-16 

Magnesia 0-20 

Water 4-59 

99-81 

As  many  of  the  physical  characters  of  this  mineral  seem  to 
show  that  it  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  definite  combination  of 
its  constituents,  the  formula  will  be  omitted. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-606.     H.  =  I  "5. 

Color  light  greyish-blue;  powder  light  blue;  sectile,  dull, 
opake ;  the  particles,  when  scraped  off  with  a  knife,  feel  gritty 
between  the  teeth ;  it  constitutes  a  compact  stone,  through 
which  a  few  scales  are  scattered,  having  some  resemblance  to 
claystone,  but  being  much  softer;  its  fracture  is  earthy;  B  B, 
it  is  infusible.  It  is  evident  that  this  mineral  and  the  following 
partake  much  of  the  nature  of  a  rock,  and  that  they  have  not 
the  character  of  homogeneous,  crystallizable  minerals,  out  of 
which  any  important  set  of  characters  in  establishing  a  species 
can  be  drawn. 

CATLINITE.  —  Dr.  Jackson*  has  recently  analyzed  a  sub- 
stance, used  by  the  northern  Indian  tribes  in  the  making  of 
their  smoking  pipes,  which  he  received  from  Mr.  Catlin,  the 
well-known  traveller.  It  was  taken  from  the  famous  pipe- 
stone  quarry  on  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  in  the  Sioux  In- 
dian country.  Though  agreeing  in  some  respects  with  the 
pipe-stone  examined  by  Dr.  Thomson,  its  analysis  shows  it  to 
be  quite  distinct,  and  it  is  evident  that  both  minerals  could  not 
have  come  from  the  same  place.  Dr.  Jackson  has  given  the 
following  analysis  of  this  mineral,  and  named  it  in  honor  of 
Mr.  Catlin,  the  h'rst  white  person  who  visited  its  locality. 

Silica 48-2 

Alumina 28-2 

Magnesia 6-0 

J,ime 2-6 

Peroxide  of  iron 5-0 

Oxide  of  manganese.. . .  0-6 
Water 8-4 

99-0 

It  cannot  be  regarded  as  a  substance  whose  constituents 
are  combined  in  definite  proportions,  so  as  to  admit  of  any 
certain  formula.  It  seems,  in  parts,  a  mechanical  mixture  of 
other  minerals,  sometimes  like  a  fine-grained  red  sandstone, 
and  frequently  it  has  the  appearance  of  reddle.  In  its  compo- 
sition it  is  very  similar  to  fahlunite,  as  analyzed  by  Hisinger, 

*  American  Journal  of  Science,  vol.  xxxvii.,  p.  392. 


134  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

yet  in  physical  characters  there  is  scarcely  no  resemblance  be- 
tween the  two  minerals. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  54.     H.  =  1  -75  —  2. 

Its  color  is  brownish-red  or  brick-red,  mottled ;  streak 
lighter ;  is  cut  with  the  knife,  and  may  be  sawn  into  slabs  with 
about  the  same  facility  as  common  argillite ;  feel  rather  soapy, 
like  steatite;  rubbed  on  white  paper  it  leaves  a  very  sensible 
brownish-red  streak;  tough,  breaking  with  an  uneven  surface 
in  one  direction,  but  in  the  opposite  direction  more  easily 
frangible,  separating  parallel  with  the  natural  layers  of  the 
rock,  which,  according  to  Mr.  Catlin,  consists  wholly  of  this 
mineral,  and  forms  regular  horizontal  strata  to  a  considerable 
extent.  The  surface  is  sometimes  glazed,  and  between  the 
layers  small  scales  of  mica  may  be  seen.  It  is  susceptible  of 
a  fine  polish. 

HYDROTALCITE. 

This  mineral  was  examined  by  Carl  Hochstetter,  at  the  re- 
quest of  Dr.  Marchand,  who  received  it  from  Prof.  Scheerer. 
It  accompanies  the  steatite  from  Snarum,  and  has  the  appear- 
ance of  foliated  talc.  The  first  result  of  the  examination  made 
known  the  entire  absence  of  silex,  while  talc  contains  a  consid- 
erable quantity.  It  is  massive,  investing  steatite  in  foliated 
masses;  is  white,  and  gives  a  similar  streak,  with  a  pearly  lus- 
tre; transparent;  flexible,  with  a  soapy  feel;  hardness  =  2. 
Heated  in  a  tube,  it  gives  off  much  water;  at  a  red  heat  it  be- 
comes reddish-brown,  and,  when  immersed  in  boiling  acids, 
almost  entirely  dissolves.  Composition  as  follows  : 

Magnesia 36-30 

Alumina 12-00 

Peroxide  of  iron 6-90 

Carbonic  acid 10-54 

Water 32-66 

Insoluble  residue 1-20 

99-00 

On  account  of  the  insufficiency  of  carbonic  acid,  the  alu- 
mina and  oxide  of  iron  must  act  the  parts  of  an  acid,  and  be 
considered  as  forming  an  aluminate  with  a  portion  of  the  mag- 
nesia. The  combination  is  so  regarded  by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  who 
expresses  the  constitution  of  the  mineral  by  this  chemical  for- 
mula: (3Mg2C)+(2Mg3Al)+24H.  It  differs  from  any  other 
magnesian  mineral  of  its  class,  especially  in  the  absence  of  sil- 
ica, and  it  has  been  named  hydrotalcite  from  its  general  agree- 
ment in  physical  characters  with  talc,  while  at  the  same  time  it  is 
distinguished  from  it  by  the  large  quantity  of  water  it  contains.* 

*  Lond.,  Edin.  &  Dub.  Phil.  Jour.  &  Mag.,  vol.  xxii.,  1843,  p.  371  :  communicated  by 
E.  F.  Teichemacher. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  135 

POLYADELPHITE* 

This  mineral  was  observed  by  Prof.  Nuttall,  who  sent  a 
specimen  of  it  to  Dr.  Thomson  for  analysis.  Its  composition 
proved  to  be  as  follows :  silica  36*824,  lime  24'724,  protoxide 
of  iron  22'948,  protoxide  of  manganese  4-428,  alumina  3*356, 
moisture  0'550. 

The  atoms  of  silica  and  bases  are  nearly  equal,  and  the  mine- 
ral appears  to  be  composed,  from  the  above  numbers,  of  five  sim- 
ple silicates,  thus  expressed  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  5CalS+4(f  F-f- 
£Mn)S+2MgS+AlS. 

Sp.  Gr.  3  76.      H.  =  375. 

Color  yellow  of  different  shades,  wine-yellow  and  greenish- 
yellow  ;  the  colors  are  not  bright ;  some  specimens  bear  a  close 
resemblance  to  blende.  The  mineral  is  composed  of  translu- 
cent roundish  grains,  and  of  imperfectly  foliated  masses  agglu- 
tinated together.  Lustre  resinous ;  mass  opake ;  small  grains 
translucent.  B  B,  blackens,  and  assumes  the  appearance  of 
magnetic  iron  ore,  but  does  not  fuse;  with  carbonate  of  soda 
it  fuses  into  a  green  glass,  which  becomes  black  and  opake  in 
the  oxidizing  flame ;  with  borax  fuses  into  a  dark-brown  opake 
glass;  with  biphosphate  of  soda  it  fuses  slowly  into  a  transpa- 
rent colored  glass,  leaving  a  silica  skeleton. 

It  occurs  with  Franklinite  and  red  oxide  of  zinc  at  the  Ster- 
ling Mine,  Sussex  County,  N.  J.  It  is  by  no  means  an  abun- 
dant mineral.  It  has  not  been  found  in  crystals. 

SPINEL. 

Spinell,  W.    Spinelle,  H.     Dodecahedral  Corundum,  M.     Zeilanite,  W.      Pleonaste. 
CeyJonite.    Candite,  Bournon.    Sapphirus  octahedra,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  magnesia,  colored  red  by  a  mi- 
nute portion  of  chromic  acid,  or  blue,  by  the  protoxide  of  iron. 

Aker.  United  States.  Ceylonite. 

Alumina 72-25 73-308 (58-0 

Magnesia 14-6^ 13-632 12-0 

Silica 5-45 5-620 2-0 

Protoxide  of  Iron 4-26 7-420 16-0 


96-59  Berzelius.  99-980  Thomson.  98-0  Descotiln. 

The  silica  and  protoxide  of  iron  are  regarded  as  accidental, 
and  the  essential  ingredients,  alumina  and  magnesia,  are  uni- 
ted, six  atoms  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter.  Formula : 
MgAl6. 

Sp.  Gr.  35.     H.  =:  8'0. 

Spinel  occurs  crystallized  either  in  regular  octahedrons,  oc- 
casionally having  their  edges  replaced,  or  in  macles  presenting 

*  From  TroXf  £,  and  utrj.ipog,  a  brother.    So  called  because  it  consists  of  five  different 
•ilicates  united. 


136 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


very  different  forms.  It  exhibits  various  shades  of  red,  violet, 
green,  or  yellow  ;  more  rarely  black  (Pleonate).  Its  structure 
is  lamellar,  though  not  very  distinctly  so;  but  it  yields  to 
mechanical  division  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  octahedron. 
Its  fracture  is  commonly  flat  conchoidal,  with  a  splendent 
vitreous  lustre.  It  scratches  quartz  easily,  but  is  not  so  hard 
as  the  oriental  ruby,  from  which  it  is  readily  distinguished 
both  by  its  color  and  crystallization.  It  is  infusible  per  se ; 
the  red  varieties  become  brown  and  even  black  and  opake  as 
the  temperature  is  increased,  but  on  cooling  they  appear  first 
green,  then  almost  colorless,  and  at  last  resume  their  red  hue. 
With  borax,  fuses  slowly  into  a  transparent  glass  with  little 
color ;  does  not  fuse  but  swells  up  with  carbonate  of  soda, 
and  fuses  with  difficulty  in  biphosphate  of  soda. 


Fig.  1.  the  primary  ;  the  regular  octahedron.  Fig  2,  a  macled  crystal, 
in  such  a  position  as  shows  it  to  be  composed  of  about  equal  parts  of  an 
octahedron  (fig  1),  of  which  one  half  is  half  turned  round.  Fig  3,  the 
octahedron  with  its  edges  replaced.  Fig.  4,  a  made  consisting  of  two 
equal  and  similar  portions  of  a  crystal  resembling  fig.  3,  being  sections, 
parallel  with  two  opposite  primary  planes,  placed  base  to  base.  Fig. 
5,  the  primary  octahedron  of  which  the  edges  are  more  deeply  replaced 
than  on  fig.  3,  —  the  triangular  planes  being  portions  of  the  octahedron, 
and  when  completely  obliterated,  resulting  in  the  rhombic  dodecahedron, 
fig.  6. 


P  on  P'  or  P'  on  P" 109°  28'  16"  H. 

P  or  P'  on  e,  or  P'  or  P''  on  t'   144    44     8    " 

b  on  b 129    31  16    " 

6  on  P  or  6  on  P'   .  .  150     20  00 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


137 


PLEONASTE. 


P  on  P'  or  P'  on  P"  .  .  109°  28' 16"  H. 

P'  or  P"  on  e 144    44    8     H. 

P/on/or  P"  ouf  .  .  .  157     50 

eon/or/' 166     36 

6  on  b 144     54  10     H. 

b  on  P'  or  b  on  P/' .  .  .  150    25 


Spinel  is  principally  found  in  Ceylon,  Siam,  and  other  east- 
ern countries,  where  it  occurs,  like  most  other  gems,  in  isola- 
ted and  rolled  crystals  in  the  channels  of  rivers.  But  crystals 
from  Ceylon  have  been  found  imbedded  in  primitive  limestone, 
and  in  rocks  containing  adularia  and  mica.  The  pale-blue 
and  pearl-grey  varieties  occur  imbedded  in  calcareous  spar  at 
Aker  in  Sudermannland,  Sweden.  In  the  drussy  cavities  of 
the  rocks  ejected  by  Vesuvius,  very  perfect  and  splendent 
small  black  crystals  have  been  found  with  mica  and  idocrase; 
also  in  compact  gehlenite  at  Monzoni  in  the  Fassathal,  Tyrol, 
and  in  the  volcanic  rocks  of  Laach  near  Andernach  on  the 
Rhine. 

All  the  varieties  of  this  species  occur  in  the  United  States. 
A  splendid  blue  spinel  was  Discovered  several  years  since  in 
the  limestone  quarries  at  Chelmsford,  Mass.,  by  Dr.  Jackson, 
and  inferior  specimens  are  met  with  in  the  same  rock  in  the 
neighboring  towns  of  Bolton  and  Littleton.  Crystals  of  the 
black  variety  of  very  large  size,  from  ten  to  sixteen  inches  in 
diameter,  and  those  smaller  of  various  shades  of  green,  brown 
and  red,  occur  in  limestone,  at  Amity  and  Warwick,  N.  Y., 
with  brucite,  crichtonite,  hornblende,  &c.  Also  at  Hamburg, 
Franklin,  Newton,  Byram,  N.  J.,  of  every  shade  of  color  from 
a  beautiful  bluish-green  ceylonite  (nearly  transparent)  to  a  jet 
black  pleonaste,  with  rutile,  sapphire,  brucite,  tourmaline, 
&,c.  Dr.  Fowler,  of  Franklin,  who  was  one  of  the  first  to  in- 
vestigate the  minerals  of  this  district,  has  a  pale  rose-red  octa- 
hedron, four  inches  round  at  the  base,  and  another  of  a  black 
color,  sixteen  inches  at  the  base.  The  best  macles  of  a  red 
or  brownish  color,  are  from  Byram,  a  new  locality,  discovered 
by  the  editor  in  1842.  They  are  perfect  exhibitions  of  figs.  2  and 
4,  and  in  size  from  one  to  two  inches.  Prof.  Nuttall  describes 
crystals  from  Franklin,  in  which  the  solid  angles  of  the  ocU- 
12* 


138  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

hedron  are  replaced,  thus  passing  into  the  cube,  which  he  ob- 
serves he  has  "obtained  apparently  complete,  and  of  a  bright 
green  color." — Robinson's  Catalogue,  p.  299. 

By  lapidaries  the  scarlet  colored  is  termed  Spinel  Ruby ; 
the  rose  red,  Balas  Ruby ;  the  yellow  or  orange  red,  the  Ru- 
bicelle ;  and  the  violet  colored,  Almandine  Ruby.  The  vari- 
ety pleonaste  has  hitherto-*  been  described  as  a  distinct  species 
by  Phillips,  but  the  editor  in  concurrence  with  the  most  re- 
cent authors,  has  now  united  it  with  common  spinel,  with 
which  it  agrees  in  all  essential  characters.  Having  been 
found  at  Candy,  Ceylon,  it  was  called  Candite  by  Bournon. 

The  mineral  which  occurs  in  the  town  of  Warwick,  N.  Y., 
and  has  been  described  under  the  name  of  PSEUDOLITE,  as  a 
variety  of  spinelle,  is  now  supposed  to  have  originated  from 
the  "intrusion  of  serpentine  into  the  crystals  of  spinelle,  parts 
of  which  have  been  removed,  and  the  cohesion  of  the  whole 
having  become  so  impaired  as  to  bring  about  the  apparent 
softness  of  their  crystals,  while  the  particles  are  really  as  hard 
as  they  prove  to  be,  when  subjected  to  the  action  of  the  pes- 
tle."— Prof.  Beck. 

SAPHIRINE. 

Stromeyer.     Levy. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-42.     H.  r=7'0  — 80. 

Alumina  63-11,  silica  1450,  magnesia  16.85,  lime  0-38,  ox- 
ide of  iron  3'92,  oxide  of  manganese  0*53,  water  0'49  —  Stro- 
meyer. 

Occurs  disseminated  in  translucent  grains  of  a  pale-blue,  or 
green  color.  Lustre  vitreous.  Streak  white.  Fracture  im- 
perfect conchoidal.  Is  not  affected  B  B,  either  alone  or  with 
borax.  Not  altered  by  exposure  to  a  red  heat. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Giesecke,  associated  with 
mica  and  fibrous  brown  anthophyllite,  at  Akudlek  in  Green- 
land. It  was  distinguished  from  sapphire,  which  it  somewhat 
resembles,  by  Stromeyer. 

TURNERITE.* 

Pictite.    Turnerite.  Levy.    (Jinn,  of  Phil.,  New  Series,  vol.  v.,  p.  241.) 

H.  above  4'0. 

This  rare  mineral  occurs  in  small  crystals  of  a  yellowish  or 
brownish-yellow  color;  brilliant  externally;  and  translucent, 
approaching  to  transparent.  The  primary  form  is,  as  deter- 
mined by  Levy,  an  oblique  rhombic  prism ;  but  the  only  natu- 

*  In  honor  of  C.  H.  Turner,  Esq.,  the  possessor  of  the  rich  collection  of  minerals  illus- 
trated in  three  volumes,  by  31.  Levy. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


139 


ral  joints  that  have  been  observed  (they  are  occasionally  visible 
by  transmitted  light)  are  parallel  with  both  diagonals  of  the 
prism ;  one  of  them  is  easily  obtained  with  brilliant  surfaces. 
Streak  white  or  greyish.  According  to  Children,  it  contains 
alumina,  lime,  magnesia  and  a  little  iron. 


Primary. 


Mor 
Pon 

Mor 

i  M'  

.  .  .     96° 

10'  L. 
40  L. 
29  L. 
17  L. 
25 
22  L. 
00 
48 
50 
52 
55 
10 
45 

M  on  c6  or  M'  on  e6' 
gl  or  —  glf    . 
i    or  —  i'    .  . 
I    or  —  Z'  ... 
k  

.  144° 
.   140 
.  162 
.  161 
90 

51 

50 
15 
2 

00 
55 
38 
30 
10 
50 
30 
10 
55 

L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 
L. 

M  or  M' 

.  .  .     99 

.  .  .  142 

el  or  c\'    . 

.  .  155 

e2  or  e2r    .  . 

.  .  139 

.  .  137 

(t  on  c    

92 

c4  or  64'    . 

.  .  135 

f  . 

149 

c5  or  e5f    . 

.  .  117 

c  on  £"1 

143 

f  or  f 

.      133 

k 

90 

.  .  153 

.  131 

k    

.  .  131 

k  on  #1  .         

.  126 

M'  on  a 

.  .  126 

e6 

.  146 

c    . 

.  118 

I.  ..... 

.  150 

Such  of  the  preceding  measurements  as  have  the  letter  L  added  to  them, 
were  taken  by  Levy. 

It  has  been  found  only  on  Mount  Sorel  in  Dauphine,  ac- 
companying quartz,  adularia,  chrichtonite,  and  anatase ;  and 
has  occasionally  passed  among  mineralogists  under  the  name 
of  Pictite. 


HYDRATE  OF  MAGNESIA. 

Native  Hydrate  of  Magnesia,  Bruce.  Native  Magnesia,  Cleavdand.   Magnesia  Hydratee,  H. 
Hydromagnesite,  Kobell.     Margaritas  magnesicus,  D. 


Magnesia. , 
Water 


Combination  of  magnesia  and  water. 

Hoboken.  Unst.  Unst. 

. .  .70-0 69  75 66-67 67-98 

. .  .30-0 30-25 30-39 30-96 


100-0  Bruce.         100-00  Fyfe.  97-06  Stromeyer.  98-94  Thomson. 

Sp.  Gr.  255.     H.  =  1-0  — 1-5. 

Portions  of  manganese  and  iron  were  also  observed  by  Stro- 
meyer  and  Thomson,  but  these  being  obviously  accidental, 
the  mineral  is  a  simple  hydrate. 

It  occurs  in  plates,  which  have  a  lamellar  structure,  and  oc- 


140  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

casionally  present  indications  of  a  six-sided  prism,  which  is 
assumed  as  the  primary  form,  and  parallel  to  the  base  of  which 
it  readily  separates  into  plates.  It  is  white,  occasionally  with 
a  tinge  of  green ;  semi-transparent,  with  a  somewhat  pearly 
lustre,  but  becomes  opake  by  exposure;  is  rather  elastic,  ad- 
heres slightly  to  the  tongue,  and  is  so  soft  as  to  yield  to  the 
nail.  It  dissolves  entirely  in  muriatic,  nitric,  and  dilute  sul- 
phuric acids,  without  effervescence.  B  B  it  gives  off  water, 
becomes  opake  and  friable,  but  does  not  fuse. 

This  mineral  was  brought  into  notice  by  the  late  Dr.  Bruce, 
of  New  York,  and  was  discovered  by  him  in  the  serpentine 
cliffs  of  Hoboken,  opposite  New  York  city.  It  has  also  been 
brought  from  Unst,  Swinaness,  in  one  of  the  Shetland  Islands, 
where  it  is  contained  in  the  same  rock  ;*  and  Von  Kobell  has 
lately  discovered  it  in  specimens  of  serpentine  from  Negro- 
pont,  in  Greece.  He  has  named  it  hydromagnesite. 


CHRYSOLITE.! 

Krysolith,  W.     Peridot,  H.     Prismatic   Chrysolite,  M.  and  J.     Anhydrous  Silicate  of 
Magnesia,  Thomson.     Chrysolithus  rectangulus.  JJ. 

Combination  of  magnesia,  silica,  and  protoxide  of  iron. 

Chrysolite.         Olivine.  Olivine.  Meteoric.        Meteoric. 

Crystal.  Unkcl.  Sormna.  OH  inn.  Olivine. 

Magnesia 50-13 50-49 44-24 47-35 47-35 

Silica 39-73 40-09 40-08 40-8H 40-83 

Protoxide  of  iron. . .  9-09 8-17 I5-J« 1 1-72 1 1-53 

Prot.  of  manganese..  0-00 0-00 00-00 0-43 00-00 

Oxide  of  tin 0-00 000 00-00 0-17 00-00 


99-95  Strom.    98-75  Strom.  99-58  Walm.  100-53  Berz  J  99-71  Walm. 

Stromeyer  noticed  also  a  minute  portion  of  nickel,  Klap- 
roth  a  little  lime,  and  Walmstadt  some  manganese  and  alu- 
mina. These,  however,  are  very  variable,  and  must  be  re- 
garded as  accidental ;  but  Walmstadt  has  given  the  results  of 
six  analyses  of  this  mineral  from  different  localities,  in  which 
he  finds  a  mean  of  about  ten  per  cent,  protoxide  of  iron.  This 
by  some  is  viewed  as  essential,  and  it  is  included  in  the  for- 
mula given  by  Beudant;  but  if  we  regard  it  as  accidental,  the 
result  is  1  atom  silica,  1  atom  magnesia;  or  a  simple  anhy- 
drous silicate  of  magnesia.  Formula,  MgS. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-3  —  3-5.     H.  =  6-5  — 7-0. 

Chrysolite  occurs  in  angular  or  somewhat  rounded  crystal- 

*  Prof.  Necker,  of  Geneva,  has  lately  described  several  of  the  hexagonal  crystals  from 
Unst,  which  have  their  three  alternate  terminal  edges  truncated  hy  planes  oblique  to  the 
axes,  thus  seeming  to  indicate  a  rhomboid  as  the  primary  form  of  this  mineral.  (Jame- 
son's Edin.  Jour,  xxix.,  75.)  [AM.  ED.] 

f  Chrysolite,  signifying  a  valuable  stone,  or  gem. 

J  The  olivine  contained  in  the  great  mass  of  Siberian  meteorite,  now  removed  to  St. 
Petersburg,  the  crystals  of  which  G.  Rose  has  measured,  and  found  to  agree  with  those 
of  common  olivine.  (PoggendorPs  Annalen.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  195.) —  [AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


141 


line  masses,  and  in  prismatic  crystals  variously  terminated. 
Their  primary  form  is  a  right  rectangular  prism,  which  may 
be  obtained  by  cleavages  parallel  to  all  its  planes,  yielding  the 
measurement  of  90°  every  way  by  the  reflective  goniometer; 
the  cross  fracture  is  conchoidal  with  a  vitreous  lustre;  color 
bright  yellow,  sometimes  tinged  with  green  or  brown;  trans- 
parent or  translucent;  and  possesses  double  refraction.  Per 
se,  it  is  infusible  B  B,  but  becomes  darker  ;  with  borax  it  forms 
a  transparent  green  glass. 


Primary 


P  on  M  T  or  M  on  T  .    90°  00' 

M  on  d  I 154     52 

(13 119     13  H. 

a  I 1.37     00 

a  2 128     50 

b  .  .141     50  H. 


T  oncl 119 

r.  2 139 

P  on  b 123 

b  on  a  I 160 

a  1  on  a  2 163 

d  1  on  d  2 162 


29 
20 

20  H. 
2 

55 
17  H. 


The  best  specimens  of  chrysolite  are  brought  from  Constan- 
tinople and  the  Levant,  but  under  what  circumstances  they  are 
found,  we  have  not  been  informed.  It  is  found  also  occasion- 
ally in  pale-green  transparent  crystals,  among  sand,  at  Ex- 
paillie  in  Auvergne;  at  Vesuvius;  and  in  the  Isle  of  Bourbon. 

Olivine.  Olivin,  W.  Peridot  granuliforme,  H.  Olivine  is 
a  variety  of  chrysolite,  differing  slightly  in  respect  of  analysis, 
the  general  form  of  its  crystals,  and  also  in  cleavage.  It  is 
chiefly  found  in  olive-colored  semi-transparent  masses,  which, 
from  their  being  in  a  state  of  decomposition,  have  externally 
an  iridescent,  and  somewhat  metallic  lustre;  fracture  imper- 
fect conchoidal :  not  so  hard  as  chrysolite.  It  occurs  in  crys- 
tals whose  primary  form  may  be  considered  a  right  rectangular 
prism,  but  they  yield  to  cleavage  with  regularity  only  parallel 
to  the  terminal  plane  P  of  the  following  figure.  B  B  alone  it 
becomes  somewhat  brown  without  fusing;  with  borax  it  melta 
slowly  into  a  diaphanous  glass,  colored  by  iron. 


142 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


P  on  T  or  d    90°  00' 


The  above  figure  represents  a  crystal  in  Mr.  Majendie's  collection, 
from  the  current  of  lava  which  flowed  into  the  sea  at  Torre  del  Greco. 

Olivine  is  met  with  abundantly  in  certain  lavas,  basalts,  and 
other  volcanic  rocks ;  crystals,  several  inches  in  diameter,  are 
found  in  compact  greenstone  at  Unkle,  near  Bonn  on  the 
Rhine;  large  spheroidal  masses  in  trap-tuff  at  Kapferstein  in 
Stiria;  at  Habichtswald  in  Hessia;  and  at  Vesuvius.  These, 
however,  are  generally  granular,  disintegrating  and  falling  to 
pieces  on  the  pressure  of  the  fingers.  In  small  quantity  it  oc- 
curs in  many  of  the  basalts  of  Great  Britain  and  America. 
Rare  specimens  of  transparent  olivine,  accompanied  by  pyrox- 
ene, have  recently  been  brought  to  the  United  States  from  the 
great  volcano  Kirauea,  in  the  island  of  Owhyhee,  by  mem- 
bers of  the  exploring  expedition. 

Meteoric  Olivine.  The  semi-transparent  olivine  inclosed  in 
the  mass  of  meteoric  iron  found  in  Siberia  by  Pallas,  is  only 
peculiar  for  its  straw-yellow  color.  See  its  analysis,  page  140. 

The  small,  uncrystalline,  wax-  or  honey-yellow  masses,  of 
which  the  one  is  with  difficulty,  the  other  more  easily  fusible 
B  B,  observed  by  Saussure  in  the  basalt  of  Limbourg,  and 
which  he  denominated  Limbelite  and  Chusite,  (Peridot  altere, 
Beudant,)  appear  to  be  decomposed  varieties  of  this  species. 

HYALOSIDERITE.* 

This  mineral  was  observed  by  Dr.  Walchner  in  an  amyg- 
daloid in  the  Kaiserstuhl,  near  Sasbach  in  Brisgau.  He  pub- 
lished a  description  and  analysis  of  it  in  1823.t  It  is  com- 
posed of, 

Silica 31-634 

Protoxide  of  iron 29-711 

Magnesia 32-403 

Alumina 2-211 

Protoxide  of  manganese 0-480 

Potash 2-788 

Chromium,  a  trace, 0-000 

99-277 


*From  vuAo?,  glass,  and  Oidt^og,  iron. 


|  Schweigger's  Jahrbuch,  ix.  65. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  143 

Formula  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson,  2MgS+F2S. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-875.     H.  =  55. 

Color  yellowish  or  reddish-brown  ;  streak  cinnamon-brown  ; 
fracture  small  conchoidal.  It  is  usually  crystallized.  The 
primary  form  is  an  octahedron  with  a  rectangular  base.  The 
summits  are  commonly  replaced  by  planes  parallel  to  the  base, 
and  cutting  the  pyramids  so  deep,  that  the  crystals  have  the 
appearance  of  thin  plates  with  bevelled  edges.  P  on  P'  99° 
22',  M  on  M'  77°  50'.  Internal  lustre  vitreous;  of  the  sur- 
faces metallic ;  translucent  on  the  edges.  B  B  it  becomes 
black  and  then  melts  into  a  black  bead,  which  is  attracted  by 
the  magnet.  With  borax  it  fuses  easily  into  a  clear  glass, 
greenish-yellow  while  hot ;  but  nearly  colorless  when  cold. 
With  biphosphate  of  soda  it  forms  a  greenish  glass  leaving  a 
silica  skeleton. 


LIGURITE.* 

Fiviani, — Mem.  delP  Jlccad.  delle  Scienze,  Icttere  cd  aiti  di  Geneva,  iii.    Ligurit,  Leonhard, 

Consists  according  to  Viviani,  of  silica  57 -45,  alumina  7*36, 
lime  25-30,  magnesia  2'56,  oxide  of  iron  3'00,  oxide  of  man- 
ganese 0'50. 

This  mineral  is  described  as  occurring  in  oblique  rhombic 
prisms  of  140°  and  40°,  sometimes  modified,  of  an  apple-green 
color,  and  occasionally  speckled  externally.  Its  fragments  are 
uneven  and  transparent,  with  a  vitreous  lustre.  Streak  grey- 
ish white.  Specific  gravity  3'49.  It  does  not  become  electric 
either  by  heat  or  friction,  and  exhibits  no  phosphorescence 
when  placed  on  live  coal. 

It  occurs  in  a  sort  of  talcose  rock,  on  the  banks  of  the  Stara 
in  the  Apennines.  According  to  Leonhard,  it  is  considered  as 
a  gem  superior  to  chrysolite  in  color,  hardness  and  transpa- 
rency. It  is  classed  by  Dana  as  a  variety  of  chrysolite. 

FORSTERITE. 

Levy,  Jinn.  Phil.,  2nd.  series,  vii.,  61.    Topazius  Vesuvianus,  D. 

H.  about  7-0. 

Contains  magnesia  and  silica,  according  to  Children. 
Primary  form  a  right  rhombic  prism,  whose  faces  are  in- 
clined to  one  another  at  angles  of  128°  54'  and  51°  6'. 

Occurs  in  small,  colorless  and  brilliant  translucent  crystals. 
Cleavage  perfect,  and  easily  obtained  parallel  to  o. 

*  Ligurite,  after  Liguria,  the  country  in  which  it  is  found. 


144 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


M  on  M 128°  54' 

y  on  y  over  M    .  .  107    46 
y  on  y  adjacent  .  .  139     14 


Is  associated  with  pleonaste  and  olive-green  pyroxene  at  Ve- 
suvius. Its  angles  pretty  nearly  correspond  with  those  of  chry- 
soberyl ;  but  its  cleavage  perpendicular  to  the  axis,  which  is 
extremely  distinct  in  Forsterite,  has  not  been  observed  in  that 
mineral. 

CONDRODITE.     BRUCITE.* 

Condrodite,  Berzelius.     Brucite,  Gibbs.     Hemi-prismatic  Chrysolite,  M.     Macluerite, 
Seybert.     Langstajjite.    Curbunculus  obliquus,  f). 

Finland.  New  Jersey.  New  Jersey. 

Silica 38-00 32-666 36-00      ' 

Magnesia 54-00 54-000 54-64 

Peroxide  of  iron 5-10 2-333 3-97 

Potash 0-86 2-108 0-1)0 

Fluoric  acid 0-00 4-086 3-75 

Water 0-00 


97-96  D'Ohsson. 

96;193  Seybert.f 

99-98  Thomson.} 

Silica  
Magnesia  
Peroxide  of  iron 
Fluoric  acid  ... 

New  Jersey. 
33-06  
53-46  
3-65  
7-60  

Grey-colored,  Pargas. 
33-10  
56-61  
2-35  
8-69  

Yellow-colored,  Pargas. 
33-19 
54-50 
6-75 
9-69 

99-77  Rammelsberg.§   100-75  Rammelsberg.  104-13  Rammelsberg. 

Formula  given  by  Seybert,  with  whose  results  all  the  later 
analyses  nearly  accord  :  Mg^Fl+3MgS.  The  iron  and  potash 
are  thus  regarded  as  unessential  ingredients;  and  it  is  to  be 
observed  that  the  latter  was  not  found  in  either  of  the  speci- 
mens examined  by  Rammelsberg.  It  will  be  noticed  also 
that  the  analyses  by  Rammelsberg  give  a  larger  per  cent- 
age  of  fluoric  acid.  He  has  hence  drawn  a  different  formula, 
according  to  which  the  mineral  ought  to  consist  of  silica  37'28, 
magnesia  and  oxide  of  iron  58'40,  (supposing  that  the  latter 
replaces  the  magnesia,)  and  7  55  of  fluoric  acid.  He  thus 


*  Condrodite,  from  its  occurring  in  grains.     Brucite,  in  honor  of  the  late  Prof.  Bruce, 
of  New  York.     Macluerite,  in  honor  of  the  late  VVm.  Maclure. 

f  Amer.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  v.,  p.  336.  J  Outlines,  &c.,  vol.  i.  p.  184. 

$  PoggendorPs  Annalen.,  liii.,  p.  103, 1842,  or  Berzelius's  Rapport  Annuel,  1842,  p.  120. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  145 

states  the  chemical   formula :    MgE+2Mg3Si,  which  is  the 
same  as  that  given  before  by  Von  Kobell. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-15  —  3-22.     H.  =  65. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive,  and  in  small  grains,  having 
occasional,  but  not  very  decided  appearances  of  regular  exter- 
nal form,  and  crossed  by  nearly  parallel  refts,  of  which  the 
surfaces  have  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre.  No  decided  marks 
of  regular  internal  structure  are  discernible  in  them ;  but  the 
massive  of  Pargas  is  divisible  into  apparently  rhombic  prisms; 
and  that  of  New  Jersey  is  described  as  occurring  in  short  ob- 
lique rhombic  prisms  differently  modified,  and  too  imperfect 
to  admit  of  measurement ;  rarely  the  plane  oblique  faces  of  the 
prism  are  visible,  and  this  cleavage  is  obtained  with  great  diffi- 
culty ;  but  parallel  with  M  M'  cleavage  faces  are  sometimes 
produced  in  breaking  the  masses,  which  give  an  angle  of  about 
112°.  The  color  wine,  or  wax-yellow,  brownish-yellow  some- 
times of  a  deep  orange;  it  is  translucent,  lustre  glassy,  or 
almost  resinous;  yields  to  the  knife  with  difficulty;  and  by 
friction  acquires  a  resinous  electricity.* 

B  B,  it  is  infusible,  but  loses  its  color ;  with  borax  it  fuses 
slowly  but  completely  into  a  transparent  glass,  tinged  by  iron. 
The  brown  varieties  act  slightly  on  the  magnet ;  it  dissolves 
in  nitric  acid.  The  presence  of  fluoric  acid  is  readily  shown 
by  its  action  upon  glass,  when  the  mineral  is  decomposed  by 
sulphuric  acid. 

*  There  is  no  mineral  in  the  whole  range  of  the  science,  that  offers  a  more  interesting 
history  than  the  present  species,  considered  in  reference  to  its  chemical  nature  ;  and  it 
is  to  American  mineralogists  and  chemists,  that  we  owe  our  most  important  knowledge 
concerning  it.  Dr.  Langstaff  of  New  York,  was,  unquestionably,  the  first  to  detect  the 
presence  of  fluoric  acid  in  the  New  Jersey  mineral,  (a)  while  Mr.  Seybert  of  Philadel- 
phia, has  the  honor  of  having  first  discovered  it  in  the  Pargus  variety,  ( b)  in  which  it  seems 
to  have  been  overlooked  both  by  Berzelius  and  D'Uhsson  who  had  examined  it.  But 
Dr.  LangstafFs  results  had  not  become  generally  known,  when,  in  1822,  and  previous  to 
his  examination  of  the  Pargas  mineral,  Seybert  (c)  announced  his  discovery  of  fluoric  acid 
in  a  specimen  from  New  Jersey,  without  the  least  knowledge,  as  he  declares,  of  what 
had  been  done  by  Langstaff.  He  had  inferred  from  their  characters,  that  Bvucite  and 
Condrodite  were  different  minerals,  though  Berzelius  had  viewed  them  as  identical ;  but 
the  result  of  his  examination  was  finally  to  show  the  existence  of  fluoric  acid,  as  an  es- 
sential constituent  of  both,  and  to  establish  their  identity.  Soon  after,  Dr.  Thomson 
made  known  his  analysis  of  the  New  Jersey  mineral,  and  fully  confirmed  Seybert's. 
Thus  it  appears  that  Seybert,  equally  with  Langstuff,  was  the  discoverer  of  fluoric  acid 
in  Condrodite.  It  should  be  added,  that  several  years  before  Seybert  had  announced  his 
discovery,  Dr.  Torr«y  of  New  York,  read  before  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History,  his  anal- 
ysis of  Brucite,  in  which  he  had  found  a  large  portion  of  silica,  and  proved  the  mineral  to 
be  a  fluo-silicate,  and  not  simply  a  fluate  of  magnesia,  as  it  had  been  regarded  by  many 
of  our  mineralogists,  and  under  which  name  H  w,as  mentioned  in  the  first  edition  of 
Cleaveland's  mineralogy.  At  this  time  he  was  not  aware  of  Langstaff's  prior  experi- 
ments. The  analysis  by  Berzelius  I  have  not  been  able  to  find.  Langstaff  obtained, 
silica  32,  magnesia,  51,  oxide  of  iron  6,  fluoric  acid  9,  water  1.  It  was  at  first  supposed  to 
be  sphene,  by  Dr.  Bruce,  the  original  discoverer  of  the  mineral  in  the  United  States. 
[AM.  ED.] 

(a)  The  date  of  his  discovery  is  1811,    Amer.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vi.  171. 

(b)  Amer.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  v.  336.  (c)  If).,  v.  336. 

13 


146 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


The  only  European  localities  of  this  species  are  the  district 
of  Pargas  in  Finland,  (discovered  by  Berzelius,)  and  Oken  in 
Sweden,  where  it  is  imbedded  in  limestone  with  spinelle  and 
pargasite.  In  the  United  States,  in  Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  and 
Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  there  are  several  localities  which  have 
been  long  known  to  mineralogists.  They  occur  in  a  beautiful 
white  crystalline  limestone,  (altered  Hue  limestone  of  Prof. 
Rogers,)  the  repository  of  the  various  other  interesting  mine- 
rals of  those  districts.  Some  of  the  largest  masses  have  been 
found  at  Byram,  but  the  finest  colored  specimens  have  been 
brought  from  Sparta,  of  the  former  state.  Quite  recently  a 
locality  of  Brucite  has  been  discovered  by  Prof.  Rogers,  in  a 
bed  of  white  limestone,  near  Chad's  Ford,  on  the  Brandy  wine, 
Penn. 


HUMITE.* 

Bournon,  Cat.  p.  52.     Carbunculus  acrotomus,  D. 

Composition  according  to  Bowenf  very  similar  to  Brucite, 
containing  fluoric  acid. 

Sp.  Gr.  32.     H.  =  6  6. 

It  occurs  in  very  small  crystals,  which  are  of  a  yellowish  or 
deep  reddish-brown  color;  and  transparent  or  translucent; 
with  a  shining  lustre.  The  crystals  are  modified  in  an  extra- 
ordinary degree;  their  primary  form  may  be  considered  as 
being  a  right  rhombic  prism  of  60°  and  120°,  but  they  yield  to 
cleavage  parallel  only  to  its  shorter  diagonal  (i.  e.  to  the  plane 
h  of  the  following  figure).  B  B  it  becomes  opake,  but  does 
not  fuse ;  and  with  borax  affords  a  clear  glass. 


*  Humite,  in  honor  of  Sir  Abraham  Hume. 

f  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  vol.  v.  p.  244.    But  no  complete  analysis  of  the  mineral  has 
been  published. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


147 


M  on  M  .  .  .  . 

P  on  M  or  M 
/or  h  .  . 
M  on  h  
d 

120°  00' 
90  00 
90  00 
120  00 
118  12 

M  or/  . 
P  on  c  1  

h  on  a  .  .  . 

150  00 
144   1 
153  45 

90  00 

dl  
d2  
d3  

101  50 
103  42 
112  45 

on 

d4  . 

.  .  119° 

24' 

h  on  i  2  .  . 

.  .  140°  56/ 

— 

d  5  . 

.  .  121 

45 

i  3  .  . 

.  .  143  20 

— 

dG  . 

.  .  125 

30 

c  1  on  d  1  . 

.  .  155   2 

— 

dl  . 

.  .  129 

46 

^  5 

.  .  159  10 

— 

d8  . 

.  .  121 

20 

d  7 

.  .  159  30 

d9  . 

.  .  124 

2 

d  I  on  g  3  . 

,  .  116  25 

dlQ. 

.  .  136 

16 

d!2on  d8 

.  .  163  22 

dll. 

.  .  157 

20 

£3 

.  .  131  15 

g  3  .  . 

.  .  100 

40 

62  on  g3  . 

.  .  143  15 



£°  2  .  . 

.  .  103 

40 

b  1  on  M  . 

.  .  137  00 

S  1 

.  .  115 

15 

f  on  a  .  . 

115  10 

— 

\  1  .  . 

.  .  133 

36 

It  is  found  on  Monte  Somma,  with  brownish  mica,  pleonaste, 
and  other  volcanic  minerals ;  the  crystals,  though  minute, 
being  extremely  distinct.  It  is  described  by  Monticelli  and 
Covelli  of  Naples,  in  their  Prodomo  della  Mineralogia  Ve- 
suviana,  and  is  regarded  by  them  as  identical  with  condrodite. 


SERPENTINE.* 

Ophite,  L.     Hydrous  Sesquisilicate  of  Magnesia,  Thomson.    Ophitis  communis,D.    Ophi- 
tis,  Fetruvius.     Talcum  serpentinum,  Lin.,  Wem. 

Has  been  divided  into  noble  and  common  serpentine,  a  dis- 
tinction which  it  is  not  very  easy  to  draw.  The  term  noble 
applies  to  such  varieties  as  have  a  uniform  green  color,  and 
are  translucent,  and  fit  for  cutting;  while  common  serpentine 
has  a  more  earthy  texture,  is  less  impalpable,  and  often  con- 
tains admixtures  of  foreign  matter. 


Hoboken. 

Fahlun. 

Silica  42-50. 

41-67.... 

41-95 

Magnesia  38-68. 

41-25.... 

40-64 

Alumina  1-00. 

0-00  

0-37 

Lime  0-25. 

0-00.... 

0-00 

Oxide  of  iron  1-50. 

1-64.... 

2-12 

Oxide  of  manganese  and  chrome.  0-87. 
Water  15-21). 

0-00.  .  .  •, 
0-00.... 

....  0-00 
11-68 

Carbonic  acid  and  bitumen  0-00. 

13-80.... 

3-42 

100-00  John. 


98-36  Vanuxem.       100-48  Lychnell. 


Pseudomorphous, 
Snarum. 

Silica 42-97 

Magnesia 41-66 

Alumina 0-87 


Precious, 
Newburyport. 

42-00 

40-00 

..  0-00 


Oxide  of  iron 2-48 1-00 

Water ?  JO.QO 14'38 

Carbonic  acid  and  bitumen §  *"" 0-00 

Loss 0-00 2-62 


100-00  Hartwell.        100-00  Vanuxem. 


The  mean  of  ten  careful  analyses  of  pure  serpentine  as 
stated  by  Thomson,  (nine  of  them  by  Lychnell,)  shows  the 


*  Serpentine  and  Ophite,  from  the  Latin  and  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  spotted  or  varie- 
gated appearance,  —  like  the  skin  of  a  snake,  —  which  it  frequently  presents. 


148  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

constitution  of  this  mineral  to  be  1£  atom  silica,  1  atom  mag- 
nesia, 1  atom  water,  or  by  the  formula,  MgS^+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  25  to  2  56.     H.  =  3'0. 

Color  commonly  dark  green,  passing  into  yellow  and  grey. 
Translucent  or  opake,  with  a  slightly  resinous  lustre.  Frac- 
ture conchoidal  or  splintery ;  is  occasionally  somewhat  unctu- 
ous to  the  touch,  and  yields  easily  to  the  knife;  but  it  neither 
adheres  to  the  tongue  nor  is  scratched  by  the  nail.  It  loses 
its  water,  and  hardens  on  exposure  to  heat;  B  B,  the  thin 
edges  may  be  fused  into  an  enamel ;  with  borax  it  melts  slowly 
into  a  greenish  transparent  glass,  which  becomes  almost  white 
on  cooling. 

Dark-green  opake  crystals  of  this  substance  have  been  met 
with  in  the  Fassa  valley,  Tyrol ;  their  form,  however,  is  gene- 
rally so  indistinct  that  a  few  only  of  the  faces  can  be  traced, 
and  by  many  they  are  considered  as  pseudomorphs :  perhaps,  as 
Q,uernstedt  has  lately  attempted  to  show,  pseudo-crystals  of 
chrysolite.  But  more  regular  and  undoubted  forms,  indica- 
ting a  right  rectangular  prism  for  the  primary  have  been  met 
with  in  the  Weisstein  of  Penig  in  Saxony,  and  in  a  blackish- 
green  variety,  the  locality  of  which  is  not  known.  At  Snarum 
in  Norway,  it  is  found  in  greenish-grey  masses,  which  contain 
large  and  perfect  pseudomorphous  crystals.  Noble  serpentine 
occurs  at  Fahlun  and  Gulsjo  in  Sweden,  in  the  Isle  of  Man, 
the  vicinity  of  Portsoy  in  Aberdeenshire,  in  Corsica,  Silesia, 
Saxony,  &,c. 

There  are  several  important  localities  of  serpentine  in  the 
United  States.  The  precious  variety,  of  a  light-green  color, 
is  found  at  Phillipstown,  N.  Y.,  frequently  including  seams  of 
asbestus.  Also  at  Newburyport,  Mass.  ;  New  Fane,  Vt. ;  at 
Hoboken,  N.  J.  ;  at  Amity  and  Warwick,  N.  Y.,  where  crys- 
tals of  a  blackish-green  color,  in  the  form  of  oblique  four-sided 
prisms,  from  twelve  to  sixteen  inches  in  circumference  were 
first  observed  by  Dr.  Fowler,  associated  with  brucite  and  black 
spinelle,  in  crystalline  limestone.  It  is  probable  that  these  are 
also  pseudomorphous. 

Common  serpentine  is  frequently  traversed  by  veins  of  asbes- 
tus, and  occurs  in  masses  and  beds  in  primitive  rocks  in  the 
Shetland  Isles,  at  the  Lizard  in  Cornwall,  in  Piedmont,  Saltz- 
burg  and  elsewhere  on  the  continent.  The  following  are  to 
be  regarded  as  varieties  of  serpentine. 

1.  DEWEYLITE  OF  EMMONS.  This  variety  is  found  in  seams 
and  irregular  veins  at  Middlefield,  Mass.  It  contains  mag- 
nesia 40-00,  silica  40'00,  water  20.  —  Shepard.  Specific 
gravity  2'3,  hardness  3 ;  color  white,  yellowish  and  greenish- 
white.  Translucent,  streak  white,  lustre  vitreous,  inclining 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  149 

to  resinous.  Easily  frangible,  especially  if  immersed  in  water. 
It  exhibits  small  marnillary  concretions.  Fracture  even  arid 
imperfectly  conchoidal.* 

2.  METAXITE  OF  BREITHAUPT.     This  is  also  supposed  to 
be  a  variety  of  serpentine.     Composition,  silica  45<04,  Mag- 
nesia 34-00,  peroxide  of  iron   5 -28,  water   15'40.     Specific 
gravity  2-421;  hardness  3*5.      Color  greenish-white;    lustre 
silky.     Texture  fibrous.     Rather  sectile.     B  B,  fuses  without 
communicating  any  color  to  the  flame.     Ignited  with  nitrate 
of  cobalt,  it   assumes  a  lilac  color,  showing  the  presence  of 
magnesia. —  Thomson's  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  i.,  171. 

3.  PICROLITE  OF  HAUSMANN.    This  must  also  be  classed  as 
a  variety  of  the   present  species.      Composed    according  to 
Almroth,  of  magnesia  38-80,  silica  40'04,  water  9.08,  protox- 
ide of  iron  8*28,  carbonic  acid  4'70.     It  is  massive  or  fibrous, 
with  a  radiated    structure.     Color   leek-green,  passing    into 
yellow.     Translucent  on  the   edges.     Streak  somewhat  shin- 
ing.    It  colors  glass  of  borax-green;  but  the  color  disappears 
on  cooling.     It  occurs  in   irregular  veins    at  the  Taberg   of 
Smaland  in  Sweden,  traversing  beds  of  magnetic   iron  ore, 
and  associated  with  calc  spar  and  serpentine. 

4.  REROUTE.     Leonhard  and  Briethaupt.     Contains  silica 
37.95,  alumina  12'18,  magnesia  16-02,  water  31-00.  — P/fl/. 
It  is  found  in  kidney-shaped  masses,  which  have  a  lamellar  or 
compact  structure,  and  a  white,  yellow,  or  green  color.     Lus- 
tre vitreous  or  resinous;  transparent  or  translucent;  fracture 
conchoidal ;  feels  greasy,  but  does  not  adhere  to  the  tongue. 

It  occurs  at  Frankenstein  in  Silesia,  and  at  Zoblitz  in  Sax- 
ony, in  both  localities  associated  with  serpentine. 

5.  HYDROPHITE.!     M.  Scanberg  has  analyzed  a  species  of 
green  serpentine  found  at  Taberg  in  Smoland,  and  in  which 
Mr.  Laguhjehm  had  discovered    the   presence  of  vanadium. 
This  mineral  is  amorphous,  soft,  has  an  irregular  fracture,  is 
of  a  mountain-green  color,  arid   of  the  specific  gravity  2  65. 
B  B  it  gives  out  water,  but  does  not  melt.    It  contains  36' 195 
silica,  22-729  oxide  of  iron,  1*66  oxide  of  manganese,  21'082 
magnesia,  0*115  vanadic  acid,  16  080  water. 

6.  Another  mineral  analogous  to  serpentine  has  also  been 
described  by  M.  Svanberg  under  the  name  Pierophylle.     It  is 
amorphous,  of  a  flaky  texture  and  crystalline  appearance ;  but 
the  faces  of  the  crystals  being  the  faces  of  the  laminae.     It  is 
dark   greenish-grey ;    hardness    between  calcareous  spar  and 

*  Emmons's  Manual  of  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  p.  235. 
•f  Berzelius's  Rapport  Annuel  for  1840,  p.  119. 

13* 


150  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

mica.  Specific  gravity  2*75.  B  B  it  gives  off  water,  and  does 
not  melt.  Composed  of  silica  49-80,  magnesia  30'11,  oxide 
of  iron  6'86,  lime  0-78,  alumina  I'll,  water  9'83.  It  was 
found  at  Sal  a. 

SOAPSTONE. 

Speckstein,  W.     Talc  Steatite,  H. 

The  soapstone  of  Cornwall  consists  of  44  silica,  9'87  alu- 
mina, 24*14  magnesia,  and  21 '22  water. —  Thomson.  It  is 
found  massive,  and  nearly  white  or  of  a  grey  color,  sometimes 
with  a  tinge  of  yellow,  and  mottled  with  green  or  purple; 
when  first  raised  it  may  be  kneaded  like  dough,  but  by  expo- 
sure loses  a  part  of  its  moisture,  and  is  then  translucent  on  the 
edges,  yielding  to  the  nail,  and  possessing  an  unctuous  feel  : 
hence  its  name. 

It  occurs  in  a  vein  of  serpentine  at  the  Lizard  Point  at  Corn- 
wall, where  it  sometimes  presents  the  appearance  of  passing 
into  asbestus.  It  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  porcelain  at 
Swansea  in  Wales,  and  is  also  found  near  the  Cheesewring,  at 
St.  Cleer  in  Cornwall. 

It  is  commonly  classed  with  steatite,  but  is  much  softer.  In 
the  composition  of  steatite  no  alumina  has  been  detected,  and 
it  is  infusible,  whereas  soapstone  fuses  into  a  white  enamel. 
It  sometimes  includes  veins  of  asbestus. 

1.   STEATITE.*     Speckstein,  W.     Talc  Steatite,  H. 

Steatite,  Cornwall. 

Silica 59-5 50-GO 42-88 

Magnesia 30-5 28-83 24-14 

Oxide   of  iron  2-5 2-59 9-87 

Water 5-5 15-00 21-22 


98-0  Klaproth.     97-12  Dewey.          98-11  Thomson. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-65. 

Steatite  presents  various  shades  of  white,  grey,  yellow, 
green,  and  red,  and  is  met  with  only  massive;  the  distinctly 
pronounced  crystals,  which  occur  imbedded  in  a  massive  vari- 
ety of  the  same  mineral  at  Gopfersgriinn  in  Bayreuth,  being 
pseudomorphous  of  the  common  variety  of  quartz,  or  occasion- 
ally of  calcareous  and  pearl  spars.  It  has  generally  an  unctu- 
ous feel ;  yields  to  the  nail,  but  does  not  adhere  to  the  tongue  ; 
fracture  splintery,  sometimes  slaty;  somewhat  translucent  on 
the  edges ;  hardens  B  B,  and  becomes  black,  but  is  infusible. 

Steatite  is  found  in  considerable  masses,  or  in  beds  or  veins, 
in  some  primitive  mountains.  It  is  most  common  in  serpen- 
tine. At  Freyberg  in  Saxony  it  occurs  in  tin  veins,  accompa- 
nied by  or  mingled  with  mica,  asbestus,  quartz,  and  occasion- 

*  From  a  Greek  word,,  signifying  soap,  in  allusion  to  its  greasy  feel. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  151 

ally  native  silver,  &c.  It  abounds  in  the  principality  of  Bay- 
reuth,  and  is  also  found  in  Bohemia,  Norway,  Sweden,  and 
France ;  in  the  Isle  of  Anglesey ;  at  Portsoy,  in  Aberdeenshire, 
in  serpentine ;  in  the  Isle  of  Skye,  and  others  of  the  Hebrides, 
in  wacke  ;  and  in  Fifeshire,  of  a  sky-blue  color,  with  limestone. 

In  the  United  States,  New-England  affords  many  very  ex- 
tensive beds  of  this  useful  mineral :  as  Somers  and  Bristol,  Ct, 
Oxford  and  Grafton,  N.  H.,  Fitchburg  and  Millbury,  Mass. 
Smithfield,  R.  I.,  has  probably  supplied  more  for  the  arts  and 
manufactures  than  any  other  locality.  It  occurs  also  in  New- 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania;  as  described  in  Prof.  Rogers's  Re- 
ports. 

The  white  varieties,  or  those  which  become  so  by  calcina- 
tion, are  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  porcelain  :  others  are 
used  for  fulling.  The  Arabs,  according  to  Shaw,  use  steatite 
in  their  baths  instead  of  soap,  to  soften  the  skin ;  and  Hum- 
boldt  states  that  the  Otomaques,  a  savage  race  inhabiting  the 
banks  of  the  Oronoko,  are  almost  entirely  supported  during 
three  months  of  the  year  by  eating  a  species  of  steatite,  which 
they  first  slightly  bake,  and  then  moisten  with  water. 

2.  POTSTONE.  Topfstein,  W.  Talc  ollaire,  H.  Pierre  ol- 
laire,  Br.  Serpentine  ollaire,  Bt.  Is  a  coarse,  indistinctly 
granular  variety  of  indurated  talc,  having  a  greenish-grey  or 
leek-green  color,  with  a  glistening  or  pearly  lustre.  Contains 
silica  49'01,  magnesia  30'20,  alumina  6'08,  protoxide  of  iron 
11  '40,  water  4*2. — Variety  from  Sweden  by  Thomson. 

Potstone  is  plentifully  found  at  Chiavenna,  in  the  Valteline; 
at  Como,  in  Lombardy ;  and,  generally  speaking,  in  serpentine 
countries;  in  Norway,  Sweden,  Finland,  and  Greenland.  Its 
united  properties  of  infusibility,  softness,  and  tenacity,  admit 
of  its  being  readily  turned  on  the  lathe  ;  from  time  immemorial 
it  has  been  formed  into  vessels*  in  the  Valais  and  Grisons; 
and  Pliny  describes  it  as  being  used  in  like  manner  in  his  time. 


NEPHRITE.t 

Uncleavable  Nephrite  Spar,  Haidinn-er.     Nephrite,  Common  Jade,  Axe  Stone,  J.    Jade 
Nephritique,  H.     Nephrus  amorphus,  D. 

lona.  Smithfield,  R.  I. 

Silica 44-85 44-68 

Magnesia 36-115 34-fc3 

Alumina 1-30 0-5f5 

Oxide  of  iron 3-GO 1-74 

Lime 0-00 4-25 

Water ]  3-55 13-4 1 


99-35  Thomson.  99-27  Bowen. 


*  Whence  the  name  of  Potstone. 

t  FroTD.VKfQo?,  a  kidney,  the  diseases- of  which  it  was  supposed  to  cure. 


152  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Regarding  the  iron  and  lime  as  accidental,  this  mineral  is  a 
hydrous  sesquisilicate  of  magnesia,  or  has  the  same  formula  as 
serpentine:  MgS'H-Aq.  Some  specimens  give  a  trace  of 
oxide  of  chrome. 

Sp.  2-9  —  3-0.     H.  =  7-0. 

Nephrite  occurs  in  masses  of  a  leek-green  color,  passing  into 
grey  and  greenish-white;  is  translucent  on  the  edges;  ex- 
tremely tough :  fracture  coarse-splintery.  Per  sc,  B  B,  it  is 
infusible,  but  becomes  white ;  and  with  borax  forms  a  transpa- 
rent glass. 

It  occurs  in  the  Hartz,  in  Corsica,  in  China,  and  in  Egypt ; 
also  in  New  Zealand,  and  other  islands  in  the  Pacific,  where 
it  is  made  into  hatchets  and  implements  of  war. 

In  the  United  States  a  beautiful  sky-blue  variety  is  found  in 
veins  and  nodules  in  primitive  limestone  in  Smithfield,  R.  I.; 
a  green  or  greenish-grey  variety  at  Easton,  Penn. ;  and  recently 
Dr.  Jackson  has  discovered  it  in  New  Hampshire. 

In  chemical  composition  nephrite  agrees  with  serpentine, 
both  being  hydrosilicates  of  magnesia :  but  as  its  hardness  is 
more  than  twice  that  of  serpentine,  there  seems  to  be  a  radical 
difficulty  in  the  way  of  uniting  it  with  that  species.  Dr.  Thom- 
son, however,  thinks  they  should  constitute  but  one  species; 
and  it  is  remarkable  that  he  puts  down  the  hardness  of  nephrite 
at  only  3*5. 


NEMALITE. 

NuttalL     (Jlmcr.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  iv.  p.  19.)      Silicious  Hydrate  of  Magnesia,  Thainson. 
Nematus  gracilis,  D. 

Contains  Magnesia 51-72 

Silica 12-57 

Peioxide  of  iron 5-87 

Water 29-67 


99  83  Thomson. 

Formula  (iron  being  accidental) :  MgS+2MgAq9. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-35.     Scratched  by  the  nail. 

Composed  of  elastic  fibres,  easily  separable,  and  bearing  a 
striking  resemblance  to  the  fibres  of  amianthus.  Color  white, 
with  a  slight  shade  of  yellow;  lustre  highly  silky;  opake;  be- 
comes brown  on  exposure  to  red  heat,  and  gives  off  water,  but 
does  not  melt;  is  soluble  without  effervescence,  in  sulphuric 
acid,  and  converted  in  well-characterized  Epsorn  salts.  When 
rubbed  with  a  piece  of  iron  it  phosphoresces  with  a  yellowish 
light. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Mr.  Nuttall,  in  small  veins 
in  serpentine,  at  Hoboken,  N.  J.,  and  named  in  reference  to  its 
fibrous  structure.  It  now  occurs  but  sparingly. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


153 


MARMOLITE.* 

Marmolite,  Nuttall.    Magnesie  Hydratee  Silicieuse,  Levy.    Var.  Ophitis   communis,  D. 

Magnesia 46-0 41-25 41-720 

Silica 36-0 41-67 41-256 

Water 15-0 13-80 17-681) 

Lime 2-0 0-00 0-000 

Oxide  of  iron 0-5 164 0-400 

Bitumen  and  carbonic  acid  0-0 1-37 Alumina  1-000 


99-5  Nuttall.        99-73  Lychnell.         102-056  Steel. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-41  —2-47.     Scratched  by  the  knife. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  grey  and  green  translucent  or  opake 
masses,  which  have  a  columnar  or  foliated  texture.  Lustre 
pearly.  Cleavage  in  two  directions,  parallel  to  the  sides  of  an 
oblique  four-sided  prism ;  one  of  them  obtained  with  facility. 
It  decrepitates  and  hardens  B  B,  separating  into  feathery-like 
masses,  but  does  not  fuse;  and  in  the  matrass  yields  water. 
With  nitric  acid  it  forms  a  gelatinous  paste. 

Marmolite  occurs  associated  with  hydrate  of  magnesia  in 
serpentine  veins  at  Hoboken,  in  New-Jersey;  and  in  the  Bare 
Hills,  near  Baltimore,  United  States. f 


PICROSMlNE.i 

Picrosmine,  Haidinger.     Pikrosmin,  L.     Dihydrous  Bisilicate  of  Magnesia,  Thomson. 
JVematus  rectangulus,  B. 

Consists,  according  to  Magnus,  of  magnesia  33'34,  silica 
54'88,  protoxide  of  manganese  0'42,  protoxide  of  iron  T39, 
water  7'30.  According  to  the  analysis,  it  is  a  dihidrous  bisil- 
icate  of  magnesia. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  53  —  2  66.     H.  =  2  5  —  30. 


i  on  i  contiguous  .  .  117°  49' 
8  on  s  over  T  .      .  126°  52' 


Primary   form   a  rectangular  four-sided   prism.      Principal 
cleavage  parallel  to  M.     Color  greenish-white,  sometimes  dark- 

*  From  uaQuaiow,  to  shine,  in  allusion  to  its  pearly  and  somewhat  metallic  lustre. 

|  The  claim  of  this  mineral  to  the  character  of  a  distinct  species  is  very  doubtful. 
Shepard  classes  it  with  kerolite,  while  Dana  and  Thomson  make  it  a  variety  of  serpen- 
tine, with  which  it  most  nearly  agrees  in  chemical  composition.  Vanuxem  long  ago 
drew  up  a  comparison  of  the  two  minerals,  and  gave  it  as  his  opinion  that  they  formed 
but  one  species.  (Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philad.,  vol.  Ill,  p.  129.)  [AM.  ED.] 

J  From  TiiKobg,  bitter,  and  oOiiil}  odor,  in  allusion  to  the  bitter  and  argillaceous  odor 
it  exhales  when  moistened. 


154  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

green  ;  nearly  opake.  Lustre  pearly  on  M  ;  inclining  to  vitre- 
ous on  the  other  faces.  Streak  white  and  dull ;  very  sectile. 
Fracture  splintery.  Composition  granular  ;  strongly  coherent. 
Translucent  on  the  edges.  B  B.  it  does  not  melt,  but  gives 
out  water,  becomes  first  black,  then  white  and  opake,  and  ac- 
quires a  hardness  equal  to  50.  It  is  soluble  in  salt  of  phos- 
phorus, with  the  exception  of  a  silica  skeleton ;  and  when 
heated  with  a  solution  of  cobalt  it  assumes  a  pale-red  color,  even 
when  fused. 

The  only  known  locality  of  picrosmine  is  the  iron  mine  of 
Engelsburg,  near  Presnitz  in  Bohemia,  where  it  is  associated 
with  magnetic  iron  ore.  In  external  appearance  it  resembles 
asbestus,  but  was  distinguished  and  named  by  Haidinger. 
(Translation  of  Mohs,  vol.  hi.,  p.  137.) 

APPENDIX  TO  PICROSMINE.  Boltonite.  The  mineral  to 
which  the  above  name  was  given  by  Prof.  Nuttall,  bears  con- 
siderable resemblance  to  picrosmine,  and  its  analysis  by  Dr. 
Thomson  seems  clearly  to  refer  it  to  that  species.  It  is  com- 
posed, according  to  his  analysis,  of 

Silica 56-64 

Magnesia 3(3-52 

Alumina (H)7 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-46 

101-69* 

Regarding  the  alumina  and  iron  as  accidental,  the  atoms  of 
magnesia  are  14*6,  while  those  of  silica  are  28'32 ;  showing 
evidently  that  the  mineral  is  a  bisilicate,  and  differs  only  from 
picrosmine  in  containing  no  water.  So  its  formula  is  simply 
MgS2. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  976.     H.  =  35. 

Color  white,  with  a  slight  shade  of  green ;  also  bluish-grey 
and  yellowish-grey.  Occurs  massive,  and  in  irregularly-aggre- 
gated prismatic  crystals,  the  cleavages  of  which  afford  indica- 
tions of  a  doubly  oblique  prism  for  the  primary  form.  Streak 
white;  fracture  uneven  ;  lustre  vitreous;  transparent  to  trans- 
lucent; BB,  becomes  white  and  transparent,  but  is  infusible; 
with  borax  yields  a  transparent  glass. 

It  was  first  observed  disseminated  through  the  white  lime- 
stone of  Bolton,  Boxborough,  and  Littleton,  Mass. ;  and  Dr. 
Horton  has  subsequently  added  two  or  three  other  localities  in 
New-York,  where  it  is  also  contained  in  a  similar  white  lime- 
stone. At  Bolton  it  is  associated  with  petalite,  and,  at  the  New- 
York  localities,  with  spinel.  Shepard  mentioned  another  lo- 
cality at  Ridgefield,  Ct. 

*  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  vol.  L,  p.  173. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  155 

OSM  ELITE.— Breithaupt. 
Sp.  Gr.  279  —  2-83.     H.  —  4-0  —  50. 

Massive  ;  in  thin  prismatic  concretions,  scopiformly  or  stellu- 
larly  arranged.  Color  greyish-white  inclining  to  smoke-grey. 
Translucent.  Lustre  not  great,  between  pearly  and  vitreous. 
Feels  greasy,  and  when  breathed  upon  emits  an  argillaceous 
odor;  hence  its  name,  from  dtifti],  odor.  Cleavage  in  one 
direction.  In  the  mouth  it  feels  about  to  dissolve,  although 
no  change  takes  place. 

Occurs  super-imposed  on  calcareous  spar,  mixed  with  datho- 
lite,  in  trachyte  at  Niederkirchen,  near  Wolfstein,  on  the  Rhine. 

TALC.     CHLORITE. 

Prismatic  Talc  Mica,  M.    Chlorite,  W.    Talc,  H.    Nacrite.    Venetian  Talc.    Margari- 
tus  saponaceus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-7  —  28.     H.  =  10  —  15. 

Crystallized  chlorite  occurs  in  flat  six-sided  prisms,  derived 
from  the  replacement  of  the  acute  lateral  edges  of  a  right 
rhombic  prism,  which  is  the  primary  form.  Color  various 
shades  of  green,*  passing  from  dark-green  into  apple-green 
and  greenish-grey ;  also  pure  white  and  yellowish.  Serni- 
transparent,  translucent,  presenting  different  colors  in  different 
directions.  Lustre  pearly  on  the  terminal  planes,  parallel  to 
which  the  cleavage  is  highly  perfect.  Yields  to  the  nail,  and, 
when  in  powder,  is  unctuous  to  the  touch.  Streak  correspond- 
ing to  the  color,  generally  white  or  green.  Thin  laminae  are 
easily  flexible,  but  not  elastic ;  a  character  which  serves  to  distin- 
guish this  mineral  from  mica,  which  is  very  elastic.  Five  speci- 
mens of  this  species,  the  first  three  scaly  talc,  the  fourth  and  fifth 
the  green  foliated  variety,  have  yielded  the  following  results  : 

Common  Chlorite.  Green  Talc  or  Venetian  Talc. 

Silica 26-0 28-8 27-62 62-0 62-58 

Masnesia 8-0 14-3 10-9S 27-0 30-52 

Oxide   of  iron  43-0 23-5 27-54 3-5 3-84 

Alumina  ....   18-5 19-6 23-70 1-5 0-00 

Potash 2-0 2-7 0-00 0-0 0-00 

Water 2-0 11-4 9-16 6-0 3-40 

99-5  Vauq.      100-3  Berthier  98-98  Thorn.  100-0  Vauq.       99-34  Thomson. 

The  first  three  present  so  great  a  discrepancy  in  their  chem- 
ical composition  that  no  formula  can  be  deduced  from  them. 
The  last  analysis,  which  was  instituted  on  the  purest  form  of 
the  species,  gives  this  formula:  MgS2-hMgS3+Mq.  B  B, 
some  varieties  lose  their  color,  and  are  difficultly  fusible ;  oth- 
ers (the  green-earth  in  particular)  are  changed  into  a  black 
scoria,  and,  probably  from  their  deficiency  in  potash  and  mag- 
nesia, will  not  fuse  at  all. 

*  Whence  Chlorite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  green. 


156  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

P  on  M  or  T  90°  00' 
M  on  T  .  .    60    00 

or        V  120    00 
T  on  k      ) 

The  above  figures  and  measurements  are  given  on  the  authority  of  Haiiy. 

Compact  chlorite  is  amorphous;  chlorite-slate  possesses  a 
slaty  structure;  and  earthy  chlorite  consists  of  slightly  cohe- 
rent, scaly  particles. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  dark-green  foliated  chlorites  oc- 
curs in  the  Taberg  iron  mines  of  Wermeland  in  Sweden ;  the 
grey  variety  is  found  in  Aberdeenshire.  In  Cornwall,  where 
it  is  known  under  the  title  of  Peach,  some  of  the  more  crystal- 
line kinds  are  met  with  in  metallic  veins.  Apple-green  col- 
ored talc,  in  large  foliated  masses,  occurs  in  the  island  of  Unst, 
one  of  the  Shetlands  ;  also  in  the  Greiner  Mountain  in  Saltz- 
burg  ;  in  the  Tyrol,  and  in  the  Vallais.  The  same,  deposited  in 
stellular  concretions,  imbedded  in  quartz,  is  found  in  Sweden; 
and  a  beautiful  massive  and  translucent  white  variety  at  Almo- 
rah,  in  the  Himalayan  Mountains. 

1.  NACRITE.     Talc  Granuleux  of  Haiiy.     There  seems  no 
longer  any  propriety  in  retaining  this  mineral  as  a  distinct  spe- 
cies ;   all  its  characters  allying  it  with  common  talc,  or  chlorite 
of  the  present  work,  the  editor  has  assigned  it  to  that  place. 
It  is  evident,  however,  that  the  name  nacrite  has  been  applied 
to  substances  widely  different  in  chemical  composition  ;  that,  so 
called  from  Brunswick,  Me.,  analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  contains 
alumina  instead  of  magnesia,  and  is  a  variety  of  common  mica. 
That  of  which  the  analysis  is  given  by  Vauquelin,  still  more 
closely  resembles  mica,  by  its  containing  both  potash  and  alu- 
mina; while  that  from  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  is  manifestly  a  mag- 
nesian  mineral,  having  the  unctuous  feel  of  steatite,  and  want- 
ing in  the  laminae  the  flexibility  of  mica.     Smithfield,  R.  I., 
and  Bridgewater,  Vt.,  afford  the  finest  specimens  of  talc  hith- 
erto met  with  in  the  United  States.     Common  chlorite  is  of 
very  frequent  occurrence. 

2.  GREEN  EARTH.     Griinerde,  W.     Talc  Zographique,  H. 
Is  met  with  in  small  masses,  in,  or  lining  the  cavities  of,  amygda- 
loid ;  and  is  of  a  greyish-  or-  bluish-green   color,  passing  into 
blackish-green;  it  is  dull,  and  yields  to  the  nail:  its  fracture 
is  generally  earthy.     It  is  found  wherever  amygdaloid  occurs : 
as  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Monte  Baldo  near  Verona ;    in  the 
islands  of  Faroe,  and  in  many  parts  of  Great  Britain.     When 
of  a  good  color  it  is  made  use  of  by  painters.     Green  earth  is 
a  very  common  ingredient  in  the  amygdaloid  of  Nova  Scotia. 


EARTHY    MINERALS, 


157 


ZIRCON. 

Zircon,  W.    Pyramidal  Zircon,  J.  M.    Zircon,  H.    Carbunclus  quadratus,  D. 

Combination  of  zirconia  and  silica. 

Buncombe,  N.  C. 

Zirconlte.  Hyacinth.  Zirconite. 

Zirconia 67-07 66-00 67-16 

fcilica 32-08 33-32 33-48 


99-15  Vanuxem.   99-32  Muir.       100-64  Berzelius. 

The  mean  of  these  analyses  gives  I  atom  silica,  1  atom  zir- 
zonia,  or  a  simple  silicate  of  zirconia,  for  the  composition  of 
this  mineral.  Formula  :  ZrS. 

Sp.  Gr.  45  — 4-7.     H.  —  7'5. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  octahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  having  its  lateral 
solid  angles  replaced.  Fig.  3  is  the  same  as  tig.  2;  but  the  replacement 
of  its  angles  is  so  considerable  as  to  give  to  the  crystal  the  form  of  a  quad- 
rangular prism  terminated  by  four-sided  pyramids  with  rhombic,  planes. 
In  fig.  4  the  edges  formed  by  the  meeting  of  two  pyramids  of  the  primary 
octahedron  are  also  replaced.  Fig.  5  shows  the  solid  angles  formed  by 
the  meeting  of  the  prism  and  pyramid,  replaced  each  by  two  planes. 


71 


PonP,orP'onF? 
over  the  summit  \ 
Pon  F  

95° 
123 

40/ 
15 

P  on  n  or  P'  on  n'  . 
P  or  P'  on  e  .  .  .  . 
P  on  o  .  .  . 

132 
118 
153 

10 
12 
15 

P  on  h  or  F  on  h'  . 
h  on  h  
h  or  h1  on  e  .... 
h  on  h  ... 

150 
]47 
147 
133 

12 
12 

50 
0') 

e  on  e!  

90 

00 

n  on  n'  

90 

00 

n  or  n'  on  e  

h  on  n  or  h'  on  n'  . 
n  on  o  ... 

135 
148 
159 

00 
17 
35 

The  primary  form  is  an  obtuse  octahedron,  with  a  square 
base,  which  occurs  only  among  the  opake  brown  crystals :  its 
angles,  taken  by  the  reflecting  goniometer,  on  natural  planes 
are  64°  20',  and  95°  40'.  The  crystals  of  this  substance  re- 
semble in  a  remarkable  degree  those  of  the  oxide  of  tin,  which 
also  have  for  their  primary  form  a  flat  octahedron :  they  are 
doubly  refractive  when  translucent,  are  harder  than  quartz 
14 


158  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

and  their  lustre  is  adamantine.  B  B,  a  pure  fragment  loses  its 
color,  but  retains  its  transparency,  and  does  not  melt.  With 
borax  it  melts  into  a  transparent  glass.  It  is  not  acted  upon 
by  acids. 

In  the  United  States,  at  Buncombe,  N.  C.,  Dr.  J.  D.  Porter 
discovered  a  large  number  of  crystals  scattered  through  a  hill 
composed  of  disintegrated  gneiss.  The  locality  has  since  sup- 
plied mineralogists  with  many  interesting  crystals;  but  though 
of  large  size,  they  have  not  the  beautiful  color  and  transparency 
of  those  from  other  places,  particularly  from  Hammond,  N.  Y., 
where  perfectly  polished  prisms,  under  the  common  elongated 
form  (prisme  andplagiedre  of  Haiiy),  resulting  from  the  replace- 
ments of  the  basal  edges  of  the  octahedron,  have  been  obtained, 
nearly  two  inches  in  length,  and  with  both  terminations  entire. 
They  are  imbedded  in  a  white  crystallized  limestone,  and  ac- 
companied by  graphite,  opalescent  felspar,  sphene  and  beryl,  the 
whole  forming  a  bed  in  gneiss.  Good  crystals  have  been  found 
at  Warwick,  Edenville,  and  Munroe,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Middlebury, 
Vt.  Very  handsome  and  brilliant  forms  also  occur  in  talcoze 
slate  at  Easton,  Penn.,  and  Haddam,  Ct.  According  to  Prof. 
H.  D.  Rogers,  fine  crystals  of  zircon  occur  in  the  limestone 
beds  of  East  Bradford  and  East  Marlborough,  Penn.,  associated 
with  beryl,  red  oxide  of  titanium,  epidote,  and  tremolite. 

Zircon  is  divided  into  three  sub-species  :  Hyacinth,  Jargoon 
and  Zirconite. 

1.  The  Hyacinth  presents  various  shades  of  red,  passing 
into  orange  red  ;  it  is  transparent  or  translucent ;  its  structure 
is  lamellar,  yielding  to  cleavage  parallel  both  to  P  and  n  of  the 
above  figure.     Its  cross  fracture  is  conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous 
lustre.     B  B,  alone,  it  is  infusible,  but  with  borax  melts  into  a 
diaphanous  glass.     The  hyacinth  is  commonly  found  in  grains 
or  rolled  masses  in  the  beds  of  rivers.     It  occurs  in  the  brook 
Expailly,   in  Auvergne;    at  Ohlapian  in  Transylvania;   near 
Billin  in  Bohemia,  and  in  the  alluvial  deposites  of  Ceylon  :  oc- 
casionally, also,  imbedded  in  volcanic  tuff  in  Auvergne;  at  the 
Laachersee,  near  Bonn  ;  and  at  Vesuvius. 

2.  The  Jargoon  occurs  in  small  transparent  or  translucent 
prismatic  crystals  (fig.  3),  of  a  grey,  yellow,  or  brown  color, 
having  frequently  a  smoky  tinge.     It  is  found  in  the  sands  of 
certain  rivers  in  Ceylon,  with  spinel,  sapphire,  and  iron  sand. 

3.  The   Zirconite*    occurs  in  reddish-brown   and    nearly 
opake  prismatic  crystals  (figs.  4  and  5).     Of  these,  magnifi- 
cent specimens,  occasionally  as  large  as  a  walnut,  are  found  at 
Miask  in  Siberia,  at  Kitiksut  in  Greenland,  and  in  the  zircon 
sienite  of  Frederickswarn,  in  Norway.     In  smaller  crystals  it 

*  Zirconite,  from  its  containing  the  earth  Zirconia. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  159 

is  found  in  several  granite  and  gneiss  rocks,  as  at  the  Sau-alp 
in  Carinthia,  at  Scalpay  in  the  Isle  of  Harris,  and  elsewhere. 
The  varieties  of  zircon  are  cut  and  polished  by  the  lapidary, 
but  in  general  are  not  greatly  esteemed.  The  hyacinth,  how- 
ever, often  exhibits  a  brilliant  color  when  set  as  a  gem. 

SILLIMANITE. 

Bowen.    (dmer.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  viii.,  p.  113.)    Epimacius  Sillimanianus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  zirconia. 
This  mineral  was  analyzed  in  1824,  by  G.  T.  Bowen,  and 
named  by  him  in  honor  of  Prof.  Silliman.  He  published  his 
examination  of  it  in  vol.  viii.  of  the  American  Journal  of  Sci- 
ence. More  recently  it  has  been  analyzed  by  Dr.  Muir,  (Edin- 
burgh Transactions,  xi.,245,)  whose  results  have  added  much 
new  interest  to  this  mineral  by  the  discovery  of  zirconia  as  one 
of  its  essential  constituents.  The  following  are  the  two  analyses  : 

Alumina 54-11  Alumina 35-10 

Silica 42-67  Silica 38-67 

Peroxide  of  iron 2-00  Zirconia 18-51 

Water 0-51  Peroxide  of  iron 7-21 

99-29  Bowen.  99-49  Muir. 

With  the  alumina  of  the  first  analysis  is  probably  contained  the 
zirconia  of  the  second ;  but  another  analysis  of  the  mineral 
seems  very  desirable.*  Dr.  Thomson,  relying  on  the  last, 
makes  the  constitution  of  the  mineral  to  be  3  atoms  silicate  of 
alumina  and  1  atom  silicate  of  zirconia.  Formula  :  3AlS+ZrS. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-41.  H.r=6-0  —  65. 

Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism  of  106°  30',  the  in- 
clination of  the  base  to  the  axis  being  113°.  Occurs  imbedded 
in  quartz  in  bent  and  twisted  crystals,  whose  planes  being  dull 
and  somewhat  convex,  seldom  admit  of  accurate  measurement. 
Color  dark  grey,  passing  into  clove-brown ;  translucent  on  the 
edges.  Lustre  vitreous,  considerable  on  the  face  of  cleavage, 
which  is  parallel  to  the  shortest  diagonal  of  the  prism.  Frac- 
ture uneven,  splintery.  Brittle,  and  easily  reduced  to  powder. 
Infusible  B  B,  per  se,  nor  does  it  melt  into  a  bead  with  borax. 
It  was  formerly  regarded  as  a  variety  of  anthophyllite,  which,  in 
several  respects  it  closely  resembles,  but  from  which  it  may 
easily  be  distinguished  by  its  superior  hardness.  Shepard 
identifies  it  with  bucholzite,  and  thinks  that  future  analyses  of 
the  latter  mineral  will  discover  the  presence  of  zirconia,  which 

*  A  new  analysis  has  more  recently  been  made  by  Arthur  Connell,  but  without  show- 
ing the  presence  of  zirconia  ;  and  the  specimen  was  evidently  genuine.  His  results  are 
thus  stated  :  silica  36-75,  alumina  58*94,  oxide  of  iron  0-99.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  I 
think,  that  zirconia  was  found  in  the  mineral  analyzed  by  Muir,  and  the  specimen  was 
received  from  Prof.  Nuttall ;  but  from  which  locality  it  came,  we  are  not  informed.  I  am 
unable  to  explain  the  discrepancy  in  the  analyses,  and  Mr.  Connell's  paper  met  my  eye 
only  in  season  to  be  referred  to  in  this  note.  (See  Jameson's  Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  vol. 
xxxi.,  p.235.)  [An.  ED.] 


160 


EARTHY"    MINERALS. 


is  now  supposed  to  constitute  the  principal  difference  between 
them.  It  is  to  be  observed,  however,  that  Dr.  Thomson's 
more  recent  analysis  of  bucholzite  failed  to  detect  the  presence 
of  that  substance.  They  differ  in  other  respects,  and  it  seems 
better,  for  the  present,  to  describe  them  as  distinct  species. 

Sillimanite  occurs  in  long,  slender,  prismatic  crystals,  trav- 
ersing layers  of  quartz  in  gneiss,  at  Chester,  Ct.  These  prisms 
are  sometimes  bent  at  the  middle  nearly  at  right  angles,  appa- 
rently while  in  a  soft  state :  an  appearance  sometimes  observed 
in  kyanite.  It  is  found  also  at,  Norwich,  Ct.,  at  the  Falls  of  the 
Yantic,  and  is  accompanied  by  blue  corundum  and  felspar.  The 
crystals  are  rounded,  and  sometimes  bent  nearly  at  right  angles. 


OSTRANITE/ 

Breithaupt.     (Edin.  New  Phil.  Jour.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  186.) 

Sp.  Gr.  4-32  —  4-4.     H.  between  4-0  and  6'0. 

Occurs  in  four-sided  prism  surmounted  by  four-sided  pyra- 
mids. 


P  nn  P  I the  a(lJacent  angles  7  128°  14' 
>      of  the  pyramid      5133    42 
.   )  the  adjacent  angles  >    96    00 
of  the  prism  <    84    00 


This  mineral  bears  considerable  resemblance  to  zircon,  both 
in  form  and  appearance;  its  angle  however  differs.  Its  color 
is  clove-brown;  lustre  vitreous;  streak  inclining  to  pale  grey; 
very  brittle.  It  does  not  fuse  B  B,  but  its  color  becomes  paler  ; 
with  borax  it  melts,  though  with  difficulty,  into  a  transparent 
glass.  Insoluble  in  nitric  acid.  It  has  not  been  analyzed. 

It  is  found  in  Norway,  and  is  supposed  to  belong  to  the  zir- 
con sienite  of  Frederickswarn.  It  is  a  very  rare  mineral. 

EUCLASE. 

Euklas,  W.    Prismatic  Emerald,  J.  M.    Euclase,  H.     Beryllus  rhomboideus,  D. 

Combination  of  glucina,  silica,  and  alumina.  Glucina  21-78, 
silica  43-22,  alumina  30-56,  oxide  of  iron  2'22,  oxide  of  tin 
0-70.  —  Bcrzelius. 

Iron  and  tin  being  accidental,  the  formula  is  2A1S+GS. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-06.     H.=i75. 

*  Ostranite,  named  by  Breithaupt,  from  the  goddess  Ostra. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


161 


It  occurs  in  crystals  which,  when  held  in  one  direction,  may 
be  termed  prismatic;  the  prism  sometimes  appearing  rectan- 
gular, sometimes  rhombic,  and  variously  modified  and  termin- 
ated. The  principal  cleavage  is  highly  perfect,  and  easily  ob- 
tained,* parallel  to  the  plane  P  of  the  following  figures :  it 
cleaves  also  parallel  to  M  and  T ;  which,  together  with  the 
measurements,  and  the  nature  of  the  modifying  planes,  prove 
the  primary  form  to  be  a  right  oblique-angled  prism.  The 
planes  P  and  T,  and  the  intermediate  planes  (which  at  first 
sight  appear  only  as  striae),  are  those  of  the  apparent  prisms  of 
the  crystals,  which  usually  are  attached  to  the  matrix  at  M,  or 
the  opposite  plane.  It  is  either  colorless  and  nearly  transpa- 
rent, light  green  of  various  shades,  or  bluish-green ;  fracture 
conchoidal,  with  a  splendent  vitreous  lustre.  Very  fragile; 
possesses  double  refraction,  and  becomes  electric  by  friction 
or  pressure,  a  property  which  it  retains  for  many  hours.  B  B, 
it  becomes  opake,  and  then  melts  on  the  edges  into  a  white 
enamel :  with  borax  it  fuses  slowly  into  a  transparent  colorless 
glass.  It  is  not  affected  by  acids. 


Pon 
M  01 
Ton 

P  on 

M  or  T  .  . 
i  T  .  .  .  . 

.  90° 
.  130 

oo' 

52 
50 
10 
30 
24 
28 
30 
10 
05 
50 
50 
40 
46 
20 
22 
14 

Pon  c!2  .  .  .  . 

.  103° 

3& 
50 
10 
24 
10 
50 
18 
18 
32 
20 
45 
20 
20 
00 
10 
20 

-  c!3  ,  . 

.  ]00 

61  .... 

98 

6  1 

.  123 

62  .  .  .  . 

100 

b  ° 

108 

cl  .  . 

124 

b  1 

130 

d   . 

124 

b  ° 

112 

c  1 

122 

b3 

139 

c  2  .... 

.  121 

6  1  on  6  2  ... 
6  2  on  6  2'  .  .  . 
b  1  on  b  2  ... 
b  2  on  b  3  .  .  , 
b2  on  61  .  .  . 

.  165 
.  143 
.  162 
.  169 
.  143 
105 

c  3  .... 

120 

c  4  .  .  . 

116 

c  5  .  , 

112 

c  6 

111 

c  7 

109 

cS  .  .  .  . 

.  108 

.  140 

c9 

107 

b  1 

.  148 
.  115 

c  10  ... 
c  11  ... 

.  106 
.  105 

h  1 



*Euclase,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  easily  broken;  in  allusion  to  this  circumstance. 


162 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


The  above  figure  represents  the  planes  of  some  crystals  in 
the  possession  of  H.  J.  Brooke,  from  which  Mr.  Phillips  ob- 
tained the  accompanying  measurements  by  the  reflecting  goni- 
ometer. 

Euclase  was  first  found  in  Peru,  in  small  quantity ;  and  has 
since  been  brought  from  Capao,  in  the  mining  district  of  Villa 
Ricca  in  the  Brazils.  Its  matrix  is  described  as  chloritic  slate, 
but  it  is  principally  known  in  isolated  crystals,  which  have 
now  become  exceedingly  rare  and  costly. 

It  was  found  in  its  gangue  (for  the  first  time  ever  observed) 
at  the  topaz  and  fluor  vein  of  Mr.  Lane  at  Trumbull,  Ct.  It 
occurs  in  thin,  transparent,  yellowish-white  tabular  crystals, 
lining  cavities  in  a  silvery-white  mica,  and  sometimes  imbed- 
ded in  a  dark  purple  fluor.* 


BERYL.t     EMERALD. 

Eldler  Beryl,  W.     Emcraude,  H.     Beril  Ai°ue-marine,  Bt.     Aquamarine.     Rhombolie- 
dral  Emerald,  J.  M.     Beryllus  hexagonus,  D. 

Combination  of  glucina,  silica,  and  alumina. 

Beryl, 
Emerald,  Peru.  Siberia. 

Glucina 12-50 13-00 15-50 

Silica 68-50 64-50 6(5-45 

Alumina 1575 Hi-03 1(5-75 

Oxide  of  chrome (XW 3-25 0-00 

Oxide  ofiron 1-00 0-00 0-60 

Lime 0-25 and  water    3-60 ••• 


98-03  Klaproth. 

100-35  Vauquelin. 

99  80  Kh 

Beryl, 

Beryl, 

Broddbo. 

Siberia. 

Aqua  marine. 

Glucina  

13-13  

....12-53  

4-50 

Silica  

68-35  

....66-85  

67-00 

Alumina  

17-60  

18-40  

16-50 

Oxide  of  chrome. 

0-00  

O-liO  

1-00 

Oxide  ofiron  

0-73  

....  2-00  

0-50 

99-80  Berzelius. 


99-78  Thomson. 


99-50  Dumenil. 


Dr.  Thomson  from  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses,  gives 
the  composition,  2  atoms  tersilicate  of  alumina,  1  atom  tersili- 
cate  of  glucina:  2AISH-GS3  —  which  is  the  same  as  that  giv- 
en by  Beudant. 

The  only  important  difference  between  emerald  and  beryl  is 
in  their  colors  ;  which,  since  they  present  an  uninterrupted 
series,  is  altogether  insufficient  for  a  division  of  the  present 
species.  The  emerald  is  emerald-green,  which  it  derives 
from  a  small  proportion  of  chrome;  all  the  varieties  of  other 
colors,  tinged  more  or  less  yellow  and  blue,  or  altogether  color- 
less, are  beryl.  The  common  form  is  a  hexahedral  prism, 


*  Prof.  Shepard.    American  Journal  of  Science,  vol.  xliii,  p.  366. 

t  Called  Beryllos  by  the  Greeks.    Aqua  Marine  from  the  Latin,  sea-water,  in  relation  to 
it*  color. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


163 


which  sometimes  is  deeply  striated  longitudinally,  and  termi- 
nated by  a  six-sided  pyramid,  whose  summit  is  replaced;  or 
the  terminal  edges  and  angles  of  the  prisms  are  replaced  by 
small  planes.  Readily  yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to  all  the 
planes  of  its  primary  form,  the  hexahedral  prism.  Transpa- 
rent, translucent,  or  opake.  Lustre  vitreous.  Fracture  con- 
choidal  and  uneven.  Transparent  varieties  become  clouded 
B  B,  and  on  increasing  the  heat,  assume  the  appearance  of 
mother-of-pearl.  With  borax,  according  to  Von  Worth,* 
emerald  gives  a  transparent  greenish  vitreous  enamel,  but 
beryl,  with  the  same  salt,  gives  a  colorless  transparent  enamel. 
With  salt  of  phosphorous  the  former  gives  the  same  result  as 
with  borax,  but  beryl  gives  a  milk-white  opal-like  semitrans- 
parent  enamel.  With  fluor  spar,  emerald  from  various  local- 
ities easily- fuses  into  an  opake,  turquoise-like  pearly  globule, 
while  beryl  of  a  green,  blue  and  yellow  color,  gives  a  milk 
white  opake  pearly  globule. f 


M 


P  on  MM  or  M  .  . 


90°  00' 


M  on  M     120  00 

P  on  a 135  14 

c.  2 150  10 

c  1  on  cf  1 179  40 

M  on  d  .  .  .               .150  00 


This  species  occurs  principally  in  veins  traversing  granite, 
in  implanted  crystals,  associated  with  felspar,  topaz,  tin-ore, 
&c. ;  likewise  in  fractured  crystals  and  rolled  masses  in  sec- 
ondary depositories.  The  most  splendid  crystals  of  emerald 
occur  in  a  vein  of  magnesian  limestone,  which  traverses  a 
hornblende  rock  at  Muso,  near  Santa  Fe  de  Bogota  in  Grana- 
da ;  some  of  these  have  been  found  exceeding  two  inches  in 
length  and  breadth.  One,  a  perfect  hexahedral  prism  from 
this  locality  in  the  cabinet  of  the  Duke  of  Devonshire,  is  three 
inches  long  and  about  one  inch  in  diameter.  It  is  valued  at 
one  hundred  and  fifty  guineas.  Another  in  possession  of  Mr. 
Hope  of  London,  from  the  same  place,  cost  <£500.  Less  dis- 
tinct varieties  occur  at  Mount  Zalora  in  Upper  Egypt,  the 

*  Trans.  Imp.  Min.  Soc.  St.  Petersburg,  vol.  i.  p.  58. 

t  Von  Worth  concludes  from  his  experiments  that  the  fused  products  of  emerald  and 
beryl  witli  fluor  spar,  must  owe  their  color  to  different  ingredients  ;  the  former  to  oxide 
of  chrome,  and  the  latter  to  oxide  of  iron.  The  ehief  distinction  between  the  two,  there- 
fore, seems  to  depend  on  the  presence  or  absence  of  these  two  substances.  [AM.  ED.] 


164  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

only  locality  of  emerald  with  which  the  ar.cients  are  believed 
to  have  been  acquainted;  at  Cangarjum,  in  the  district  of  Co- 
imbetoor,  in  Hindustan ;  and  imbedded  in  mica  slate  in  the 
Heubach  valley,  Pinzgau  district,  Saltzburg.  Recently  sev- 
eral very  magnificent  emeralds  have  been  found  in  Siberia,  in 
the  Wald  district,  eighty-five  wersts  from  Jekatherinburg,  im- 
bedded in  mica  slate.  A  twin  crystal  in  the  Imperial  cabinet 
at  St.  Petersburg,  is  seven  inches  long,  four  broad,  and  weighs, 
with  the  accompanying  mica  slate  which  may  be  about  a 
pound  itself,  five  and  a  half  pounds.  Another  specimen  of 
mica  slate  resembling  a  table  with  rounded  corners,  fourteen 
inches  long,  twelve  broad  and  five  thick,  shows  twenty  partly 
imbedded  crystals  from  half  an  inch  to  five  inches  long,  and 
from  one  to  two  inches  broad.  Crystals  of  so  large  a  size 
and  possessing  equal  transparency  and  richness  of  color,  have 
never  before  been  found.  Von  Worth  has  instituted  a  com- 
parison between  this  emerald  and  that  from  other  countries, 
in  order  to  ascertain  if  it  contained  chrome,  as  it  had  been 
said  to  contain  none,  while  the  mineral  from  other  places 
owed  its  fine  color  to  the  presence  of  this  rnetal.  The 
result  showed  the  presence  of  this  substance,  though  in  too 
small  quantity  to  be  obtained  by  analysis,  whence  it  was  prob- 
ably overlooked  by  Klaproth. 

Figures  of  several  crystals  of  this  mineral  may  be  seen  in 
vol.  i.  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  So- 
ciety of  St.  Petersburg ;  they  are  of  the  natural  size  and 
color,  and  present  a  most  beautiful  and  unique  appearance  — 
the  rock  itself  being  imitated  by  an  ingenious  artifice.  Such 
varieties  of  beryl  as  are  clear,  transparent,  and  exhibit  very 
brilliant  shades  of  sky-blue,  or  mountain-green,  are  denomi- 
nated by  lapidaries  aqua-marine,  or  precious  beryl.  They 
are  principally  from  the  Brazils,  and  frequently  occur  in 
considerable  masses.  Of  the  common  beryl,  large  hexago- 
nal pale-green  colored  translucent  prisms  are  met  with  in 
the  granitic  district  of  Nertschinsk,  and  in  the  Uralian  and 
Altai  ranges  of  Siberia ;  they  have  been  found  exceeding  a 
foot  in  length,  and,  when  divested  of  their  matrix,  appear 
deeply  striated  longitudinally.  A  coarse  nearly  opake  variety 
occurs,  both  crystallized  and  in  large  masses,  near  Limoges 
in  France;  and  imbedded  in  granite  at  Finbo  and  Broddbo, 
near  Fahlun  in  Sweden;  and  others  at  Bodenmais  and  Ra- 
benstein  in  Bavaria.  Beautiful  crystals,  occasionally  two  or 
three  inches  in  length,  and  having  a  peculiar  pale  blue  color, 
occur  in  granite,  associated  with  topaz,  felspar,  black  quartz, 
and  mica,  at  the  Mourne  Mountains,  County  Down. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  165 

In  the  United  States,  beryl  of  the  most  remarkable  dimen- 
sions have  been  discovered  in  Acworth,  N.  H.,  imbedded  in  a 
vein  of  coarse  granite  traversing  gneiss.  They  are  regular 
hexahedral  prisms,  varying  in  length  from  three  to  four  feet, 
and  though  usually  of  a  pale  greenish  or  yellow  color,  and 
scarcely  penetrable  by  the  light,  sometimes  they  present  faces, 
which,  to  a  considerable  depth,  have  all  the  brilliant  transpa- 
rency of  aqua  marine,  and  as  such  could  be  used  to  advantage 
in  jewelry.  A  few  years  ago  these  gigantic  crystals  could 
be  readily  obtained  ;  they  have  now  become  scarce.  Crystals 
of  a  fine  blue  color  have  been  found  in  the  granite  of  Parker's 
Island,  on  the  Kennebec  river,  Maine,  sometimes  with  six 
sided  pyramidal  terminations  ;  and  exceeding  fifteen  inches 
in  length  and  six  in  thickness.  Smaller  specimens  of  supe- 
rior color  have  been  obtained  from  veins  of  quartz  in  the 
towns  of  Bowdoinham  and  Topsham,  of  the  same  State.  At 
the  former  place  they  are  so  very  abundant  in  the  decomposed 
rock,  or  loose  in  the  soil,  that  bushels  of  them  may  be  obtained 
without  much  trouble,  but  they  are  of  inferior  color  and  mostly 
stained  by  oxide  of  iron.  Crystals  of  highly  polished  faces 
and  possessing  considerable  transparency,  have  been  brought 
from  Haddam  and  Monroe,  Conn.  But  the  locality  most  no- 
ted for  the  beautifully  transparent  and  various  colored  varieties 
of  this  mineral,  some  of  them  almost  attaining  the  ultimate 
perfection  of  the  species,  or  emerald,  is  at  South  Royalston, 
Mass.  Their  form  is  the  usual  six-sided  prism,  which  com- 
monly shows  only  a  single  plane  termination,  or  the  primary 
face  P,  but  is  sometimes  replaced  on  its  terminal  edges,  by 
single  planes  which  meet  in  a  perfect  pyramid,  or  in  one  hav- 
ing its  apex  more  or  less  deeply  truncated.  Some  of  the 
prisms  have  three  of  the  opposite  lateral  edges  replaced  by  two 
planes,  which  are  distinguished  from  the  primary  faces  by 
their  roughness  or  inferior  polish.  Their  color  varies  from  a 
light  green,  pale  bluish-green,  or  yellowish-green,  to  a  deep 
grass  or  emerald  green.  Prof.  Hitchcock  first  brought  this 
remarkable  locality  to  the  notice  of  mineralogists.  Interest- 
ing localities  of  beryl  have  been  cited  by  Dr.  Jackson  in  Graf- 
ton,  Danbury,  and  Wilmot,  N.  H.,  generally  in  massive  quartz, 
and  sometimes  associated  with  trapozoidal  garnet.  Fine  large 
crystals  of  good  green  color  have  been  found  in  the  quarries 
on  the  banks  of  Ridley  Creek,  two  miles  from  Chester,  Dela- 
ware County,  Penn.,  by  J.  A.  Clay. 

The  beautiful  beryls  from  the  "  Beryl  Mine  of  Paddioor," 
Southern  India,  are  imbedded  in,  or  line  the  cavities  of,  broad 
foliated  cleavelandite.  —  Jameson's  Edin.  Jour.,  xxix.,  243. 


166 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


CHRYSOBERYL.* 

Krisoberil,  VV.    Cymophane,  H.  Bt.     Prismatic  Corundum,  J.  M.    Chrysoberil,  Br.    Sap- 
phirus  rectangula,  D. 

Composition    according    to   the   analyses  of  the    following 
chemists. 


Brazil 

. 

Brazil. 

Ural. 

Alumina  

Klaproth. 
71-05  

Arfwedson. 
....81-43  

Awdejew. 
78-10  

Awdejew. 
78-92 

Lime  

6-00  

0-UO  

00-00  

00-00 

Silica  

18.00  

....18-73  

00-00  

00-00 

Glucina  

0-00  

....  0-00  

17-94  

18-0-i 

Protoxide  of  iron. 

0-00  

0-00  

477  

3-12 

Oxide  of  chrome  . 

1-05  

0-00  

0-00  

0-65 

97-00 

100-16 

100-51 

100-71  f 

Brazil. 

Hadd, 

im. 

Thomson. 

Seybert. 

Seybert. 

Damour. 

Alumina  

76-75  

....68-66  

73-60  

75-26 

Glucina  

17-79  

16-00  

15-80  

18-46 

Silica  

0-00  

....  5-09  

4-00  

1-45 

Protoxide  of  iron. 

4-49  

....  4-73  

3-38  

4-03 

Oxide  of  titanium 

0-00  

2-66...  •.. 

1-00  

0-00 

Moisture  

0-00  

0-66  

0-40  ... 

0-00 

99-51  { 

98-70$ 

98-18|| 

99-20** 

Dr.  Thomson,  taking  his  own   analysis,  which  was  three 
times   repeated   with    the   same  results,  gives   this    formula : 
5£GA16+FA1.      This  result  almost  exactly  accords  with  the 
very  recent  analysis  of  the  same  chrysoberyl  by  Awdejew. 
Sp.  Gr.  3  65  to  3-8.     H.  =  8'5. 

This  substance  occurs  crystallized,  and  in  rolled  fragments 
in  the  alluvial  deposits  of  rivers;  its  color  is  green,  sometimes 
with  a  yellow  or  brownish  tinge,  and  occasionally  presenting 
internally  an  opalescent  bluish-white  light.  The  primary  form 
of  its  crystal  is  a  right  rectangular  prism.  The  crystals  yield 
to  mechanical  division  readily,  and  with  brilliant  surfaces,  par- 
allel to  the  plane  M  of  the  following  figures,  and  with  diffi- 
culty also  parallel  to  the  plane  T,  and  to  the  longer  diagonal 
of  the  prism  ;  the  fracture  is  perfect  conchoidal,  with  a  splen- 
dent resino-vitreous  lustre.  It  becomes  electric  by  friction, 
but  is  not  affected  by  heat.  B  B  it  suffers  no  change  alone ; 
but  with  borax  fuses  slowly  into  a  transparent  glass.  The 
Ural  chrysoberyl  (Alexandrite]  according  to  Von  Worth,  melts 
with  borax  into  a  pure,  bright  green  transparent  glass;  and 
with  salt  of  phosphorus  after  long  continued  action,  into  a 
transparent  pale  greenish  enamel,  showing  the  presence  of 
oxide  of  chrome. 


*  Chrysoberyl,  from  the  Greek,  denoting  a  superior  kind  of  beryl,  or  a  golden  beryl. 
Cymophane,  from  the  same,  signifying  a  floating  light,  in  allusion  to  its  opalesence. 
f  Poggendorfs  Annalen,  Ivi.,  p.  101.  J  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  i.,  401. 

§  Amer.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  viii.,  109.  ||  Ann.  de  Chimie  et  de  Phys.,  Feb.,  1843. 

**  Ibid,  viii.,  109. 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


167 


\ 

M  on  T  . 
dl 

d1* 

90°  00' 
154  51 
136  20 

1  /\ 

d3 
d4 
rtl 
a'2 

125  18 
120  55 
137   6 
128  43  H. 

T 

It 

al  on  c  . 
T  on  al 
a° 

133  19  " 
110   3  » 

126   8  " 

al  on  a'2 

163  53 

At  Haddam  in  Connecticut  it  occurs  in  granite,  in  six-sided 
tables  and  prisms,  with  garnet,  beryl,  automalite,  and  colura- 
bite.  Also  in  the  same  rock  with  tourmaline,  garnet  and  apa- 
tite, at  Greenfield,  near  Saratoga,  N.  Y.  At  this  locality  the 
crystals  are  often  united  in  hemitropes,  consisting  of  several 
individuals  whose  terminal  faces  are  obliterated  by  deep  re- 
placements of  the  shorter  terminal  edges  of  the  primary.  A 
very  common  form  of  this  mineral  from  Greenfield,  is  that 
of  three  prisms  crossing  each  other,  each  projecting  at  oppo- 
site ends  beyond  the  faces  of  composition,  as  in  fig.  3;  or 
more  rarely  only  at  one  end,  as  is  represented  by  the  upper 
half  of  the  same  figure.  Sometimes  crystals  are  found  in 
which  the  composing  prisms  project  at  neither  extremity,  thus 
producing  regular  hexagonal  tables  in  which  the  hemitropic 
composition  is  indicated  only  by  striae.  Fig.  2  represents 
two  individuals  the  faces  of  which  project  at  one  extremity, 
and,  in  some  instances,  have  their  lateral  edges  replaced. 
Rarely  the  sides  (6,  &,)  are  so  deeply  replaced  as  to  convert 
this  figure  into  a  triangular  prism,  the  re-entering  angle  (a) 
being  then  no  longer  visible.  This  is  the  rarest  form  of  the 
made,  now  to  be  obtained  at  this  locality.  Fig.  1,  shows  the. 
primary  with  its  terminal  plane  obliterated  by  the  extension 
of  the  planes  which  replace  the  shorter  terminal  edges,  having 
also  its  lateral  edges  replaced  by  single  planes.*  The  crystals 

*  See  a  paper  by  Dr.  Troost,  (Joar.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  Philad.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  293.)  Also 
Mineralogy  of  New  York,  by  Prof.  Beck,  in  which  many  of  the  forms  of  this  mineral  are 
figured  and  described.  [AM.  ED.] 


168  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

are  usually  small,  but  the  late  Dr.  Steele  procured  several  from 
this  locality  which  were  of  good  color,  and  more  than  an  inch 
in  diameter. 

The  finest  specimens  for  lapidaries'  purposes,  have  been 
brought  from  Brazil,  where,  as  in  Ceylon,  it  occurs  in  the 
alluvial  deposits  of  rivers,  and  consequently  in  rolled,  and 
generally  much  rubbed,  masses.  When  transparent  and  free 
from  flaws,  it  forms  a  handsome  gem.  If  opalescent,  it  is  usu- 
ally cut 'en  cabochon* 

ALEXANDRITE.  Chrysoberyls  of  great  value  have  recently 
been  discovered  in  the  Ural  mountains.  They  have  been  care- 
fully described  by  Von  Worth  in  the  fint  volume  of  the  Trans- 
actions of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Peters- 
burg ;  and  the  description  is  accompanied  by  figures  of  the 
natural  size  and  color,  with  the  matrix  of  mica  slate  on  which 
they  are  implanted,  so  perfectly  imitated,  that  we  seem  almost 
to  have  the  real  gems  before  us.  These  gems  possess  a  pe- 
culiar dichroism  which  is  not  changed  by  exposure,  per  sc,  to 
the  action  of  the  blow  pipe,  appearing  when  the  light  falls 
upon  them  of  a  beautiful  leek  or  emerald  green  color,  and 
when  it  passes  through  them  of  a  deep  raspberry  red  or  violet. 
This  peculiarity  is  so  remarkable  that  those  who  witness  it 
in  the  evening,  when  the  crystal  is  brought  in  the  dark  to 
a  flame,  will  doubt  by  day-light  the  identity  of  the  speci- 
men, when  it  shows  the  rich  green  color.  Von  Worth's  exper- 
iments show  that  oxide  of  chrome  is  the  coloring  substance 
to  which  the  phenomena  above  referred  to,  and  observed 
so  strikingly  in  no  other  stone,  are  owing.  The  crystals, 
sometimes  single,  are  also  in  regular  groups  or  macles,  con- 
sisting of  three  individuals  crossing  each  other  in  the  same 
manner  as  those  already  described.  They  are  sometimes 
more  than  three  inches  in  length.  The  name  Alexandrite  was 
given  to  distinguish  this  variety  from  the  common  chrysoberyl 

*  It  is  to  the  sagacity  of  an  able  American  annalist,  Henry  Seybert,  that  we  owe  our 
knowledge  of  the  true  nature  of  this  mineral.  In  1822,  he  analyzed  the  Haddam  and 
Brazilian  chrysoberyl,  and  detected  in  both  the  presence  of  gluc'ina,  though  the  latter 
had  been  previously  analyzed  by  Klaproth  and  Arfwedson,  both  of  whom  had  overlooked 
that  substance.  Dr.  Thomson  has  more  recently  fully  verified  the  result  obtained  by 
Seybert,  which  is  the  more  important,  as  Beudant  has  adopted  the  analysis  of  Arfwedson, 
though  aware  of  what  Seybert  had  done  ;  and  others  seemed  undetermined  as  to  the  true 
nature  of  the  mineral.  I  have  thought  it  proper  to  record  each  of  the  several  analyses 
which  have  been  made,  and  it  appears  from  them  not  a  little  extraordinary  that  while 
the  analysis  of  Dr.  Thomson  showed  that  this  mineral  contained  no  silica  whatever, 
Arfwedson  should  obtain  nearly  nineteen  per  cent.  It  is  evident  that  the  latter,  not 
thinkin?  to  look  for  glucina,  confounded  this  earth  with  alumina  ;  but  it  seems  scarcely 
possible  that  he  could  have  mistaken  glucina  or  alumina  for  silica.  The  mineral  has 
not  been  analyzed  by  Berzelius,  but  H.  Rose  has  confirmed  Dr.  Thomson's  result  in 
proving  the  absence  of  silica.  We  are  thus  equally  indebted  to  Seybert  and  Dr.  Thom- 
son for  our  most  accurate  knowledge  of  the  chemical  constitution  of  this  species. 
[AM.  ED.] 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  169 

of  Ceylon,  and  because  of  its  discovery  on  the  day  of  the  Em- 
peror's majority.  Besides,  it  has  the  two  principal  military 
colors  of  the  Russian  empire  —  green  and  red. 

PHENAKITE. 

Nordenskiold.     (Fogg.  Jinn.  xxxi.  57.)    Bisilicate  of  Glucina,    Berryllusrhombohedrus,D. 

Contains  silica  55'14,  glucina  44*47,  alumina  and  magnesia 
0.39.  —  Hartwall  Formula :  GS2.  Sp.  Gr.  2.969.  H.  above 
6'0.  Primary  form  a  rhomboid  of  115°  25',  the  edges  and  an- 
gles of  which  are  usually  replaced. 


P  on  b  ...  147  42> 
P  on  n  .      .122  17 


Cleavage  parallel  to  n.  Color  bright  wine-yellow,  inclining 
to  red  or  white.  Varying  from  transparent  to  opake.  Lustre 
vitreous.  Not  affected  by  acids,  and  with  difficulty  fusible  B  B. 

Occurs  associated  with  beryl  in  the  Perm  district  of  Sibe- 
ria. At  first  sight  it  is  described  as  being  readily  mistaken  for 
quartz ;  and  is  hence  named  from  <££*'«£,  the  deceiver.  It  has 
also  been  found  near  Freiberg  and  near  Framont,  specimens 
of  which  have  been  examined  by  Bischof,  and  found  to  have 
the  same  composition  with  the  Siberian. 

GADOLINITE. 

Gadolinit,  W.    Gadolinite,  H.     Prismatic  Gadolinite,  J.  M.     Melanopliaeus  obliquus,  D. 

Combination  of  yttria,  silica,  glucina,  and  the  oxides  of  ceri- 
um and  iron.  The  oxide  of  cerium  was  first  noticed  in  it  by 
Berzelius,  though  it  had  been  previously  analyzed  by  Godolin, 
Klaproth  and  Vauquelin;  but  Berzelius  overlooked  glucina, 
which  was  first  detected  in  the  mineral  by  Ekeberg. 

Karafvet.  Ytterby.  Ytterby?  Broddbo. 

Silica 25-80 23-0 24-33 27-10 

Yttria 45-00 55-5 45-33 36-54 

Glucina 0-00 4-5 11-60 5-90 

Protoxide  of  cerium.  17-92 0-0 4-33 14-31 

Protoxide  of  iron  . .  .11-43 16-5 13-59 14-41 

Lime 0-00 00-0 0-00 045 

Moisture 0-00 00-0 0-98 0-00 

98-35  Berzelius.    99-5  Ekeberg.       99-16  Thomson.    98-71  Connel  1. 

It  is  essentially  a  silicate  of  yttria  united  with  variable  pro- 
portions of  oxides  of  cerium  and  iron. 
15 


170 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Sp.  Gr.  4-2  to  4-3.     H.  =  6'5  —  7-0. 

In  imperfect  oblique  rhombic  prisms.  Color  iron-black,  and 
dull  externally,  internally  black  and  shining;  its  primary  form 
appears  to  be  an  oblique  rhombic  prism.  Translucent  on  the 
edges,  or  opake.  Cleavage  imperfect.  Fracture  conchoidal. 
B  B,  the  Karafvet  variety  decrepitates,  and  fuses,  when  strong- 
ly heated,  into  an  opake  pearl-grey  or  reddish  glass  ;  that  from 
Ytterby  incandesces  and  loses  its  color,  but  does  not  fuse. 
With  borax  they  all  melt  readily  into  a  globule,  more  or  less 
tinged  with  iron,  and  which  in  the  reducing  flame  becomes 
dark  bottle  green.  In  heated  nitric  acid  it  loses  its  color  and 
gelatinizes. 


M  on  M' 
P  on  h  ,  .  . 
M  on  e,  or 
M'on  e' 
M  on  b,  or 
M'  on  b' 
b  on  b'  .  . 
e  on  e'  ... 
b  on  e  or 
6'  on  e'  .  . 


115°  0' 
98  0 

100  0 
153  0 


120 
120 


130  0 


The  above  figure  represents  a  crystal  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Brooke. 

Its  principal  localities  are  the  quarries  of  Karafvet  and  Fin- 
bo,  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden.  Both  there,  and  at  Ytterby  near 
Stockholm,  it  occurs  indistinctly  crystallized,  and  in  amor- 
phous masses,  which  are  often  encircled  with  a  yellow  crust, 
and  are  imbedded  in  coarse-grained  granite.  It  has  likewise 
been  noticed  at  Disko  in  Greenland,  and  imbedded  in  granite  in 
Ceylon.  It  received  its  name  from  Prof.  Gadolin,  its  discoverer. 

THORITE. 

Serzelius.    (Kong.  Vet.  Acad.  Handl.,  1829,  p.  1.)     Melanophrcus  Thoriferus,  D. 

Thorina  57-91,  lime  2-58,  oxide  of  iron  3'40,  oxide  of  man- 
ganese 2'39,  oxide  of  uranium  T58,  oxide  of  lead  O80,  silica 
18'98,  water  9'50,  with  minute  proportions  of  magnesia,  potash, 
soda,  and  alumina.  —  Bcrzelius.  Sp.  Gr.  4'63.  Not  scratched 
by  the  knife.  Formula :  3ThS+(Cal,  F,  M,  &,c.)S-H^Aq. 

Massive  and  compact.  Color  black.  Streak  dark-brown. 
Fracture  vitreous,  like  that  of  gadolinite.  B  B  it  gives  off 
water,  and  becomes  yellow,  but  does  not  fuse;  in  a  glass  tube 
it  exhibits  traces  of  fluoric  acid ;  with  borax  it  forms  a  glass 
colored  by  iron ;  and  in  salt  of  phosphorus  fuses,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  its  silica. 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  171 

This  species  was  discovered  by  M.  Esmark,  in  syenite,  near 
Brevig  in  Norway.  The  metal  Thorium  was  first  discovered 
in  this  mineral  by  Berzelius. 

TAUTOLITE. 

Breithaupt.     (Phil.  Mag.,  new  series,  Hi.,  398.) 

Sp.  Gr.  3-865.     H.  =  6-5  —  7'0. 

Opake,  and  of  a  velvet-black  color,  with  a  vitreous  lustre, 
and  grey  streak.  Cleavage  only  in  traces,  and  interrupted. 
Fracture  conchoidal,  uneven.  Very  brittle.  B  B  it  melts  into 
a  black  scoria,  which  acts  on  the  magnet;  and  with  borax 
forms  a  clear  green  glass :  with  solution  of  cobalt  it  presents 
a  blue  color ;  and,  on  the  whole,  appears  to  be  a  silicate  of 
the  protoxide  of  iron,  combined  with  a  silicate  of  magnesia. 

It  occurs  in  volcanic  felspar  at  the  lake  of  Laach,  near  Bonn 
on  the  Rhine.  It  is  related  to  chrysolite,  but  we  have  no  anal- 
ysis of  it. 


POONAHLITE. 

Brooke.    (Annals  of  Philosophy,  vol.  x.,  1831.) 

This  mineral  has  been  analyzed  by  Gmelin,*  and  found  to 
consist  as  follows : 

Silica 45-120 

Alumina 30-446 

Lime 10-197 

Soda  with  a  trace  of  potash 00-657 

Water 13-386 


99-806 

Chemical  formula  given  by  Gmelin  :  3CaSi+5AJSi+H. 
H.  =  5'0  —  5-5. 

It  resembles  needlestone  in  most  of  its  physical  characters, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  the  same  primary  form  —  a  right 
rhombic  prism  —  but  differing  in  the  measurement  of  the 
angle  formed  by  the  planes  M  M',  as  determined  by  Brooke. 
No  natural  terminal  planes  have  been  observed  among  the 
crystals,  which,  usually  in  long  slender  prisms,  traverse  the  sur- 
face of  the  matrix,  instead  of  forming  groups  in  its  cavities, 
and  thus  have  neither  of  their  extremities  free.  It  occurs 
with  the  beautiful  green  apophyllites  near  Poonah,  in  Hindus- 
tan, and  is  accompanied  also  by  pure  white  stilbite.  Its 
matrix  is  an  amygdaloid  filled  with  nodules  of  zeolite  and  much 
stained  by  green  earth.  The  specimens  of  this  mineral  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Heuland,  of  London,  are  of  unsurpassed  mag 
nificence,  and  by  this  gentleman  the  mineralogists  of  other 
countries  have  been  supplied. 

*  PoggendorPs  Annalen,  B.  xlix. 


172  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

DANBURITE. 

Shepard.     (Am.  Jour,  of  Science,  vol.  xxxiii.,  p.  137.) 

This  mineral  which  has  been  described  as  a  new  species, 
occurs  disseminated  in  small  quantities  through  a  fetid  felspar 
at  Danbury,  Ct.  It  occupies  small  cavities  which  have  appa- 
rently the  shape  of  oblique  prisms. 

A  chemical  examination  by  Prof.  Shepard  gave  the  follow- 
ing results. 

Silica 56-00 

Lime 28-33 

Alumina 1-70 

rttria 0-85 

Potash,  and  perhaps  with  soda  and  loss. . .  5-12 
Water 8-00 

100-00 

It  is  not  certain  in  what  manner  the  alkali  enters  into  the 
composition  of  this  mineral,  and  the   principal  combination 
may  probably  be  correctly  stated  thus  :  CalSH-Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-83.     H.  =  7'5. 

Its  color  in  fresh  specimens  is  honey-yellow,  but  the  decom- 
posing variety  is  nearly  white,  translucent  and  very  fissile. 
Streak  white ;  transparent.  Lustre  vitreous,  in  a  high  de- 
gree. Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  with  cleavage 
parallel  with  P,  obscurely  indicated  by  fissures.  Character 
B  B,  not  given.  It  deserves  further  examination. 

PIKROPHYLLE. 

A.  J.  Svanberg.     (Trans.  Swedish  Roy.  Sci.  dead.,  1839,  p.  95.) 

This  mineral,  found  by  M.  Seven  of  Sahla,  Sweden,  occurs 
in  the  mine  of  that  place  at  the  depth  of  about  forty  fathoms, 
associated  with  other  substances.  It  resembles  most  in  ap- 
pearance the  so  called  infusible  salaite.  Its  color,  however, 
is  darker,  and  at  the  same  time  its  hardness  and  specific  grav- 
ity differ  materially  from  the  salaites,  which  led  to  the  chemi- 
cal examination  of  the  mineral  by  Svanberg,  according  to 
whom  it  consists  of  the  following  ingredients. 

Silica 49-80 

Alumina 1-11 

Lime 0-78 

Magnesia 30-10 

Protoxide  of  iron 6-86 

Water 9-83 

98-48 

Regarding  the  magnesia  as  the  only  essential  base,  the 
atoms  of  silica  are  24  90,  while  those  of  magnesia  are  12*40, 
showing  the  mineral  to  consist  essentially  of  bisilicate  of 
magnesia.  But  Svanberg  includes  the  alumina  with  the  sil- 
ica, and  regards  also  as  essential  the  lime  and  oxide  of  iron, 


EARTHY    MINERALS.  173 

which  he  includes  with  the  magnesia;  whence  he  deduces  the 
formula  — 3MgS2-t-2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2'73.  H.  —  between  mica  and  calc-spar. 
Color  very  dark  green ;  lustre  glistening,  somewhat  like 
that  of  diallage.  It  is  amorphous,  but  has  an  internal  crystal- 
line structure,  the  faces  of  the  crystals  being  the  natural  cleav- 
age planes  of  the  laminae.  It  does  not  fuse  B  B,  even  in  the 
thinnest  splinters,  but  at  a  red  heat  becomes  nearly  white, 
with  the  preservation  of  its  lustre.  With  the  solution  of  cobalt, 
it  gives  the  reaction  of  magnesia.  Heated  in  a  glass  tube,  it 
gives  out  pure  water.  It  contains  no  alkali.  The  mineral 
has  obtained  its  name  from  TUKQOS,  bitter,  and  <pvH.ov}  leaf, 
in  consequence  of  the  great  quantity  of  magnesia  it  contains, 
and  because  of  its  structure,  which  may  be  called  leafy.  It 
is  unfortunate  that  it  has  not  afforded  more  well  defined  char- 
acters in  establishing  its  claim  as  a  distinct  species. 

OTTRELITE. 

M.  Desclozeaux  and  M.  Damowr.    (Annales  des  Mines,  1842,  t,  ii.,  p.  357.) 

This  mineral,  scarcely  known  hitherto  even  as  a  variety, 
has  been  classed  with  diallage.  It  received  its  name  from 
Ottrez,  a  small  village  near  Stavelot,  near  the  provinces  of 
Luxembourg  and  Liege.  It  has  been  described  by  the  first 
named  gentleman  and  analyzed  by  the  latter.  It  consists  of — 

Silica 43-34 

Alumina 24-63 

Protoxide  of  iron 16.81 

Protoxide  of  manganese . .  8-03 
Water 5-63 

97-88 

Whence  is  deduced  the  formula  —  2AlS+(F,Mn)S2+Aq— - 
which  does  not  apply  to  any  aluminous  silicate  already  known. 
Sp.  Gr.  4  40.  Scratches  glass  with  difficulty. 

Its  color  is  greyish  black,  or  a  little  greenish,  which  last 
is  most  visible  on  the  minute  fragments  which  are  translucent. 
Sometimes  it  is  of  a  beautiful  rose  color.  Its  powder  is  of  a 
pale  green.  Occurs  in  small  flat  discs  of  about  one  and  a 
half  inches  in  diameter,  to  one  quarter  of  an  inch  in  thickness. 
These  adhere  so  firmly  to  the  slate  which  serves  as  a  gangue 
to  them,  that  it  is  impossible  to  separate  them  entire  in  order 
to  measure  their  angles.  They  belong  to  a  hexagonal  prism, 
or  to  a  very  acute  rhomboid,  deeply  truncated  by  a  plane  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis,  and  compressed  in  the  direction  of  this 
plane.  Cleavage  is  easily  effected  parallel  to  the  terminal 
faces  of  the  lit.tle  discs,  developing  a  brilliant,  but  undulated 
15* 


174  EARTHY    MINERALS. 

surface;  otherwise,  the  fracture  is  unequal,  slightly  granular 
and  dull.  In  a  closed  tube,  it  gives  out  a  little  water.  Alone, 
B  B,  it  fuses  with  difficulty  on  the  edges  into  a  black  globule 
easily  attracted  by  the  magnet.  With  borax,  dissolves  slowly 
and  gives  the  reaction  of  iron;  with  carbonate  of  soda  on  pla- 
tina  foil,  it  shows  the  presence  of  manganese.  Its  powder 
is  affected  only  by  hot  sulphuric  acid.  It  occurs  abundantly 
in  a  transition  clay  slate  through  which  the  crystals  are  dis- 
seminated. 


VILLARSITE. 

M.  Duftenoy.     (Annales  dcs  Mines,  1842,  t.  i.,  p.  387.) 

This  mineral  has  been  examined  and  made  into  a  new 
species  by  M.  Dufrenoy  of  the  School  of  Mines,  and  named 
in  honor  of  the  mineralogist  who  has  published  the  natural 
history  of  Dauphine.  It  is  scattered  in  a  vein  of  magnetic 
iron  ore  at  Traverselle,  and  is  accompanied  by  laminated  dolo- 
mite, mica,  quartz  and  dodecahedral  crystals  of  the  iron  ore. 
It  forms  irregular  veins,  and  also  geodes  in  which  crystals 
may  be  observed  distinct  enough  to  measure.  Its  analysis 
gave  as  follows : 

Silica 39-61 

Magnesia 47-37 

Protoxide  of  iron 3-59 

Protoxide  of  maganese    2-42 

Lime 0-53 

Potash 0-46 

Water 5-80 

99-77 

These  numbers  reckoning  the  atoms  of  iron,  manganese  and 
lime  along  with  the  magnesia,  show  the  mineral  to  be  a  simple 
hydrous  silicate  of  magnesia,  thus  expressed  by  the  formula : 
4MgS+Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2975.     H.  =  3  — 4. 

Color  yellowish-green ;  fracture  granular,  resembling  cer- 
tain of  the  phosphates  of  lime  from  Arendal.  Its  softness  and 
serni-transparency  make  it  also  analogous  to  serpentine.  But 
it  is  easily  frangible,  and  in  separating  the  mineral  from  its  gan- 
gue,  the  internal  crystallization  is  developed,  by  which  the 
granular  structure  is  shown  to  be  owing  to  an  assemblage  of 
minute  truncated  octahedral  crystals,  joined  to  one  another,  or 
penetrating  each  other,  in  all  directions.  These  are  rhomboi- 
dal  octahedrons  derived  from  the  replacement  of  the  edges  of 
the  summits  of  a  right  rhombic  prism  of  119°  59'  and  60°  1', 
which  is  its  primary  form.  The  length  of  the  side  B  is  to  the 
height  H,  in  the  proportion  of  10:  4,  45;  it  follows  that  the 
vertical  axis  of  the  octahedron  which  constitutes  the  secondary 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


175 


form  of  this  mineral,  is  represented  by  8,  90,  and  that  the  sec- 
ondary faces  rise  upon  the  edges  of  the  base  of  the  prism  by 
a  decrease  of  one  row  in  height  on  one  row  in  breadth.  The 
angles  as  determined  by  M.  Dufrenoy,  by  the  reflecting  goni- 
ometer, are  thus  stated. 


Primary. 


P  on  M 
M  on  M 
P  on  e 
P  on  e' 
e  on  e 
e  on  e 


90° 

119  59' 

136  32 

136  32 

139  45 

86  56 


B  B,  it  gives  a  green  enamel  when  melted  with  ten  parts  of 
borax.  It  is  finally  soluble  in  strong  acids,  but  the  weak 
action  of  acids  upon  it  allows  the  crystals  to  be  removed  from 
the  adhering  dolomite  which  is  readily  dissolved.  M.  Dufre- 
noy observes  that  without  the  water  it  contains,  villarsite 
would  have  the  same  composition  with  peridot.  But  this 
water  is  essentially  combined,  and  the  other  characteristics, 
physical  and  crystallographical,  are  alike  opposed  to  its  being 
regarded  as  identical  with  it.  The  mineral  excites  a  certain 
interest  by  the  simplicity  of  its  composition ;  and  its  determi- 
nation as  a  species,  founded  at  the  same  time  on  the  two  prin- 
ciples which  as  much  as  possible  should  be  our  guides,  is  very 
clearly  denned. 


SILICITE. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Lon.  Edin.  and  Dublin  Phil.  Mag.,  1843,  xxii.,  190.) 

The  name  Silicite  has  been  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  to  a 
substance  from  Antrim,  which  strikingly  resembles  quartz  in 
its  external  characters,  though  it  differs  entirely  from  that  min- 
eral in  its  constitution.  His  analysis  of  it  gave, 

Silica 54-80 

Alumina 28-40 

Protoxide  of  iron 4-00 

Lime 12-40 

Water 0-6.4 

100-24 

If  we  suppose  the  oxide  of  iron  to  be  combined  with  alu- 
mina and  to  be  only  accidentally  present,  the  constitution  of 
silicite  will  be  7(AlS2)-f2(CalS). 

Sp.  Gr.  2-666.     H.  about  the  same  as  rock  crystal. 

The  color  is  white  with  a  shade  of  yellow,  the  texture  foli- 
ated, and  the  fracture  small  conchoidal.  Its  lustre  is  vitre- 
ous. It  occurs  in  basalt,  and  is  not  mentioned  as  having 
been  found  crystallized.  With  carbonate  of  soda  it  fuses  into 
an  opake  bead,  and  with  borax  into  a  transparent  colorless 
bead. 


176  EARTHY   MINERALS. 

BALTIMORITE. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Lon.  Edinb.  and  Dublin  Phil.  Mag.,  1843,  xxii.,  191.) 

This  mineral  forms  a  constituent  of  the  chrome  bearing 
rocks  in  the  vicinity  of  Baltimore,  Md.  It  was  sent  to  Dr. 
Thomson  for  examination,  and  he  has  named  it  from  its  local- 
ity under  the  character  of  a  new  species.  Its  analysis  afford- 
ed him,  silica  4095,  magnesia  34'70,  protoxide  of  iron  10'05, 
alumina  1*50,  water  1260.  Its  constitution  may  be  represented 
by  the  formula,  14(MgS)H-3(JF+±Al)S3+llAq. 

The  color  is  greyish-green.  The  mineral  is  composed  of 
longitudinal  fibres,  adhering  to  each  other,  and  has  a  consid- 
erable resemblance  to  asbestus ;  the  lustre  is  silky.  It  is 
usually  opake  ;  but  when  very  thin  it  is  translucent  on  the 
edges.  It  is  a  very  little  softer  than  calcareous  spar.  It  does 
not  fuse  B  B,  but  assumes  a  brown  color.  With  soda  melts 
into  an  opake,  and  with  borax  into  a  transparent  bead. 

This  mineral  has  been  described  as  asbestus,  which  in  some 
of  its  characters  it  considerably  resembles,  but  asbestus  con- 
tains more  silica  and  a  good  deal  of  lime,  which  are  wanting 
in  this  mineral.  It  occurs  in  considerable  masses. 

ESMARKITE. 

M.  Erdmann.    (Jameson's  Edinb.  Phil.  Jour.,  vol.  xxxii.,  p.  148.    Ann.  dcs  Mines,  1842, 
t.  xi.,  p.  476.) 

Under  this  name  (which,  however,  has  been  previously  ap- 
plied to  another  mineral  by  Hausmann)  Erdmann  has  described 
a  substance  found  near  Brevig,  in  Norway,  in  granite,  accom- 
panied by  chlorite,  titaniferous  iron  and  tourmaline.  It  is 
composed  as  follows:  silicic  acid  45'97,  alumina  32'08,  mag- 
nesia 10  32,  protoxide  of  iron  3*83,  protoxide  of  manganese 
0-4l,  water  5'49,  lime,  oxides  of  copper,  lead,  cobalt,  and  tita- 
nium 0-45.  Formula :  (Mag,  F,  Mn)S3+3AS+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2709.  H.  =  3  — 5. 

It  is  crystallized  in  the  form  of  large,  irregular  individuals, 
which  seem  to  be  prismatic,  with  the  edges  and  angles  round- 
ed ;  they  are  for  the  most  part  covered  with  a  glittering  coat. 
The  crystals  have  an  evident  cleavage  at  right  angles  to  the 
principal  axis,  arid  this  cleavage  has  a  feeble  pearly  lustre. 
The  longitudinal  fracture  has  a  resinous  lustre.  B  B,  gives 
water  and  becomes  bluish  grey  ;  melts  on  the  thin  edges  only, 
to  a  green  glass  ;  fuses  with  borax  and  microcosmic  salt,  with 
the  color  of  iron  ;  gives  a  yellow  slag  with  soda. 

PYRRHITE. 

Prof.  Q.  Rose.     (Jameson's  Edinb.  Phil.  Jour,,  vol.  xxix.,  p.  187.) 

But  one  example  of  this  mineral  is  known,  and  occurs  in  a 


EARTHY    MINERALS. 


177 


splendid  drussy  cavity  of  felspar  which  is  in  the  possession  of 
M.  Von  Perowski  of  St.  Petersburg.  It  was  found  at  Ala- 
baschka  near  Mursinsk.  It  has  not  been  analyzed. 

While  the  cavity  chiefly  contains  felspar  crystals  several 
inches  in  size,  finely  defined, and  of  an  ochre-yellow  color,*  it 
likewise  includes  six-sided  tables  of  reddish-white,  pearly  lith- 
ion  mica;  white  translucent  crystals  of  albite;  crystals  of 
clove-brown  rock-crystal ;  and  a  few  white  topazes.  The 
crystals  of  the  new  mineral  are  superimposed  on  the  felspar, 
are  eight  in  number,  and  are  octahedrons  of  about  three  lines 
in  length.  Their  surfaces  are  smooth,  but  possess  little  lus- 
tre, so  that  their  angles  cannot  be  measured  with  great  accu- 
racy ;  but,  from  observations  made  on  several  angles,  the  mean 
may  be  regarded  as  109°  28',  so  that  we  may  probably  assume 
that  the  crystals  are  regular  octahedrons.  No  cleavage  is 
observable.  The  color  is  orange-yellow,  and  the  lustre  feebly 
vitreous.  The  substance  is 'translucent  on  the  edges;  its 
hardness  is  that  of  felspar,  but  the  specific  gravity  could  not 
be  determined. 


SOMERVILLITE. 

Brooke.     (Brande's  Quarterly  Journal,  xvi.,  274.) 

Colour  pale  dull  yellow.     Lustre  vitreous.     Cleavage  per- 
fect, parallel  to  P.     Its  primary  form  is  a  square  prism. 


V  o 

T  ~\ 

\ 

c  on  g 

122°  55' 

Pon  c 

147      5 

i 

7          P  on  / 

90       0 

I  on  g 

135       0 

I  on/  . 

90       0 

/J 


It  decrepitates  B  B,  fusing  per  se  into  a  grey  colored  globule, 
and  with  borax  into  a  transparent  one. 

Somervillite  occurs  among  the  ancient  scoriae  of  Vesuvius, 
associated  with  black  mica  and  other  minerals.  The  deter- 
mination of  this  species  is  due  to  Brooke,  who  named  it  in 
compliment  to  Dr.  Somerville,  from  whom  he  obtained  the 
specimens.  It  may  be  distinguished  from  idocrase  by  its  com- 
portment B  B,  as  the  latter  does  not  decrepitate ;  and  when  it 
fuses,  which  it  does  with  greater  difficulty,  it  yields  globules 
of  a  greenish  tinge.  The  Humboldtilite  of  Monticelli  and 
Covelli,  according  to  Brooke,  is  identical  with  this  mineral. 

*  The  name  was  given  to  it  on  account  of  its  yellow  color. 


CLASS    II. 

ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS 


THE  minerals  included  under  this  term  generally  consist, 
primarily,  of  earths  in  various  proportions;  they  include  also 
some  portion  of  one  or  more  of  the  alkalies,  giving  them  a 
very  important  chemical  distinction.  Many  of  them  contain 
iron,  and  some  of  them  manganese.  These  are  sometimes 
essential  to  the  constitution  of  the  species,  and  sometimes  to 
be  regarded  as  accidental.  The  alkalies  are  not  always  in 
sufficient  quantities  to  be  expressed  in  the  atomic  formulae. 

MAGNESIAN  MICA.* 

Glimmer,  W.     Mica,  H.    Rhombohedral  Talc  Mica,  M.    Mica  Rhomboedrique,  or  Mono 
Axial,  Neckcr.     Mica  hexagona,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  28  to  3.     H.  =  2  =  2  —  5. 

Recent  optical  investigations  have  pointed  out  to  mineralo- 
gists the  necessity  of  separating  the  varieties  of  mica  which 
possess  only  one  axis  of  double  refraction,  from  those  which 
present  a  double  system  of  rings  when  viewed  through  the  me- 
dium of  polarized  light. 

This  species  exhibits  one  axis  of  double  refraction ;  —  a 
lamina  placed  between  two  polarizing  tourmalines  presents  only 
one  system  of  colored  rings,  traversed  by  a  black  cross.  Oc- 
curs in  regular  six-sided  prisms,  which  cleave  with  extreme 
facility  in  one  direction,  viz.,  perpendicular  to  their  axis. 
Color  generally  dark-green  or  brown  ;  varying  between  trans- 
parent and  opake.  Lustre  pearly,  often  inclining  to  metallic 
on  the  terminal  faces  of  the  prism  ;  streak  white  or  grey;  thin 
laminae  are  flexible  and  very  elastic. 

The  varieties  of  this  species  differ  also  from  the  following 
in  containing  several  per  cent,  of  magnesia,  and  without  a 
trace  of  lithia,  which  is  usually  found  in  the  common  mica, 

*  Mica,  in  allusion  to  its  property  of  shining. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  179 

and  particularly  in  the  violet,  or  peach-blossom  colored  varie- 
ties (lepidolites.)  They  may  therefore  be  very  properly  dis- 
tinguished as  magnesian  micas. 

Black,  Greenish -black, 

Siberia.  Siberia.  Siberia. 

Potash 10-0 7-55 5-61 

Silica 42-5 42-50 4U-00 

Alumina 11-5 1(3-05 12-<i7 

Magnesia 9-0 25-97 15-70 

Oxide  of  manganese 2-0 0-00 0-G3 

Fluoricacid 0-0 0-68 2-10 

Peroxide  of  iron 22-0 4-93 19-03 


97-0  Klaproth.       104-55  Rose.  95  74  Rose. 

The  formula?  that  would  express  the  atomic  constitution  of 
this  mineral  according  to  each  of  these  analyses,  would  dif- 
fer so  much  from  each  other,  as  to  show  that  the  specimens 
must  have  been  very  impure,  or  else  indicate  more  than  one 
species.  We  shall  therefore  omit  them  ;  and  the  more  readily 
as  the  subject  is  now  engaging  the  attention  of  several  of  the 
most  distinguished  chemists. 

B  B,  it  sometimes  fuses  into  a  scoria,  but  generally  becomes 
white  and  opake.  The  characters  are  as  variable  as  the  com- 
position. 

To  this  species  belong  the  dark-colored  micas  from  Siberia ; 
the  deep-brown,  transparent,  and  perfectly  formed  six-sided 
prisms,  which  occur  in  the  ejected  debris  of  Vesuvius;  and 
the  black  hexagonal  prisms  from  the  basalts  of  the  Rhine  and 
the  trachytes  of  Hungary.  Its  abundance  in  nature,  however, 
bears  no  proportion  to  the  universal  diffusion  of  the  following. 

In  the  United  States,  a  very  beautiful  variety  of  this  species 
in  low  six-sided  prisms  replaced  on  all  of  their  edges  by  single 
planes,  occurs  in  the  iron  mine  at  Troy,  Vt.,  accompanied  by 
small  botryoidal  concretions  of  chalcedony.  The  crystals  are 
nearly  transparent,  and  of  a  very  deep  green.  Other  examples 
doubtless  exist,  which  have  not  yet  clearly  been  distinguished 
from  common  mica. 


COMMON  MICA. 

Glimmer,  W.    Hemi  prismatic  Talc  Mica,  M.     Mica  Prismatique  ou  Di-Axial,  Necker. 
Lepidolite.     Mica  obliqua,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  285.     H.  =  2  —  25. 

Color  white,  grey,  light-green,  pale-violet,  rose-red  color 
or  peach-blossom,  brown,  and  sometimes  grass-green.  Lustre 
more  or  less  pearly.  Streak  white  or  grey.  Separates  in  lam- 
ina which  are  flexible  and  elastic,  and  are  capable  of  indefi- 
nite subdivision.  These  characters  are  possessed  by  both 
species.  It  exhibits  two  axes  of  double  refraction ;  —  a  lami- 
na placed  between  two  polarising  tourmalines  presents  two 


180 


ALKALINOEARTHY    MINERALS. 


systems  of  colored  rings,  each  traversed  by  a  single  black 
band.  Occurs  in  oblique  rhombic  prisms  of  60°  and  ]20°, 
which  are  easily  divisible  parallel  to  their  terminal  plane  (P  of 
the  following  figures). 


Primary  for 


M/  on  M  .  .  . 

...  60°  OO/ 

P  on  M'  . 

98  40 

-  •  M 

81  20 

135  16 

f2 

.  .  .  121  45 

el  . 

.  114  30 

P  on  e2 94°  30' 

e3 92  55 

k 

Z  . 


90 
100 
107 

83 


00 
20 


The  dark-colored  varieties,  which  contain  most  iron,  fre- 
quently act  on  the  magnet.  B  B,  it  loses  its  transparency,  but 
does  not  fuse,  except  when  lithia  is  in  combination,  in  which 
case  it  melts  with  facility,  and  at  the  moment  of  fusion  tinges 
the  flame  of  a  delicate  red  hue.  The  variety  lepidolite  from 
Uton,  according  to  Berzelius,- in  the  matrass,  gives  off  water, 
which  if  the  heat  be  pushed  to  redness,  is  sensibly  loaded  with 
fluoric  acid,  yellows  Brazil  wood  paper,  and  dulls  the  glass 
here  and  there  by  the  silica  it  deposits  on  its  surface. 


Broddbo. 

Silica 46-10 

Potash 0-00 

Alumina 31-16 , 

Peroxide  of  iron 8-65 

Oxide  of  manganese.   1-40 , 

Fluoric  acid 1-12 , 

Lithia 0-00 

Water 0-87 , 

97-64  Rose. 


Lepidolite. 

Zinnwald. 

,...46-23.... 

4-90... 

,...14-14... 


Uton. 
.47-05. 
.  9-60. 
.37-02. 


...17-97.... 

...  4-57 

...  8-53..., 
...  4-21... 
...  0-83.... 


3-02. 
0-00. 
0-56. 
0-00. 
1-39. 


Kimito. 

, 46-38 

9-22 

36-80 

4-53 

5-50 

0-76 

0-00 

..  1-04 


101-38  Gmelin.*      98-64  Rose. 


98-21  Rose. 


Lepidolite. 

Paris,  Me.  ? 

Silica 47-99 64-44. . . . 

Alumina 23-75 28-84. . . . 


Green  JHica,        Orange  County, 
Brunswick,  Me.  .N.  Y. 

49-38 

23-68 


Lepidolite. 
Moravia. 

. . .  .50-35 
. . .  .28-30 


Protoxide  of  iron  ....  0-00 4-42 7-31 0-00 


Lime 


0-00. 


0-00. 


6-13. 


0-00 


Oxide  of  manganese.  7-06 0-00 0-00 1-23 

Potash 14-73 0-00 15-29 9-00 

Lithia 3-16 0-00 0-00 '4-49 

Fluoric  acid 0-0'J 0-00 0-00 5-20 

Water 3-50 1-00 0-00 0-00 

100-19  Thomson.     98-70  Thomson.  101-79  Thomson.    98-61  Turner. 

*  The  recent  analysis  of  lepidolite  from  Siberia,  by  M.  Resales,  has  shown  the  pre- 
sence of  soda  as  well  as  potash  and  lithia,  and  also  nearly  one  and  a  half  per  cent,  of 
chlorine.  The  alkalies  are  assumed  to  be  isomorphous  in  mica,  mutually  replacing  each 
other,  and  H.  Rose  believes  that  soda  has  been  overlooked  in  the  earlier  analyses  and 
included  with  the  lithia,  which  last  exists  in  a  much  smaller  proportion  than  has  usually 
been  stated.  (See  Poggendorfs  Annalen,  1843,  .No.  1.;  [An.  ED.] 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  181 

From  the  mean  of  the  three  analyses  of  common  mica  by 
Rose,  Dr.  Thomson  gives  this  formula  :  15AlS+lJ-KS3-f  FS:i. 
But  his  own  analysis  of  a  specimen  from  Orange  County, 
N.  Y.,  would  seem  to  show  that  we  have  not  attained  any 
degree  of  certainty  in  regard  to  the  true  atomic  constitution  of 
this  species ;  and,  as  in  the  case  of  the  former  species,  further 
investigation  seems  desirable. 

1.  RUBELLANE.    Rubellon  Aster-Mica. —  Breithaupt.    Sup- 
posed by  some  to  be  mica  altered  by  heat.     It  contains  pot- 
ash and  soda  10,  silica  45,  alumina  10,  oxide  of  iron  20,  lime 
]  0,  volatile  matter  5.  —  Klaprotli.    Specific  gravity  2'5  —  2'7. 
Hardness  rather  below  3'0.     In   thin    laminse  of  a  reddish 
brown  color,  which  are  not  flexible.     Lustre  pearly.     Exfoli- 
ates in  the  flame  of  a  taper.     It  occurs  with  mica  and  augite 
at  Schima  in  the  Mittelgebirge,  Bohemia. 

2.  LEPIDOHTE.      Lepidolith.  —  Werner.      The    analysis  of 
this  variety  by  several  chemists  is  given  on  the  preceding  page. 
It  consists,  mechanically,  of  an  assemblage  of  small  flexible 
scales  which  are  translucent  and  sometimes  hexagonal ;  and 
usually  of  a  peach  lossom  color,  appearing  very  beautiful  when 
wetted.     Other  characters  included  in  the  general  description 
of  the  species. 

The  species  mica  is  an  essential  ingredient  of  many  rocks,  es- 
pecially the  oldest  primitive,  as  granite,  gneiss,  mica-slate,  &c.; 
and  is  often  found  filling  up  their  fissures,  or  crystallized  in 
the  cavities  of  the  veins  which  traverse  them.  It  also  occurs 
in  sandstones  and  schistes.  The  best  known  localities  of  this 
mica  are  Siberia  and  America,  St.  Gothard  in  Switzerland, 
Pargas  in  Finland,  Arendal  in  Norway,  Finbo  and  Broddbo 
in  Sweden,  Zinnwald  in  Bohemia,  Horlberg  in  Bavaria,  Aber- 
deenshire,  and  Cornwall.  Variety  lipidolite  occurs  near  Ro- 
zena  in  Moravia,  at  Uto  in  Sweden ;  also  at  Pevru  in  Siberia. 
At  the  first  named  locality  it  is  penetrated  by  rubellite. 

According  to  Haiiy,  Muscovy  glass,  which  occurs  in  plates 
of  a  yard  or  more  in  diameter,  in  veins  of  granite  and  mica- 
ceous schiste,  in  some  parts  of  Russia,  may  be  divided  into 
lamina?  no  thicker  than  innyWutn  part  of  an  inch.  It  is  used 
for  enclosing  objects  for  the  solar  microscope,  and  instead  of 
glass  in  the  Russian  ships  of  war,  as  less  liable  to  be  broken 
by  the  concussion  of  the  air  during  the  discharge  of  heavy 
artillery. 

In  the  United  States  there  are  numerous  and  extensive  local- 
ities of  this  species,  some  of  them  affording  specimens  of 
gigantic  size.  Sheets  more  than  two  feet  in  length  are  not 
uncommon  in  the  coarse  granite  of  Ackworth,  N.  H. ;  and 
16 


182  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

folia  of  nearly  equal  dimensions  have  been  taken  from  the 
repositories  of  rubellite  and  green  tourmaline  at  Paris,  Me., 
where  also  is  found  abundantly  the  lepidolite  variety.  These 
folia  are  not  unfrequently  penetrated  by  compressed  or  flat- 
tened crystals  of  green  tourmaline,  which  are  sometimes  dis- 
posed in  a  radiating  form.  Munroe,  N.  Y.,  has  furnished 
crystals  of  large  size,  having  a  deep  greenish-black  color, 
and  smaller  but  very  perfect  crystals  are  common  in  the  lime- 
stone of  Orange  county,  and  accompanying  the  chrysoberyls, 
near  Saratoga,  of  the  same  state.  In  Sussex  County,  N.  J., 
crystallized  mica  is  very  generally  disseminated  through  the 
white  crystallized  and  granular  limestone  that  contains  the 
other  well  known  minerals  of  that  region;  the  finest  forms  are 
the  brownish-red  perfect,  oblique,  rhombic  prisms  that  occur 
along  with  sapphire  and  spinelle,  at  Newton,  N.  J.  In  Massa- 
chusetts, at  the  beryl  locality,  Royalston,  very  perfect  individ- 
uals in  the  same  form,  but  replaced  on  their  acute  lateral 
edges,  are  imbedded  in  a  greyish  granular  quartz.  A  beauti- 
ful rose-red,  or  violet  colored  variety,  is  found  at  Goshen  and 
Chesterfield,  accompanying  rubellite  and  green  tourmaline, 
but  is  not  crystallized.  In  Maine,  at  Brunswick,  near  the 
college,  a  beautiful  green  variety  is  quite  abundant,  and  at 
Bowdoinham,  a  rare  form  of  the  species  (micajilamcnteux,  of 
Hauy)  is  met  with  in  granite,  and  is  in  fibres  as  delicate  as 
those  of  amianthus.  An  extremely  brilliant  silver  colored 
mica  has  been  brought  from  Edwards,  St.  Lawrence  county, 
N.  Y.  The  surfaces  of  many  of  the  tables  are  curved  and 
undulated.  A  green  variety  in  irregular  scales,  but  of  extreme 
beauty,  and  which  can  scarcely  be  distinguished  by  the  eye 
from  uran-mica,  is  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Baltimore, 
Md.  A  similar  variety,  but  of  paler  color,  has  also  been  met 
with  near  Philadelphia,  Penn. 

MARGARITE.* 

Rhombohedral  Pearl  Mica,  M.    Rhomboidal  Pearl  Mica,  J.    Perl-Glimmer,  L.     Mica 
margarina,  D. 

Contains  silica  37*00,  alumina  40'50,  oxide  of  iron  4'50, 
lime  8-96,  soda  1'24,  water  1-00 —  according  to  Dumenil ; 
making  a  loss  of  6.80,  and  rendering  a  new  analysis  desirable. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-0  —  3-1.  H  =  35  —  4*5. 

It  occurs  in  thin  crystalline  laminae,  which  intersect  each 
other  in  every  direction,  and  in  thin  hexahedral  plates  which 
cleave  very  readily  parallel  with  their  bases,  and  indistinctly 
parallel  with  their  sides;  indicating  an  hexagonal  prism  for 

*  Margarite,  from  its  peculiar  pearly  lustre. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  183 

the  primary.  Color  pale  pearl-grey  passing  into  a  reddish-  and 
yellowish-white;  translucent;  lustre  pearly  on  the  terminal 
faces,  vitreous  on  the  others ;  streak  colorless ;  rather  brittle. 
Pearl  mica  is  distinguished  from  the  foregoing  species  by 
its  superior  hardness  and  specific  gravity.  It  is  peculiar  to 
primitive  rocks,  being  mixed  with  and  engaged  in  foliated 
chlorite  at  Sterzing  in  the  Tyrol. 

LEUCITE.* 

Leuzit,  W.    Amphigene,  H.    Trapezoidal  Zeolite  or  Leucite,  J.     Trapezoidal  Kou- 
phone  Spar,  M.     Vulcanus  trapezohedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  potash,  silica,  and  alumina. 

Vesuvius.  Vesuvius. 

Potash 21-35 21-15 21-40 

Silica 53-75 56-10 58-70 

Alumina 24-63 23-10 19-95 


99.73  Klaproth.          100-35  Arfwedson.        100-05  Arfwedson. 

The  mean  of  these  three  analyses  determines  the  atomic 
constitution  of  the  mineral  thus  :  3AlS2+KSa. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-48  —  2'5.     H.  =  5'5  —  6-0. 

Leucite  occurs  in  crystals  whose  planes  are  twenty-four 
equal  and  similar  trapeziums,  apparently  with  joints  parallel 
to  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  and  the  cube ;  the  latter  of 
which,  being  the  most  simple  of  the  two,  has  been  adopted 
as  the  primary  form.  Leucite  is  generally  of  a  dirty-white  or 
grey-color,  seldom  reddish-white,  and  is  occasionally  some- 
what translucent ;  its  fracture  is  imperfectly  conchoidal,  with 
a  vitreous  lustre.  Under  the  B  B  per  se  it  is  infusible,  even 
in  powder;  with  borax,  fuses  slowly  into  a  diaphanous  glass; 
and,  with  soda,  effervesces  and  forms  a  transparent  blebby 
glass.  Is  decomposed  by  muriatic  acid  without  forming  a 
jelly;  the  silica  separating  in  the  form  of  fine  powder. 


c  on  c'  ....  131°  48'  16"  H. 

c  on  c"  ) 

or         >.  .  .  146    26  33. 
c'on  e"'S 


The  manner  in  which  this  crystal  is  derived  from  the  cube  will  be  ap- 
parent on  consulting  the  crystalline  forms  of  Analcime. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Rome,  at  Borghetto  some  miles  to  the 

*  Leucite  signifies  a  white  substance  ;  Amphigene,  of  a  double  origin,  in  allusion  to  its 
being  found  both  in  the  earlier  rocks  and  in  volcanic  matter. 


184 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


north,  and  at  Albano  and  Frescati  to  the  south,  some  of  the 
older  lavas  are  so  thickly  studded  with  this  mineral  as  to  ap- 
pear almost  entirely  composed  of  it.  Around  Vesuvius  it  oc- 
curs in  large  well-pronounced  crystals  of  the  above  form;  and 
near  Andernach  on  the  Rhine  it  is  equally  abundant,  though 
in  less  remarkable  individuals. 

This  mineral  is  peculiar  in  the  history  of  chemical  discove- 
ry, from  being  the  first  in  which  Klaproth  observed  the  pres- 
ence of  potash. 


Lime-Harmotome,   ConnelL 


PHILLIPSITE. 

Staurotypous  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Vulcanus  Phillipsia- 
nus,  D. 


The  analysis  of  four  specimens  of  this  mineral,  has  given 
the  following  results : 

Annerode.  Marburg.  Marburg.  Cassel. 

Silica 53-07 48-51 48-02 48-22 

Alumina 21-31 21-76 23-60 23-33 

Barytes 0-39 0-00 0-00 0-00 

Lime 6-67 6-26 6-56 7-22 

Potash 0-00 6-33 7-50 3-89 

Protoxide  of  iron  0-56 0-29 0-18 0-00 

Water 17-09 17-23 16-75 17-55 

?  Gmelin  and )  Gmelin  and — 

99-09  Wernekinck.  100-38  j      Hessel.    100-16  ij       Hesscl.    100-21* 

The  mean  of  the  three  first  analyses  gives  the  following  for- 
mula, which  conforms  to  the  more  recent  results  of  Kohler  :t 
4AlS2+(fCal+^K)S2+6Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-0  — H.  =  4-5. 

It  has  been  observed  only  in  macles  resembling  the  follow- 
ing figure.  The  primary  form  is  supposed  to  be  a  Right  rec- 
tangular prism,  thus  agreeing  with  Barytes  harmotome. 


c  on  c  ....  177°  28' 


In  white  translucent  or  opake  crystals,  having  much  the  as- 
pect of  Harmotome  ;  cleavage  imperfect.  It  occurs  with  gmel- 
inite  in  the  island  Magee,  county  Antrim,  in  minute  flesh-red 
colored  crystals,  coating  cavities  of  amygdaloid  ;  in  large  trans- 


*  Kohler  in  PoggendorfPs  Annalen,  xxxvi.,  p.  562. 


f  Ibid. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS,  185 

lucent  crystals  in  the  same  description  of  rock,  at  the  Giant's 
Causeway  in  Ireland ;  forming  groups  or  sheaf-shaped  aggre- 
gations at  Capo  di  Bove  near  Rome;  at  Aci  Reale  on  the 
eastern  coast  of  Sicily;  at  Marburg  in  Hessia;  at  Lo wen- 
stein  in  Silesia ;  and  among  the  lavas  of  Vesuvius.  —  Allan's 
Manual.  This  species  was  formerly  united  with  Harmo- 
tome,  but  is  now  made  distinct  on  the  authority  of  Levy,  who 
gave  it  the  name  it  bears  in  compliment  to  the  author  of  this 
work.  It  differs  chemically  from  Harmotome  in  containing 
lime  and  potash,  instead  of  barytes,  and  also  in  some  of  its 
other  characters.  The  same  name,  in  honor  of  R.  Phillips, 
Esq.,  has  been  given  to  a  very  different  mineral  under  the 
metalliferous  class,  which  see. 


APOPHYLLITE.* 

Fishaugenstein,  Albin,  W.     Apophyllite.  H.     Ichthyophthalmite.     Pyramidal  Zeolite,  J. 

Pyramidal  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Tesselite,  and  Oxahverite,  Brewster.     Vulcanus 

quadratus,  D. 

Combination  of  potash,  silica,  lime,  and  water. 

Faroe.  Karasrat  in 

Uton.  Tesselite.  Fassn.  Greenland.  Uton. 

Potash 5-26 5-31 5-13 5-31 5-88 

Silica 52-90 51-76 51-86 51-86 51-00 

Lime 25-20 22-73 25-20 25-20 26-23 

Water... 16-00 1G-20 16-04 16-90 16-50 

F1of  nme^6  !  °'00 3'53 °'00 °'00 °'00 

99-36  Berz.        99-53  Berz.        98-43  Strom.      99-^7  Strom.      99-11  Thorn. 

The  analyses  very  nearly  agree  with  each  other  proving  the 
purity  of  the  specimens,  and  from  the  mean  composition  re- 
sults the  following  formula,  as  given  by  Thomson,  7CalS3+K 
S3+15Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-3  —  25.     H.  =  4-5  —  5'0. 

Apophyllite  occurs  in  the  form  of  its  primary  crystal,  a 
Right  square  prism,  whose  solid  angles  are  sometimes  re- 
placed by  triangular  planes,  which,  by  a  deeper  replace- 
ment, assume  the  form  of  rhombic  planes.  The  structure 
is  lamellar;  cleavage  highly  perfect  parallel  to  all  the  planes 
of  its  primary  form,  but  most  readily  perpendicular  to  its 
axis ;  fracture  uneven ;  color  white  or  greyish,  sometimes 
with  a  green  or  reddish  tinge;  transparent,  translucent,  or 
opake;  the  lateral  planes  of  the  prism  have  a  shining  lustre; 
the  terminal  are  pearly.  It  becomes  feebly  electric  by  fric- 
tion ;  B  B,  exfoliates,  intumesces,  and  ultimately  fuses  into  a 
white  blebby  glass;  with  borax  it  melts  readily  into  a  transpa- 
rent globule ;  in  nitric  acid  it  separates  into  flakes,  and  when 
reduced  to  powder  becomes  gelatinous  and  translucent. 

*  Apophyllite,  probably  from  its  exfoliating  B  B. 

16* 


186 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Primary. 


1(11 


I/I 


/ 

P  on  M  or  M'  . 
M  on  Mx  .... 

....  90°  00' 
....  90  00 

WE 

...  120   5 

M  on  a} 
or   >   •  . 

.  ...  128  20 

M7  on  a'  ) 
a  on  a'  . 

.  104  18 

The  most  splendid  crystallized  varieties  of  apophyllite  occur 
coating  the  cavities  of  amygdaloid,  associated  with  calcedony, 
stilbite,  chabasie,  &,c.,  in  Greenland,  Iceland,  the  Faroe 
Islands,  and  at  Poonah  in  Hindustan.  The  peculiar  pearly 
lustre  of  the  crystals  is  one  of  the  most  decided  characters  of 
the  species,  and  has  obtained  for  it  the  denomination  of  Ich- 
thyophthalmite,  or  Jis/i-eye  stone,  from  the  Greek.  At  An- 
dreasberg  it  is  found  in  silver  veins  traversing  grauwacke- 
slate;  in  the  Bannat  associated  with  wollastonite ;  and  at 
Oberstein  occupying  the  cavities  of  agate  balls.  Foliated 
apophyllite  occurs  in  the  iron  mine  of  Uton  in  Sweden,  and 
with  analcime  in  trap  at  the  Seisser  Alp,  Tyrol ;  at  the  former 
almost  transparent,  at  the  latter  white  and  opake.  Fine  crys- 
tals of  the  common  form  (mesotype  epointe  of  Haiiy)  have  re- 
cently been  brought  from  New  Holland,  attached  to  masses  of 
amygdaloid.  The  edges  of  the  prisms,  as  well  as  the  angles  of 
the  summits,  are  often  deeply  replaced  by  two  or  more  planes, 
imparting  a  cylindrical  form  to  the  crystals,  as  shown  by  the 
figures  2  and  3. 


ALKALINOEARTHY    MINERALS.  187 

Apophyllite  is  a  rare  mineral  in  the  United  States.  Four 
localities  are  given  in  Robinson's  catalogue,  but  the  specimens 
possess  scarcely  any  interest.  It  was  found  at  Point  Mar- 
moase,  on  Lake  Superior,  Canada,  by  Dr.  Bigsby,  in  amygda- 
loid, and  under  a  secondary  form  not  before  noticed ;  having 
the  appearance  of  an  elongated  octahedron  with  the  terminal 
edges  emarginated,  and  the  angles  of  the  base  truncated. 
( Troost,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  vol.  v.,  p.  52.)  In  Nova  Sco- 
tia it  accompanies  the  other  minerals  of  this  class,  and  is  pre- 
sented under  its  most  interesting  forms  in  the  amygdaloidal  cliffs 
between  Capes  Split  and  Blomidon.  The  commonest  form  is 
that  of  the  perfect  Right  square  prism,  with  no  replacements. 
Very  frequently  all  the  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  single  planes, 
and  rarely  by  three  planes.  Occasional  examples  of  low  tabu- 
lar crystals,  similar  to  the  form  represented  on  the  opposite 
page,  are  implanted  upon  the  surfaces  of  yellow  stilbite.  These 
are  perfectly  transparent,  and  of  extreme  brilliancy,  occasion- 
ally presenting  a  delicate  tinge  of  green  or  red. 

The  variety  termed  oxahverite  by  Brewster,  from  the  Oxahver 
Springs  in  Iceland,  is  of  a  pale-green  color,  indistinctly  crys- 
tallized, somewhat  translucent,  and  disposed  on  fossilized  wood. 
Werner's  albin  rarely  presents  the  terminal  faces  P  ;  it  is  white 
and  opake,  and  occurs  associated  with  natrolite,  near  Aussig 
in  Bohemia. 

The  Tesselite  of  Brewster  is  that  variety  particularly  accom- 

?anying   chabasie    and    mesole,  from   Nalsoe   in   the   Faroe 
slands,  which  exhibits,  upon  optical  examination,  a  mosaic- 
like  or  tesselated  structure. 


HERSCHELLITE.* 

Spatum  HerscheJIianum,  D. 

The  constituents  of  this  mineral,  according  to  the  trials  of 
Dr.  Wollaston,  are  silica,  alumina,  and  potash;  but  a  com- 
plete analysis  is  yet  required.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  trian- 
gular dodecahedrons,  the  summits  of  which  are  deeply  replaced  ; 
and  in  regular  six-sided  prisms,  whose  lateral  faces  are  streaked 
horizontally.  Levy  considers  the  hexahedral  prism  to  be  its 
primary  form.  Color  white.  Translucent  or  opake.  Frac- 
ture conchoidal.  Cleavage  easily  obtained  parallel  to  the  base 
of  the  prism. 

Herschellite  occurs  associated  with  Phillipsite  in  the  cavities 
of  trap,  at  Aci  Reale,  near  Catania  in  Sicily.  The  individuals 

*  Levy,  Annals  of  Philosophy  (Second  Series),  x.,361. 


188  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

are  sometimes  isolated,  but  generally  very  closely  aggregated, 
in  a  manner  analogous  to  that  which  prehnite  frequently  pre- 
sents. 


WEISSITE.* 

Count  Wachtmeister.     (Poggendorfs  Annalen,  xiv.,  190.) 

Contains  potash  4' 10,  soda  0*68,  silica  53'69,  alumina 
21*78,  magnesia  8'99,  protoxide  of  iron  l-43,  protoxide  of 
manganese  0'63,  oxide  of  zinc  0'30,  water  with  traces  of  am- 
monia 3-20.—  Wachtmeister.  Formula:  2AlS2-H(T3TMg-J- 
T2TK+T1TF)S2+iAq.  By  Beudant  the  water  is  riot  regarded 
as  a  chemical  constituent.  Sp.  Gr.  2'SO. 

In  oblique  rhombic  prisms,  of  an  ash-grey  or  brownish 
color  ;  translucent,  and  presenting  only  feeble  traces  of  cleav- 
age; lustre  pearly  or  waxy;  fracture  even  or  coarse  granular; 
scratches  glass,  but  is  scratched  by  steel ;  B  B,  in  the  matrass, 
it  becomes  brown,  and  yields  water  slightly  acidulous;  on 
charcoal  it  whitens,  fuses  on  the  edges,  and  becomes  sur- 
rounded with  an  areola  of  zinc  fumes;  with  borax  it  is  slowly 
soluble  into  a  colorless  glass;  also  with  salt  of  phosphorus, 
leaving  a  silica  skeleton  ;  with  soda  it  melts  into  an  opake  sco- 
ria, and  on  platina  foil  exhibits  the  green  color  indicative  of 
manganese. 

Its  locality  is  the  copper  mine  of  Eric  Matts  at  Fahlun  in 
Sweden,  where  it  occurs  in  chloritic  talc. 


PEARLSTONE. 

Perlstein,  W.     Lave  Vitreuse  Perle,  W. 

Contains,  by  the  analysis  of  Thomson,  silica  70-44,  alumina 
11-6,  peroxide  of  iron  4'38,  lime  3'00,  potash  5'20,  water  4'28. 
Formula:  6AlS5+SF4+CalS4+KS4+4Aq.  Sp.  Gr.  234. 

Pearlstone  occurs  in  large,  coarse  angular  masses  composed 
of  smaller  round  concretions,  which  consist  of  very  thin 
lamellae.  Surface  smooth  and  shining,  with  a  lustre  resembling 
that  of  pearl. t  Color  grey,  brown,  red,  or  blackish  ;  is  fragile ; 
translucent  on  the  edges,  and  scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch 
glass.  It  almost  always  gives  out  an  argillaceous  odor  when 
breathed  on ;  and  B  B,  melts  into  a  whitish  frothy  glass. 

At  Tokay  and  elsewhere  in  Hungary,  it  is  found  enclosing 
round  masses  of  black  vitreous  obsidian,  and  is  intermixed  with 
the  debris  of  granite,  gneiss,  and  porphyry,  and  alternating  in 
beds  with  the  latter.  It  also  occurs  at  Cap  de  Gat  in  Spain, 
of  a  green  or  bluish  color  ;  in  Iceland,  &/c. 

*  Named  by  Trolle  Wachtmeister,  in  compliment  to  Professor  Weiss  of  Berlin, 
f  Whence  Pearlstone. 


ALKALINO-EARTH1T    MINERALS.  189 

GIESECKITE.* 

Gieseckite.    (Prof.  Jameson's  Manual,  p.  323.)     Giseckite,  Stromeyer. 

Combination  of  potash,  silica,  and  alumina,  with  admixtures 
of  maornesia  and  the  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-78  — 2-85. 

Analysis  by  Stromeyer :  potash  6'2,  silica  46*27,  alumina 
33'82,  magnesia  T2,  oxide  of  iron  3'35,  oxide  of  manganese 
1*15,  water  4*8.  This  mineral  occurs  in  regular  six-sided 
prisms,  externally  of  a  brownish  tinge,  internally  greenish  and 
blackish-green  intermixed.  It  possesses  no  regular  structure, 
but  on  the  contrary,  being  granular,  with  a  waxy  lustre,  it  has 
rather  the  appearance  of  a  pseudomorphous  steatitic  mineral 
than  of  a  crystalline  substance.  The  crystal  is  opake,  but 
small  fragments  are  translucent;  it  yields  to  the  knife,  afford- 
ing a  white  powder,  but  scratches  common  glass,  on  which  the 
white  powder  of  the  mineral  is  left.  B  B,  it  is  extremely  re- 
fractory, fusing  only  on  the  edges  after  a  long-continued  ex- 
posure ;  and  becoming  at  the  same  time  magnetic.  It  effer- 
vesces slightly  with  nitric  acid. 

It  was  brought  by  Sir  C.  Giesecke  from  Akulliarasiarsuk 
in  Greenland,  where  it  occurs  imbedded  in  compact  felspar. 

As  there  are  some  doubts  in  regard  to  the  specific  nature  of 
this  mineral,  the  formula  is  not  given.  There  is  reason  to 
suppose  that  it  may  be  an  altered  variety  of  pinite. 

FINITE. 

Pinit,  W.    Pinite,  H.     Micarelle,  Kirwan.    Stylus  hexagonus,  D. 

Combination  of  potash,  silica,  and  alumina,  with  admixture 
of  soda,  magnesia,  and  the  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese. 

Auvergne. 

Potash 7-89 

Soda O59 

Silica 5596 

Alumina 25-48 

Oxide  of  iron 5-51 

Manganese 3-76 

99-19  Gmelin. 

Formula :  8^-AlS2+KS2+2(^JF+^Mg)S+Aq.—  Thomson. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-78  —  2-8.  H."=  2-0  —  2-5. 

The  pinite  occurs  in  six-sided  or  twelve-sided  prisms,  of 
which  the  lateral,  and  more  rarely  the  terminal  edges,  are 
sometimes  replaced,  as  in  the  following  figure ;  but  it  does  not 
appear  generally  to  possess  any  regular  structure ;  one  crystal 
from  the  Puy  de  Dome  yielded  to  mechanical  division  parallel 
to  the  terminal  planes  of  the  six-sided  prism,  which  is  consid- 

*  In  honor  of  the  late  Sir  C.  Giesecke. 


190 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


ered  to  be  the  primary  crystal.  It  has  a  brown,  blackish- 
brown,  or  grey  color ;  is  opake,  and  almost  devoid  of  lustre, 
being  often  somewhat  ochreous  externally.  It  yields  to  the 
knife  easily,  and  is  not  affected  by  acids.  B  B,  on  charcoal, 
it  whitens,  and  fuses  on  the  edges  into  a  white  blebby  glass, 
but  does  not  melt ;  the  most  ferruginous  varieties  fuse  more 
readily  into  a  black  glass.  With  borax  it  yields,  after  a  con- 
tinued blast,  a  transparent  globule. 


M  on  M 120° 

P  on  M  or  M' ...     90 

cl 150 

. 2 131 

a 120 

M  or  M'  on  d  .  .  .  150 


It  was  first  discovered  in  granite,  near  Schneeberg  in  Sax- 
ony, in  the  mine  called  Pini,  whence  it  was  named  by  Werner. 
It  has  since  been  found  in  the  Puy  de  Dome  in  France,  in  a 
decomposed  porphyritic  felspar;  at  Arendal  in  Norway,  in 
mica;  imbedded  in  the  granite  of  St.  Michael's  Mount,  Corn- 
wall ;  and  in  Aberdeenshire. 

In  the  United  States,  at  Haddam,  Ct,  crystals  several  inches 
long,  and  considerably  regular  in  form,  are  found  in  micaceous 
rock,  and  in  rolled  masses  of  granite.  Crystals  of  a  greenish 
color  have  been  found  imbedded  in  granite  on  George  Hill, 
Lancaster,  Mass. 

PYRARGILLITE. 

Nordcnskiold.     (Berzelius*  Jahr-Bericht,  1834,  p.  174.)    Hydrolus  pyrosmicus,  D. 

Contains  Potash 1-05 

Soda 1-83 

Silica 43-93 

Alumina 28-93 

Oxide  of  iron  5-30 
Magnesia....  2-90 
Water 15-47 


97-41 


Sp.  Gr.  2-50.     H.  =  3-5. 

Occurs  massive ;  assuming,  though  rarely,  a  form  analogous 
to  the  four-sided  prism  with  bevelled  edges ;  frequently  trav- 
ersed by  chlorite.  Color  partly  black,  and  in  that  case 
shining;  partly  bluish,  and  then  devoid  of  lustre.  Is  entirely 
soluble  in  nitric  or  muriatic  acid.  Emits  an  argillaceous  odor 
when  heated.* 

It  occurs  in  granite  near  Helsingfors  in  Finland. 


:  Named  Pyrargillite  by  Nordenskibld,  in  allusion  to  this  property. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  191 

BYTOWNITE.* 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines,  &c.,  p.  372.) 

The  mineral  to  which  Dr.  Thomson  has  given  this  name, 
occurs  in  the  neighborhood  of  Bytown,  Upper  Canada.  It  is 
composed,  according  to  his  analysis,  as  follows : 

Silica 47-40 

Alumina 29-60 

Lime 9-3Q 

Peroxide  of  iron 3-04 

Magnesia 0-40 

Soda 7-60 

Water 1-96 

99-68 

The  atomic  quantities  indicated  by  these  results  are  very 
nearly  15  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  3  atoms  bisilicate  of  lime 
and  magnesia,  2  atoms  bisilicate  of  soda,  1  atom  bisilicate  of 
iron.  The  formula,  admitting  the  bisilicates  of  soda  and  iron 
to  have  been  previously  united,  is  SAlS+^Cal+^MgJS^H- 
(|N+4F)S2. 

Sp.  Gr.  2801.     H.  =  6. 

Color  light  greenish-blue  ;  massive ;  texture  granular ;  frac- 
ture splintery,  with  some  foliated  portions  like  little  crystals ; 
translucent;  lustre  vitreous,  shining :  B  B,  it  becomes  friable 
and  white,  but  does  not  fuse ;  with  carbonate  of  soda  effer- 
vesces, but  dissolves  very  slowly  into  an  opake  white  globule ; 
with  borax  fuses  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass,  leaving  a 
silica  skeleton. 


COUZERANITE. 

Dufrdnoy.     (Ann.  de  Clumie  et  de  Phys.,  xxxviii.,  280.) 

This  mineral  was  first  noticed  by  the  celebrated  geologist, 
M.  Charpentier,  in  his  valuable  work  on  the  geological  consti- 
tution of  the  Pyrenees.  As  he  met  with  it  principally  in  that 
part  of  the  chain  formerly  known  as  Couzeran,  he  has  called  it 
couzeranite  ;  but  he  did  little  more  than  mention  its  existence  ; 
and  we  are  now  indebted  to  M.  Dufrenoy  for  a  full  description 
of  its  characters  and  its  chemical  analysis.  It  contains,  accord- 
ing to  the  mean  of  two  analyses, 

Silica 52-37 

Alumina 24-02 

Lime 11-85 

Magnesia 1-40 

Potash 5-52 

Soda 3-96 

99-12 

The  silica  may  be  associated  with  its  bases   in  different 

*  Named  from  Bytown,  in  Upper  Canada,  where  it  has  been  found. 


192  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

ways ;  but  it  is  the  simplest  view  of  the  case,  as  Dufrenoy  ob- 
serves, to  suppose  that  this  substance  forms  a  silicate  with 
alumina,  a  bisilicate  with  the  alkalies,  and  a  trisilicate  with 
the  alkaline  earths,  and  thus  conducts  to  this  formula  :  6A1S+ 
(K,N)S2+2(Cal,Mg)S3. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  69.     H.  about  6'5. 

Color  usually  perfectly  black;  sometimes  deep  indigo-blue; 
rarely  light  grey;  opake ;  the  lustre  rather  brilliant,  and  both 
vitreous  and  resinous.  Fracture  conchoidal ;  structure  slightly 
lamellar,  parallel  with  the  shorter  diagonal,  in  which  direction 
it  is  cleavable.  B  B,  it  fuses  into  a  white  enamel,  pretty  much 
like  felspar;  with  biphosphate  of  soda  it  fuses  into  a  milky 
bead;  is  not  affected  by  acids;  primary  form  an  oblique 
rhombic  prism,  the  faces  of  which,  M  on  M,  incline  to  each 
other  at  an  angle  of  about  96°,  the  inclination  of  P  on  M  being 
92°  to  93°.  The  crystals  are  frequently  replaced  on  their  ob- 
tuse edges  by  planes  which  incline  equally  on  the  two  faces  of 
the  prism,  making  with  each  an  angle  of  about  130°,  but  are 
rarely  terminated  ;  faces  striated  longitudinally. 

This  mineral  bears  considerable  resemblance  to  pyroxene, 
but  its  fracture  is  very  different,  as  is  also  its  behaviour  B  B, 
and  its  chemical  composition,  which  together  must  prevent  it 
from  being  confounded  with  that  mineral,  or  with  felspar.  The 
specimens  analyzed  were  black,  and  it  will  be  observed  that 
the  analysis  gives  no  evidence  of  what  the  coloring  matter  con- 
sists. M.  Dufrenoy  supposes  it  to  be  owing  to  the  presence  of 
a  small  portion  of  carbon,  which  imparts  the  same  color  to  the 
transition  limestone  in  which  the  mineral  is  found.  It  exists 
in  the  greatest  quantities  in  the  valleys  of  the  Seix,  which  bor- 
der upon  Saint  Girons.* 

FELSPAR.t 

Feldspath,  W.  H.     Prismatic  Feld-spar,  M.  J.     Spatum  orthotomum,  D. 

Combination  of  potash,  soda,  silica,  and  alumina. 

Carlsbad. 
Mularia.        Murchisonite.        Opake,  white. 

Potash 14-0 14-8 11-50 

Silica 64-0 68-6 64-50 

Alumina 20-0 16-6 19-75 

Lime 2-0 0-0 a  trace. 

Oxide  ofiron 0-0 0-0 1-75 

100-0  Vauq.      100-0  R.  Phillips.    97-50  Klaproth. 

*  The  very  brief  description  of  this  mineral  in  the  last  edition  of  this  work,  scarcely  did 
justice  to  a  distinguished  mineralogist ;  a  fuller  account  has  now  been  drawn  from  his 
original  paper.  [AM.  ED.] 

tFrom  the  German  Feldspath,  field-spar;  in  allusion  perhaps  to  its  being  found  loose 
on  the  surface  of  some  parts  of  the  country. 


ALKALINOEARTHY    MINERALS.  193 

Iridescent.  Green.         Flesh-colored,  Adularia. 


Potash... 
Silica... 
Alumina. 

Fredericks  warn. 
12-2  
63-0  
20-0  

Siberia. 
...13-0  , 
...62-8  
...17-0  
..  3-0... 

Lomnitz. 
,...12-00.... 
,  .  .  .66-75.  .  .  . 
...17-50.... 
..  1-25.... 

St.  Gothard. 
16-95 
64-20 
18-40 
0-00 

Oxide  of  iron...  1-3 1-0 0-75 0-00 


96-5  Klaproth.  96-8  Vauq.        98-25  Rose.  99-55  Berthier. 

These  analyses  differ  considerably  in  their  quantitative  re- 
sults, but  if  we  take  the  last,  which  was  performed  on  a  very 
pure  adularia  —  the  ultimate  perfection  of  the  species  —  we  ob- 
tain for  the  constitution  of  the  mineral,  three  atoms  tersilicate  of 
alumina,  one  atom  tersilicate  of  potash.  Formula:  3A1S3+KS3.* 
Sp.  Gr.  25  —  2-6.  H.  =  6'0. 

Few  minerals  vary  so  much  in  appearance,  or  present  more 
numerous  and  complicated  crystalline  forms,  than  felspar.  It 
has  hence  been  distinguished  into  several  varieties,  the  transi- 
tion from  the  one  to  the  other  of  which,  is  however  so  gradual, 
that  in  describing  them  these  distinctions  are  not  very  easily 
made. 

1.  ADULARIA.  Moon-stone. t  Adular,  W.  Feldspath  na- 
cre, H.  Orthoklas,  Breithaupt.  This  variety  of  felspar  is 
semi-transparent,  or  translucent ;  it  is  greyish,  greenish-white, 
or  milk-white,  and  is  frequently  iridescent.  It  occurs  both 
massive  and  crystallized;  the  forms  of  the  crystals  of  Adula- 
ria, which  consist  of  two,  three,  or  four  individuals,  placed 
either  parallel  or  obliquely  to  one  another,  being  extremely 
complicated.  Cleavage  highly  perfect,  and  easily  obtained 
parallel  to  P  of  the  following  figure.  Lustre  vitreous,  inclining 
to  pearly  on  the  perfect  faces  of  cleavage.  When  splendent, 
with  a  pearly  lustre,  and  exhibiting,  especially  if  cut  and  pol- 
ished, a  bluish-  or  greenish-white  chatoyant  reflection  of  light, 
it  is  termed  Moon-stone.  The  Sun-stone  is  the  same,  having 
exceedingly  minute  scales  of  mica  interspersed  throughout  its 
mass,  which  being  disposed  in  parallel  position,  reflect  a  pinch- 
beck-brown tint.  In  these,  as  well  as  in  the  Norwegian  Lab- 
rador (as  it  is  called),  from  Frederickswarn,  this  opalescent 
appearance  is  only  in  one  direction,  namely,  in  that  which 
bevels  the  edge  between  T  and  T  somewhat  obliquely.  The 
variety  from  this  locality  is  a  grey  felspar,  distinct  from  the 
species  labradorite  which  follows,  but  presenting,  like  it,  some 
very  beautiful  hues.  B  B,  upon  charcoal,  it  becomes  glassy, 

*  From  the  recent  examination  of  M.  Abich,  confirmed  by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  it  appears 
that  the  potash  in  all  felspars  is  accompanied  by  more  or  less  soda  ;  adularia  containing 
the  least.  (Poggendorf's  Annalen,  L.  125,  341,  and  L  11,  465.)  [AM.  ED.] 

f  Adularia,  from  Mount  Adula,  on  which  it  is  supposed  first  to  have  been  found, 
Moon-stone,  from  the  brilliant  light  reflected  by  it. 

17 


194 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


semi-transparent,  and  white,  but  fuses  only  on  the  edges ;  with 
borax  it  dissolves  slowly  into  a  clear  globule,  and  is  not  acted 
upon  by  acids. 

It  occurs  in  veins  and  cavities  in  granite,  gneiss,  clay-slate, 
and  limestone,  with  quartz,  amianthus,  &,c.  at  St.  Gothard, 
where  crystals,  sometimes  even  a  foot  in  thickness,  have  oc- 
curred; in  Britain  in  the  granite  of  Arran;  in  veins  passing 
through  schiste  at  Tintagell  on  the  northern  coast  of  Cornwall, 
&c.  The  finest  specimens  of  moon-stone  occur  imbedded  in 
granite  in  Ceylon.  Considerable  veins  of  sun-stone  have  re- 
cently been  found  on  the  Selenga  in  Siberia,  and  masses  taken 
from  them  have  been  fashioned  into  vases  two  feet  high. 
Great  value  is  attached  to  these  specimens,  as  even  small  ring- 
stones  are  very  highly  esteemed. 

2.  COMMON  FELSPAR  is  mostly  opake,  or  translucent  only  on 
the  edges:  the  lustre  on  the  lamellar  fragments  is  vitreous  or 
pearly  ;  the  cross  fracture  uneven  and  glimmering.  It  presents 
white,  yellow,  blue,  green,  or  red  colors;  and  is  either  granu- 
lar or  massive,  disseminated  or  crystallized.  The  crystals 
yield  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  P  M  and  T  of  the  fol- 
lowing figures,  affording  as  primary  form  a  Doubly  oblique 
prism,  which  presents  in  one  direction  four  angles  of  90° ;  in 
another,  four  alternately  of 59°  25'  and  120°  35';  in  another,  four 
alternately  of  67°  15'  and  112°  45';  the  latter  are  obtained  with 
great  difficulty,  the  former  with  more  ease,  and  the  natural  joints 
are  generally  visible  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the  plane  P.  On 
charcoal  it  is  fusible  with  borax  into  a  semi-transparent  glass. 


Primary  Form. 


M  on  T 

120 

°35 

'00' 

1 

P  on  M 

90 

00 

00 

T 

67 

15 

00 

cl 

145 

20 

00 

c2 

129 

30 

00 

c3 

99 

41 

8 

H. 

k\ 

112 

5 

00 

Mon  c  1 

90 

00 

00 

i  . 

150 

00 

00 

kl 

120 

30 

00 

k2 

150 

00 

00 

H. 

^ 

116 

35 

00 

T  on  c2 

111 

00 

00 

i  . 

150 

00 

00 

H. 

^ 

60 

50 

00 

c  1  on  c  2 

164 

42 

00 

c  2  on  c  3 

150 

45 

28 

H. 

c  1  on  h  . 

149 

10 

00 

c  2  on  h  . 

152 

30 

00 

klonk2 

150 

00 

00 

H. 

Common  felspar  is  a  very  generally  diffused  mineral ;  it  is 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  195 

an  essential  constituent  of  granite  and  gneiss,  and  also  fre- 
quently occurs  in  these  rocks  in  veins,  and  in  micaceous  and 
argillaceous  schiste.  It  abounds  in  primitive  and  secondary 
traps,  and  in  most  lavas.* 

The  coarser  kinds  of  felspar  are  also  frequently  macled, 
presenting  some  of  the  most  remarkable  hemitrope  forms  that 
occur  in  the  mineral  kingdom.  At  Carlsbad  and  Elbogen  in 
Bohemia,  twin  crystals  occur,  exhibiting  the  union  of  two  in- 
dividuals which  have  been  turned  round  to  the  extent  of  180°, 
and  attached  to  each  other  laterally.  According  to  their  points 
of  junction,  these  are  denominated  rights  and  lefts;  for  in 
whatever  position  one  of  them  is  placed,  its  faces  are  never 
parallel  or  homologous  to  those  of  the  other.  At  Carlsbad 
they  occur  from  two  to  four  inches  in  length,  the  rapid  decom- 
position of  the  surrounding  granite  strewing  the  fields  with 
them  in  vast  quantities.  They,  as  well  as  the  varieties  from 
Ekatherineburg  in  Siberia,  and  Warmbrunn  in  Silesia,  are 
opake,  have  an  earthy-brown  color,  and  are  extremely  coarse 
and  rough  externally.  The  Land's  End  granite  is  also  studded 
with  similarly  formed  crystals,  though  on  a  smaller  scale; 
and,  what  is  remarkable,  pseudo-crystals  of  tin  have  been 
found  in  Cornwall  assuming  precisely  similar  macles.  Large 
well-defined  opake  crystals  are  brought  from  Elba,  and  Aren- 
dal  in  Norway.  The  twins  from  Baveno  in  Piedmont,  and  La 
Clayette  in  Auvergne,  are  well-known ;  as  are  the  beautiful 
varieties  accompanying  beryl  and  topaz  in  the  Mourne  Moun- 
tains of  Ireland.  An  occasionally  crystallized  variety  of  a 
beautiful  apple-green  color  (Amazon-stone)  is  met  with  at  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Ural  Mountains,  near  the  fortress  of 
Troitzk;  and  the  yellowish-grey  and  somewhat  transparent 
kind,  termed  Murchisonite  by  Levy,  is  found  near  Dawlish  in 
Devonshire,  and  in  Arran;  also  in  Cornwall,  between  Hollo- 
way  Hill  and  Watcornbe,  and  in  the  conglomerate  of  Heautree, 
near  Exeter.  Kersten  has  described  crystals  formed  in  a  cop- 
per furnace,  which  in  composition  and  form  agree  with  felspar. 

3.  ICE-SPAR. t  Eis-spath,  W.  It  occurs  in  white  transpa- 
rent or  translucent  flattish  crystals,  of  which  the  primary  form 
is  a  right  oblique-angled  prism,  differing  but  little  in  its  pro- 
portions from  a  right  rhombic  prism.  It  yields  to  cleavage 
parallel  to  all  the  primary  planes  —  with  difficulty  parallel  to 

*  From  its  decomposition  the  potash  of  soil  is  mainly  derived.  Supposing  the  soil  to 
have  been  derived  from  granite,  consisting  of  two  fifths  quartz,  two  fifths  felspar,  and 
one  fifth  mica,  it  may  be  shown  that  every  acre  of  it,  six  inches  deep,  contains  thirty-six 
tons  of  potash.  (Dr.  S.  L.  Dana's  Muck  Manual.') 

f  Ice -spar,  from  its  possessing  a  considerable  resemblance  to  ice,  both  externally  and  in 
brittleness. 


196 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


T,  more  easily  to  P  and  M  of  the  following  figures.  It  pos- 
sesses a  shining  lustre,  and  is  very  brittle.  According  to  Ber- 
zelius,  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  becomes  vitreous,  semi-transparent, 
and  white,  and  fuses  with  difficulty  on  the  edge  into  a  blebby 
semi-transparent  glass :  with  borax  into  a  diaphanous  glass. 


P  on  M  or  T  . 
M  on  T  .  . 

.  .  90°  00' 
.  .  129  40 

P  on  6  2  .... 

120°  3(/ 
134  38 

—  —  —  fit  ... 

.  .  127  45 

dl  .... 

116  35 

T  on  a 

.  .  128  15 

M  on/.  .  .  . 

150  00 

P  on  CL    .  , 

.  .  318   5 

T  on  6  2  . 

112  20 

P  on  b  I 

.  .  125  25 

M  on  b  2  over/  . 

110  49 

It  occurs  at  Mont  Somma,  near  Naples,  with  nepheline, 
mica,  meionite,  and  hornblende. 

4.  DECOMPOSED  FELSPAR,  PORCELAIN-CLAY.  Porcellan- 
erde,  W.  Feldspath  decompose,  H.  Porcelain-Clay,  Kirwan. 
Sp.  Gr.  2*216.  It  is  commonly  yellowish-,  sometimes  reddish- 
white;  occurs  massive,  and  disseminated  in  certain  rocks; 
and  is  composed  of  small  particles  which  possess  but  slight 
coherence.  It  adheres  to  the  tongue,  and  is  soft  and  meagre 
to  the  touch.  It  often  includes  crystals  of  felspar,  of  quartz, 
and  of  mica,  and  is  evidently  derived  from  the  decomposition 
of  granitic  rocks  :  is  infusible.  A  variety  from  Aue  in  Saxony 
yielded  silica  52  0,  alumina  37'0,  and  iron  6'33.  The  Saxon 
porcelain  is  made  of  clay  from  a  bed  in  granite  near  Meissen ; 
the  Austrian  from  clay  dug  near  Passau ;  that  of  Copenhagen 
from  the  produce  of  Bornholm,  an  island  in  the  Baltic.  The 
porcelain-clay  of  China  is  called  Kaolin.  In  Britain,  a  large 
tract  of  this  clay,  which  includes  crystals  of  felspar,  quartz, 
and  mica,  exists  near  St.  Austle  in  Cornwall,  on  the  south 
side  of  the  granite  range;  it  supplies  the  porcelain  manufacto- 
ries of  Worcester. 

In  the  United  States,  kaolin  is  found  at  Monkton,  Vt,  in  an 
extensive  bed  beneath  fragments  of  quartz,  felspar,  and  graphic 
granite,  from  the  decomposition  of  which  it  has  been  produced.* 


*The  composition  of  kaolin  is  quite  different  from  felspar,  consisting  of  55  per  cent, 
of  silica  and  45  of  alumina,  rarely  uniting  either  potash  or  soda,  which  seem  to  have  been 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  197 

It  is  white,  and  retains  its  color  in  the  fire.  According  to 
Prof.  Shepard,  kaolin,  either  pure  or  mingled  with  decomposed 
albite,  abounds  in  New  Milford,  Kent,  and  Cornwall,  Ct. 


GLASSY  FELSPAR. 

Ryacolite.    Glassiger  Feldspar,  W. 

Composed  of  silica,  alumina,  potash,  and  soda. 

Vesuvius.  Mount  D'Or.  Drakenfels. 

Silica 65-52  Silica 66-1  Silica 66-6 

Alumina... 19'65  Alumina. ..19-8  Alumina... 18-5 

Potash    I      , A  7Q  Magnesia..    2-0  Magnesia..    1-0 

Soda       j--14"'8  Potash 6-9  Potash 8-0 

Lime 0-69  Soda 3-7  Soda 4-0 

100-64  Rose.  98-5  Berthier.  98-1  Berthier. 

The  atoms  of  silica  in  this,  as  in  the  preceding  species,  are 
thrice  as  numerous  as  those  of  the  bases ;  but  in  this  we  have 
both  potash  and  soda,  and  the  proportion  of  alkali  to  alumina 
is  less.  The  formula,  as  deduced  by  Thomson  from  the  mean 
of  the  three  analyses,  is :  4AlS3+(f  K+fN)S3. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-58.  H.  =  6-0. 

Ryacolite,  which  has  usually  been  described  as  a  variety  of 
common  felspar,  was  first  distinguished  as  a  peculiar  species 
by  Rose.  It  is  always  crystallized  in  Doubly  oblique  rhombic 
prisms,  the  angles  of  which  differ,  however,  from  those  of  the 
individuals  of  adularia  or  common  felspar,  the  inclination  of 
M  on  T  being  nearly  a  degree  greater.  It  appears  also  to  dif- 
fer from  adularia  (by  the  experiments  of  Mitscherlich)  in  its 
optical  properties.  The  crystals  are  grey,  greyish-white,  or 
yellowish-white,  and  semi-transparent ;  they  usually  have  the 
appearance  of  being  cracked  in  various  directions.  Fracture 
imperfect  conchoidal;  lustre  internally  splendent  and  highly 
vitreous. 

It  occurs  imbedded  in  trachyte  in  Bohemia;  at  Drackenfels, 
near  Bonn,  on  the  Rhine ;  in  the  lava  of  Vesuvius  and  of  the 
Laucher  Sea;  in  the  trachytes  of  Hungary,  and,  imbedded  in 
pitchstone,  in  the  islands  of  Arran  and  Rum. 


PETALITE.' 

c  Petalite,  J.     Pi 
rhombicus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  lithia. 


Petalite,  Br.    Berzelite.    Prismatic  Petalite,  J.    Prismatic  Petaline  Spar,  M.    Petalusr 
rhombicus,  D. 


washed  away  in  the  disintegration  of  the  rock.  Indeed,  Fuchs  seems  to  regard  it  as  de- 
rived from  a  peculiar  mineral,  resembling  felspar  physically,  but  of  a  different  composi- 
tion But  Bron"niart  has  lately  published  (Berzelius's  Jahres-Bericht)  an  essay  on  the 
formation  of  kaolin,  in  which  he'has  given  the  results  of  thirteen  analyses  of  this  mineral, 
from  various  localities.  He  infers  that  it  is  the  product  of  the  decomposition  of  the 
felspar,  effected  by  what  he  calls  a  hydro-electrical  influence  on  the  rock  [AM.  ED.] 
*  Petalite  from  the  Greek,  signifying  of  perfectly  lamellar  structure  (in  we  direction). 

17* 


198  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Bolton,  Mass, 

Silica 79-21 74-17 52-00 

Alumina 17-22 17-41 19-60 

Lithia 5-76 5-16  Lithia  &  Soda   1-92 

Lime 0-00 0-32 22-24 

Carbonic  acid 0-00 0-90 3-60 

Water 0-00...  ..  2-17...  3-60 


100-19  Arfwedson.      99-23  Gmelin.  100-00 

Formula  deduced  from  the  second  analysis :  2A1S4+LS4. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-44.      H.  =  6-0. 

Color  white,  with  frequently  a  reddish  tinge;  its  structure 
is  perfectly  lamellar  in  one  direction,  and  it  admits  of  mechan- 
ical division  with  some  difficulty  parallel  to  the  sides  and  both 
diagonals  of  a  rectangular  but  not  square  prism,  apparently 
with  oblique  summits.  It  is  translucent,  and  has  a  glistening 
lustre,  approaching  to  pearly  on  the  perfect  faces  of  cleavage; 
but  is  not  affected  by  acids.  When  gently  heated,  it  emits  a 
blue  phosphorescent  light.  Alone  on  charcoal,  B  B,  it  fuses 
on  the  edges  with  difficulty  into  a  blebby  semi-transparent 
glass;  with  borax  into  a  diaphanous  glass. 

Petalite  has  hitherto  been  met  with  in  Europe  only  at  the 
iron  mine  of  Uton,  an  island  about  thirty-five  miles  south-east 
of  Stockholm,  where  it  was  first  noticed  by  D'Andrada,  ac- 
companying lepidolite,  tourmaline,  spodumene,  and  quartz. 
The  pink  tinge  which  it  occasionally  presents,  denotes  a  mi- 
nute admixture  of  oxide  of  manganese. 

In  Upper  Canada,  on  Lake  Ontario,  near  York,  this  mineral 
was  found  by  Dr.  Bigsby. 

In  the  United  States  at  Bolton,  Mass.,  it  occurs  in  limestone, 
with  scapolite,  sphene,  asbestus,  &c.  It  was  in  this  mineral, 
from  Uton,  that  Arfwedson  discovered  lithia,  the  new  alkali. 


SPODUMENE.t 

Prismatic  Spodumene,  J.     Prismatic  Triphane  Spar,  M.    Spodumene,  D'Andrada.    Tri- 
phane,  H.     Augitus  rhombicus,  D. 


Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  lithia. 


Uton.  Uton.  Killiney.        Sterling,  Mass. 

Silica 66-40 63-29 63-31 80.80 

Alumina 35-30 28  78 28-51 13-28 

Lithia 8-85 5-63 5-66 3-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-45 0-79 083 0-00 

Lime 0-00 0-00 0-72 0-92 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  0-00 0-20 0-00 0-00 

Soda 0-00 0-00 0-00 2-00 

Moisture 0-45 0-77 0-36 0-00 


102-45  Arfw.    99-46  Strom.  99-73  Lehunt.   100-00 


*  This  was  probably  a  mixed  mineral,  consisting  of  petalite,  table  spar  and  a  portion  of 
carbonate  of  lime.     The  specimen,  however,  was  carefully  selected. 

t  From  onofios,  ashes  ;  meaning  that  it  assumes  a  form  like  ashes,  B  B. 
t  This,  and  the  last  analysis  of  petalite,  above  stated,  were  made  in  Dr.  C.  T.  Jack- 
son's Laboratory,  and  under  his  direction,  by  Mr.  J.  Chandler,  Jr. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  199 

Formula  from  the  second  and  third  analyses,  as  given  by 
Beudant  and  Thomson,  4A1S2+LS2. 

Sp.  Gr.  30  —  32.     H.  ==  65  —  7'0. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive;  its  structure  is  lamellar  ;  lus- 
tre shining  and  slightly  pearly ;  cross  fracture  fine-grained  and 
uneven,  with  a  glimmering  lustre  ;  color  greyish  or  light-green  ; 
it  is  translucent,  scratches  glass,  and  is  brittle.  According  to 
Brooke  it  cleaves  parallel  to  the  planes  and  both  diagonals  of 
a  rhombic  prism  of  93°  and  87°,  and  less  perfect  cleavage  faces 
have  been  obtained,  indicating  an  oblique  base  to  the  prism, 
and  forming,  with  its  obtuse  edge,  an  angle  of  about  135°. 
Its  primary  is  therefore  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism.  It  becomes 
colorless  and  opake  when  exposed  to  a  red  heat;  B  B,  on  char- 
coal, it  intumesces,  and  fuses  into  an  almost  transparent  glass. 

It  occurs  in  the  iron  mine  of  Uton,  in  Sweden,  in  a  gangue 
of  red  felspar,  quartz,  and  tourmaline;  also  in  the  Tyrol,  near 
Sterzing;  and,  having  a  pale-green  or  yellowish  tinge,  in  gran- 
ite, with  killinite,  at  Killiney  near  Dublin. 

In  the  United  States  it  is  abundant  at  Goshen,  Mass.,  in 
granite,  and  is  associated  with  tourmaline  and  beryl :  is  also 
found  at  Chesterfield  and  Sterling,  Mass.  At  the  latter  place, 
it  occurs  in  large  masses  having  a  foliated  structure,  and  is 
readily  cleavable  into  rhomboidal  prisms. 


LATROBITE. 

Latrobite,  Brooke  and  Omelin.    Diploite,  Breithaupt.    Spatum  roseum,  D. 

Occurs  in  crystalline  masses,  and  in  Oblique  rhombic  prisms 
of  about  93&  30'  and  86°  30'.  Color  pale  rose-red,  or  pink,  re- 
sembling the  color  of  lepidolite ;  and  opake.  Lustre  vitreous. 
Cleavage  in  three  directions,  intersecting  each  other  at  angles 
of  98°  30',  91°,  and  93°  30'.  Two  analyses  by  Gmelin  yielded 

Potash 6-58 6-57 

Silica 44-65 41-78 

Alumina 36-81 32-83 

Lime 8-29.... 9-79 

Oxide  of  manganese  3-16 5-76 

100-49  9G-73 

Formula,  as  given  by  Thomson,  from  the  first  analysis,  oxide 
of  manganese  not  being  essential :  5Al.S+(§CaH-£K)S. 

B  B,  in  the  platina  forceps,  it  fuses,  intumesces  into  a  white 
enamel,  and  with  borax  yields  a  globule  which  is  pale  ame- 
thyst-red in  the  oxidating  flame,  and  colorless  in  the  reducing 
one.  With  salt  of  phosphorus  it  fuses  into  a  clear  glass,  con- 
taining a  skeleton  of  silica. 

Its  only  known  locality  is  Amitok  Island,  near  the  coast  of 


200  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Labrador,  whence  it  was  brought  by  the  Rev.  C.  J.  Latrobe, 
who  found  it  associated  with  felspar,  mica,  and  calcareous 
spar.  It  was  first  named  and  described  by  Brooke.  Annals 
of  Phil.  (2d  series),  v.,  383. 


AGALMATOLITE. 

Bildstein,  W.    Figurestone  or  Agalmatolite,  J.     Talc  Graphique,  H.    Steatite  Pago- 
dite,  Bt.    Ophitis  figularis,  D. 

China. 

Contains  Potash 7-0 6-25 

Silica 50-0 54-50 

Alumina 29-0 34-00 

Lime 2-0 0-00 

Oxide  ofiron 1-0 0-75 

Water 5-0 4-00 

JOO-0  Vauquelin.          99-50  Klaproth. 

From  the  mean  of  six  analyses  which  nearly  correspond 
with  the  last  by  Klaproth,  Dr.  Thomson  states  the  constitution 
of  the  mineral  thus  :  13AlS+KS-HAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-8  — 2-85.     Soft. 

It  occurs  massive,  and  sometimes  presents  an  imperfectly 
slaty  structure;  general  color  greenish,  or  yellowish-green, 
with  veins  of  blue  or  brown;  rarely  also  pink  or  mottled; 
translucent  on  the  edges,  unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  generally 
yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  nail.  B  B  on  charcoal  it  whitens, 
and  presents  some  slight  marks  of  fusion ;  and  with  borax  af- 
fords a  colorless  glass.  It  is  partly  soluble  in  sulphuric  acid, 
leaving  a  siliceous  residue. 

Brongniart  has  given  it  the  name  of  steatite  pagodite,  from 
its  being  always  brought  from  China  in  the  form  of  little  gro- 
tesque figures*  and  chimney  ornaments,  but  its  different  anal- 
yses distinguish  it  sufficiently  from  steatite,  which  always  con- 
tains magnesia,  but  no  potash.  The  agalmatolite  is  also  found 
at  Nagyag  in  Transylvania;  in  Norway;  and  at  Glyder  Bach, 
Caernarvonshire. 

LEELITE.t 

Dr.  Clarke.    (JJnnals  of  Philosophy,  xu,  367.) 

Leelite,  the  Jielleflinta  of  the  Swedes,  is  found  compact  and 
massive,  of  a  deep  flesh-red  color,  at  Gryphytta  in  Westmania, 
in  Sweden.  It  possesses  a  peculiarly  wax-like  texture,  and 
about  the  same  lustre  and  translucency  as  horn.  The  fracture 
resembles  that  of  flint. 

*  Whence  also  the  name  Agalmatolite,  from  the  Greek. 

f  In  honor  of  J..  F.  Lee,  LL^  D.,  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  201 

Silica 75-00  Silica 81-90 

Alumina 22-00  Alumina 6-55 

Manganese 250  Protoxide  of  iron 6-42 

Water 0.50  Potash 8-88 

100-00  Clarke.  100-76  Thomson. 

Sp.  Gr.  271.      H.  =  6-25. 

The  mineral  was  first  noticed  by  Dr.  Clarke  of  Cambridge, 
by  whom  it  was  analyzed.  It  has  since  been  analyzed  by  Dr. 
Thomson.  The  results,  as  stated,  are  so  discordant  that  it 
seems  hardly  possible  that  the  same  mineral  could  have  been 
employed  by  both ;  yet  both  have  given  the  same  description 
of  its  general  characters.  It  is  regarded  by  some  as  a  variety 
of  felspar.  It  has  not  been  found  crystallized. 

KILLINITE. 

Contains  Potash 6-06 6-72 

Silica 47  92.    49-08 

Alumina 31-04 30-60 

Oxide  of  iron 2-32 2-27 

Oxide  of  manganese 1-25 1-08 

Lime 0-72 0-68 

Water 10  00 10-00 

99-97  Ely  the.  100-43  Lehunt. 

The  formula  from  the  mean  of  these  two  analyses,  as  given 
by  Dr.  Thomson,  is  :  OAlS^+Q-K+f  F)S2+4Aq. 
Sp  Gr.  265  —  275.     H.  =  40. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  light  green,  sometimes  tinged  brown  or 
yellow,  the  progress  of  decomposition  resulting  from  exposure. 
It  occurs  massive,  with  the  occasional  appearance  of  prisms, 
rifted  across,  and  irregularly  disposed ;  one  prism  afforded,  by 
the  common  goniometer,  angles  of  135°  and  45°.  The  struc- 
ture is  lamellar,  yielding  to  mechanical  division  parallel  to  the 
lateral  planes  of  a  rhombic  prism  of  135°  and  45°,  and  its  lesser 
diagonal,  but  not  parallel  to  its  terminal  planes;  its  lustre  is 
glimmering;  the  cross  fracture  is  fine  grained.  It  is  translu- 
cent, yields  to  the  knife,  and  is  easily  frangible.  The  coating 
arising  from  exposure,  yields  an  argillaceous  odor  when 
breathed  on.  B  B,  it  loses  its  color  and  becomes  white,  intu- 
mesces,  and  fuses  into  a  white  enamel. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Taylor  in  granite  veins, 
near  the  junction  of  mica-slate  with  granite,  at  Killiney* 
near  Dublin.  It  is  accompanied  by  spodumene,  quartz,  fel- 
spar, and  garnet,  —  to  the  first  of  which  it  bears  considerable 
resemblance. 

*  Whence  Killinite. 


202 


ALKAL1NO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 


GLAUCOLITE. 

Contains  Potash ]-27 4-57 

Soda 2-96 0-00 

Silica 50-58 54-58 

Alumina -27-60 2977 

Lime ]  0-27 1 1  -08 

Magnesia 3-73 0-00 

97-41  Bergmann.  100-00  Bergmann. 

The  formula,  as  given  by  Beudant  from  the  last  analysis,  is, 
3AlS2+(Cal,K)Sa. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-72  —  29.     H.=z5'0. 

Occurs  massive,  presenting  traces  of  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
faces  of  a  rhombic  prism  of  143°  30'  nearly  (according  to 
Brooke).  Color  lavender-blue,  occasionally  passing  into 
green.  Translucent  on  the  edges;  fracture  splintery;  lustre 
vitreous.  B  B,  it  whitens,  and  fuses  only  on  the  edges;  but  is 
soluble  with  effervescence  in  borax,  or  salt  of  phosphorus. 

This  mineral  was  first  noticed  near  Lake  Baikal  in  Siberia, 
imbedded  in  compact  felspar  and  granular  limestone;  it  has 
also  been  found  with  elaolite  at  Laurvig  in  Norway. 

MESOTYPE. 

Zeolith,  W.    Var.  of  Zeolite,  J.     Peritomous  Kouphone  Spar,  M.    Natrolite.    Meso- 
type,  II.     Crockalite.     Edelite.     Vulcanus  peritomus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  soda,  and  water. 

JVatrolite. 
Faroe.  Auvorgne.  Hohentwiel.  Antrim. 

Soda 17-0 lfi-76 16-02 14-93 

Silica 49-0 48-04 48-00 47-56 

Alumina 27-0 '25-03 Qli-Oo 26-42 

Water 9-5 965 9-03 10-44 

Oxide  of  iron...  0-0 0-Oi) 0-00...  ..  0-58 


102-5  Smithson.     99-48  Thomson.  100-00  Geblen.        101-33  Thomson. 

Adopting  these  analyses,  the  composition  of  this  mineral  is 
thus  expressed :  3AlS+NS+2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  24  —  25.     H.  =  5'0  —  55. 

This  mineral  occurs  crystallized,  fibrous,  and  pulverulent. 
The  primary  form  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  parallel  to  the  lat- 
eral faces  of  which  it  is  readily  susceptible  of  cleavage;  but 
no  cleavage  has  been  obtained  parallel  with  the  terminal 
planes,  which  are  almost  always  obliterated  by  a  pyramid. 
The  faces  M  on  M'  91°  10',  by  the  measurement  of  Brooke, 
and  also  by  Gehlen  and  Fuchs.  Color  white,  yellow,  or  grey- 
ish, and  transparent  or  translucent,  with  a  vitreous  lustre.  It 
yields  to  the  knife,  but  scratches  calcareous  spar. 

It  becomes  electric  by  heat,  the  heated  fragments  exhibiting 
a  dull  blue  phosphoric  light.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  becomes 
opake,  and  then  vitrifies  without  intumescence ;  with  borax, 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


203 


fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass ;  and  is 
soluble  in,  and  forms  a  thick  jelly  with,  acids,  even  after  ex- 
posure to  heat  of  redness. 


M  on  M' 91°  20' 

M  on  e!  1 ) 

or        V   ....  116  56 
M'  on  e"  1  S 

Mone'2 117  24 

e'  I  on  e1  2 179  32 

e'  1  on  e?'  I 143  33 

el  on  e'l 142  33 

b'  on  b" 146  23 

e/2on  e/x2  .      ...  142  38 


The  fibrous  variety  consists  of  minute  crystals  aggregated 
in  a  radiating  or  stellular  form;  the  centre  being  often  com- 
pact enough  to  yield  a  splintery  fracture,  while  the  surrounding 
part  is  soft  and  apparently  decomposing :  these  masses  are 
sometimes  globular.  They  frequently  lose  almost  all  traces  of 
a  fibrous  structure,  and  break  with  the  appearance  of  ivory. 

The  earthy  or  pulverulent  variety  (Mealy  Zeolite,  J.)  occurs 
in  soft,  dull,  friable  masses,  having  an  earthy  fracture,  and 
rough  meagre  feel.  It  is  of  a  white,  greyish,  or  reddish  color. 

The  crystalline  varieties  of  this  beautiful  mineral  are  princi- 
pally found  forming  diverging  groups,  in  the  vesicular  cavities 
of  amygdaloid  in  the  Faroe  Islands.  In  the  trap  rocks  of  the 
Giant's  Causeway,  and  some  of  the  Hebrides,  it  likewise  occurs 
in  delicate  acicular  crystals;  associated  with  analcime  at  Mon- 
tecchio  Maggiore  in  the  Vicentine;  in  small  silky-like  diver- 
ging tufts  coating  cavities  of  lava  in  the  more  ancient  portions 
of  Vesuvius;  radiated  and  mammillated  at  Hauensteiri  in  Bo- 
hemia, and  elsewhere  on  the  continent. 

In  the  United  States  extremely  beautiful  and  delicate  forms 
of  stellated  or  radiated  mesotype,  have  been  discovered  in  the 
deep  rail  road  excavation  made  through  a  portion  of  the  trap 
ridge  of  Bergen  County,  N.  J.  Crystals  radiating  from  a  com- 
mon centre  form  perfect  spheres,  the  entire  surfaces  of  which 
are  studded  over  with  brilliantly  reflecting  pyramids,  usually 
colorless,  and  possessing  a  highly  vitreous  lustre.  In  Nova 
Scotia,  the  same  delicate  forms  are  also  observed,  but  the  indi- 
viduals are  usually  of  much  greater  magnitude.  They  often 
assume  a  radiated  and  interwoven  structure,  presenting,  when 
broken,  a  centre  which  is  pure  white,  compact,  and  has  the 
appearance  of  ivory.  Instead  of  the  low  pyramid,  sometimes 
one  replacement  on  a  terminal  edge  covers  the  whole  face  of 
the  prism,  or  obliterates  the  other  three  planes.  The  usually 


204 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


accompanying  mineral  is  analcime,  crystals  of  which  are  im- 
bedded in  the  compact  mesotype,  and  may  be  removed,  leaving 
perfect  impressions  of  their  form. 

NATROLITE.*  Natrolit,  W.  H.  Vulcanus  rhombicus,  D. 
Prismatic  Kouphone  Spar,  M.  It  occurs  in  mammillary 
masses,  which,  when  broken,  present  a  fibrous  structure ;  the 
fibres  are  diverging,  exhibit  a  pearly  lustre,  and  are  white,  or 
of  yellowish  or  reddish-brown  colors,  disposed  in  alternate 
zones  around  the  centre;  in  the  cavities  or  on  the  surface  of 
these  may  sometimes  be  observed  minute  crystals  of  the  same 
form  and  measurements  as  those  of  mesotype.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  2-2.  B  B,  it  affords  the  same  results  as  mesotype. 


M  on  M' 91°  35' 

—  or  M'on/ 135    35 

—  on   e'-) 

or        V 116    58 

M'  on  e"S 

35 

18 


e1  on  e" 143 

ef  or  e!'  on  / 109 


Its  principal  locality  is  Hohentwiel  in  Suabia. 

Natrolite  has  been  by  some  classed  as  a  distinct  species,  but 
is  now  more  generally  included  under  the  present  species,  with 
which  it  agrees  in  composition,  and  offers  the  same  crystallo- 
graphical  measurements,  according  to  Brooke.  The  stellite  of 
Dr.  Thomson  is  evidently  quite  a  different  mineral  from  natro- 
lite,  and  has  been  already  described  in  the  previous  class. 

THOMSONITE.t 

Orthotomous  Kouphone  Spar,M.  Thomsonite,  Brooke.   (Annals  of  Philosophy,  xvi., 194.) 
Thomson.    (Ibid.,  p.  408.)    Needle  Zeolite  (in  part),  W.    Mesotype  (in  part),  H.     Vul- 
canus Thomsonianus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  soda,  and  water. 

Kilpatrick.  Dumbarton. 

Soda 4-53 3-70 

Silica 38-30 37-08 

Alumina 30-20 33-02 

Lime 13-54 10-75 

"Water 13-10 13-00 


99-67  Berzelius. 


97-55  Thomson. 


Formula,  deduced  from  the  last  analysis:  3AlS-j-CalS-f- 
2^Aq.  Trie  alkali  is  not  a  constant  ingredient,  for  in  ten 
specimens  examined  by  Dr.  Thomson,  none  was  found. 

*  Natrolite,  from  its  containing  natron. 

t  Thomsonite,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Thomson,  of  Glasgow. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


205 


Sp.  Gr.  2-35.    H.  about  5'0. 

This  mineral  has  much  resemblance  to  mesotype  or  needle- 
stone,  from  which,  however,  it  differs  materially  in  respect  of 
cleavage  and  form.  It  occurs  generally  in  masses  having  a 
columnar  or  radiated  structure,  in  the  occasional  cavities  of 
which  indistinct  crystals  may  be  observed.  Colorless  and 
translucent,  but  small  fragments  are  transparent.  It  possesses 
considerable  lustre,  approaching  to  pearly;  and  is  brittle. 
Primary  form,  according  to  Brooke,  a  Right  square  prism : 
cleavage  readily  obtained  parallel  to  its  sides,  affording,  by  the 
reflecting  goniometer,  90°  of  one  plane  on  the  next;  but  it 
does  not  cleave  parallel  to  the  terminal  planes  of  the  prism. 
B  B,  it  intumesces,  or  swells  up  like  borax,  and  becomes  snow- 
white  and  opake,  but  does  not  melt.  When  exposed  to  a  red 
heat,  it  gives  off  water,  becomes  opake,  white,  and  shining  like 
enamel ;  the  edges  are  rounded,  but  it  does  not  altogether  lose 
its  shape.  It  usually  communicates  to  the  blowpipe  flame  the 
yellow  color  which  indicates  the  presence  of  soda. 


M  on  M 90°  0' 

P  on  M  or  M  .  .  .  .     90    0 

M  on  d 135    0 

d  on  d 90  18 

P  on  a 134  36 

c  .  .  .  .  125    0 


CM 


cl 


It  occurs,  imbedded  in  trap  with  analcime  and  prehnite,  at 
Lochwinnoch,  and  near  Kilpatrick,  a  few  miles  from  Glasgow, 
Scotland. 

In  the  United  States,  the  trap  rocks  of  Bergen,  N.  J.,  have 
furnished  many  very  beautiful  specimens  of  what  has  been  sup- 
posed to  be  a  radiated  and  compact  thomsonite,  associated  with 
several  other  minerals  of  the  same  class.  But  according  to  a 
very  careful  analysis  of  this  mineral  by  A.  A.  Hayes,  it  has  but 
little  affinity  with  thomsonite  in  its  chemical  composition,  as 
it  is  anhydrous  and  contains  no  alumina,  but  thirty-five  per 
cent,  of  lime.t 

*  Mr.  Brooke  now  gives  this  angle  at  90°  4(X,  and  consequently  regards  the  primary 
form  as  a  Right  rhombic  prism. 

f  This  most  remarkable  result  has  just  been  communicated  to  me  by  Mr.  Hayes,  to 
whom  I  gave  a  specimen  of  the  mineral  obtained  by  myself  at  the  locality,  for  his  exam- 
ination. It  is  thus  shown  to  be  distinct  from  the  stellite  of  Dr.  Thomson,  as  well  as  from 
the  mineral  analyzed  by  Dr.  Beck.  It  remains  to  be  determined  whether  it  is  crystallo- 
graphically  distinct  from  Thomsonite.  The  analysis  is  thus  stated :  silica  55-96,  lime 
35-12,  soda  6-75,  potash  0-60,  protoxide  of  manganese  0-61,  alumina  0-08,  bygrometric 
water  0-16.  [AM.  ED.] 

18 


206  ALKALINO-EARTHY  MINERALS. 

In  Nova  Scotia  it  is  one  of  the  common  minerals  of  the  trap 
rocks  bordering  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  occurring  in  globular  masses 
of  radiated  interwoven  crystals,  interspersed  with  stilbite, 
apophyllite,  and  analcime.  These  masses  are  hollow,  present- 
ing internally  very  distinct  colorless  and  transparent  prisms  in 
the  primary  form,  and  more  than  an  inch  in  length,  —  replaced 
at  their  free  extremities  by  low  four-sided  pyramids. 

PERISTERITE.* 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Land.,  Edin.,  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  1843,  xxii.,  189.) 

This  mineral  was  found  at  Perth,  Upper  Canada,  and  was 
sent  to  Dr.  Thomson  under  the  name  of  iridescent  felspar ;  but 
he  observes  that  neither  its  characters  nor  its  composition  cor- 
respond with  that  appellation.  His  analysis  gave,  silica  7*2'35, 
alumina  7-60,  potash  15'06,  lime  1*35,  magnesia  TOO,  oxides 
of  iron  and  manganese  1*25,  moisture  0'50. 

The  silica  is  much  greater  than  in  felspar,  and  the  alumina 
much  less,  while  the  proportion  of  potash  is  nearly  the  same. 
If  we  were  to  consider  the  lime  and  magnesia  and  the  oxides 
of  iron  and  manganese  as  accidental  bodies  united  to  silica  in 
the  same  ratio  as  the  alumina  and  the  potash,  the  constitution 
of  the  mineral  might  be  represented  by  4(A1S5)+3(KS5).  If 
the  lime  and  magnesia  be  essential  constituents,  the  formula 
will  be  AlS5+(|K+iCal+|Mg)S5. 

The  specimens  were  amorphous  masses,  and  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  having  constituted  part  of  a  rock  blasted  by  gun- 
powder. 

It  is  light  brownish-red,  and  exhibits  a  play  of  colors, 
chiefly  blue,  on  the  surface.  It  is  translucent  on  the  edges ; 
the  lustre  is  vitreous  and  the  texture  imperfectly  foliated :  its 
specific  gravity  is  2'56S ;  its  hardness  is  only  3-75,  which  is  a 
good  deal  less  than  that  of  felspar. 

B  B,  it  becomes  white  but  does  not  melt.  With  carbonate 
of  soda  it  melts  into  a  green  colored  bead,  and  on  adding  nitre 
the  color  becomes  red  :  with  borax  it  fuses  into  a  colorless  bead. 


GIGANTHOLITE. 

M.  Nordenskiold  and  Count  Trolle  Waclrtmeister.} 

This  mineral,  discovered  and  first  described  by  M.  Norden- 
skiold,  has  also  been  described  and  analyzed  by  the  latter.  It 
occurs  in  considerable  masses  in  quartz,  at  two  localities  near 
Temmela  in  Finland.  It  is  composed  of 


*  From  TisQiOTtQa,  a  pigeon,  the  colors  resembling  a  pigeon's  neck, 
t  Trans.  Swedish  Roy.  Sci.  Acad.,  1837,  p.  136.     Also  Berzolius's  Rapport  Annuel  for 
1839,  p.  296  j  and  for  1842,  p.  118. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  207 


Silica 46-27 

Alumina 25-10 

Protoxide  of  iron 15-60 

Magnesia 3-80 

Protoxide  of  manganese. . . .  0-89 

Soda 1-20 

Potash 2-70 

Water 6-00 


101-56 


It  has  also  been  analyzed  by  M.  Komonen,  and  both  analy- 
ses   accord  with   the  following  formula,  as  given  by  Trolle 
Wachtmeister  :  (F,  M,  Mg,  K,  N)S3+3AlS+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-862  —  2-878.    H.  between  calc  spar  and  fluor  spar. 

Color  externally  steel-grey,  but  the  fresh  cleavage  surfaces 
have  a  metallic  brightness,  with  a  color  which  plays  between 
grey  and  yellow  into  a  brown.  The  crystals,  some  of  which 
are  2£  inches  in  diameter,  are  twelve-sided,  and  appear  to  be 
composed  of  laminas  half  a  line  to  three  lines  in  thickness,  be- 
tween which  thin  layers  of  chlorite  are  interposed.  These 
laminae  project  out  along  the  sides  of  the  crystals,  as  if  it  were 
made  up  of  thicker  and  thinner  twelve-sided  plates  glued  to- 
gether. They  present  terminal  faces,  but  never  complete,  and 
entire  isolated  crystals  have  not  been  found.  The  primary 
form,  as  indicated  by  cleavage,  is  a  rhombohedron,  into  which, 
however,  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been  reduced.  It  resem- 
bles, in  its  physical  characters,  fahlunite  and  the  harder  varie- 
ties of  talc.  In  a  red  heat  it  gives  off  water  which  contains  a 
little  ammonia.  It  decomposes  gradually  in  damp  air,  but  is 
reduced  to  a  white  powder  with  great  difficulty  by  mechanical 
means. 

Brooke  supposes  this  mineral  and  the  Phyllite  *  of  Dr.  Thom- 
son to  be  identical.  The  latter  is  in  thin  plates,  without  any 
regularity  of  form;  color  brownish;  having  a  semi-metallic 
lustre,  with  the  hardness  and  specific  gravity  of  the  former, 
and  agreeing  with  it  nearly  in  chemical  composition. 


FAUJASITE. 

M.  Damour.    (Annales  des  Mines,  1842,  t.  i.,  p.  395.) 

The  substance  which  has  been  described  and  analyzed  by 
M.  Damour,  and  has  received  its  name  in  honor  of  M.  Faujas 
de  Saint  Fond,  well  known  by  his  labors  on  extinct  volcanos, 
was  first  noticed  by  the  Marquis  de  Dree  in  the  amygdaloidal 
rocks  of  Kaisersthul.  The  analysis  gave 


*  Named  from  <pt>A^ov,  a  leaf;  found  in  mica  slate  at  Sterling,  Mass.,  by  Prof.  Nuttall, 
and  analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson. 


208  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Silica 49-36 

Alumina 16-77 

Lime 5-00 

Soda 4-34 

Water 22-49 

97-96 


These  numbers  lead  to  the  formula,  as  given  by  M.  Da- 
mour:  3AlS2+(Cal,  N)S4+8Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-923.     H.  little  harder  than  glass. 

It  occurs  in  crystals  which  are  for  the  most  part  colorless 
and  limpid,  some  being  tarnished  on  the  surface,  and  others  of 
a  brown  color,  appearing  of  a  brilliant  reflection,  like  that  of 
zircon  or  diamond.  They  are  fragile :  fracture  vitreous  and 
uneven.  These  crystals  present  the  form  of  an  octahedron 
with  a  square  base,  of  which  the  height  is  to  the  side  of  the 
base,  almost  as  four  to  three.  The  crystals  recently  obtained 
offer  no  modifications  on  the  angles  or  edges;  and  in  only  a 
single  instance  have  they  been  observed  with  secondary  mod- 
ifications, or  in  hemitropes,  presenting  the  usual  figure  of  an 
octahedron,  in  which  one  portion  of  it  is  supposed  to  have 
turned  half  round,  as  shown  by  fig.  2,  under  spinel.  The  an- 
gles have  been  thus  determined  with  the  reflecting  goniometer 
by  M.  de  Dree  and  M.  Descloizeaux  —  P  on  P,  over  the  sum- 
mit, 74°  30'  (see  fig.  on  p.  xxxii.  of  the  Introduction  to  this 
volume),  P  on  P  adjacent,  111°  30',  P  on  P  105°  30'.  When 
heated  in  a  tube  the  crystals  give  out  water,  but  preserve  their 
transparency.  B  B,  they  swell  up  and  melt  into  a  white 
enamel ;  with  salt  of  phosphorus,  on  platinum  wire,  they  entirely 
disappear,  the  globule  becoming  milky  white  on  cooling.  With 
a  small  quantity  of  carbonate  of  soda  the  mineral  intumesces, 
and  gives  a  colorless  and  transparent  glass.  Treated  with 
chloride  of  platinum,  it  shows  the  presence  of  potash. 

The  amygdaloid,  in  the  cavities  of  which  this  mineral  oc- 
curs, is  penetrated  on  all  sides  by  crystals  of  black  pyroxene, 
and  by  a  brownish  substance,  resembling  hydrate  of  iron. 
The  rock  has  a  great  resemblance  in  other  respects  to  that 
which  contains  hyalosiderite. 

M.  Damour  observes  that  the  very  small  quantity  of  thismineral 
operated  upon  renders  a  new  analysis  desirable  ;  but  the  great 
quantity  of  water  it  contains,  its  position,  and,  above  all,  its  crys- 
talline form,  authorize  the  belief  that  it  constitutes  a  new  species. 


ROSITE. 

ii.,  p.  474, 
:xxii.,  p.  150.; 

This  is  the  name  given  by  Svanberg  to  a  new  mineral  from 


M  Svanberg  (Ann.  des  Mines,  1842,  t.  ii.,  p.  474,  and  Jameson's  Edin.  Phil  Jour.,  vol. 
xxxii.,  p.  150.) 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  209 

Aker,  long  taken  for  amphodelite,  which  it  closely  resembles 
in  external  characters.     Its  analyses  gave 

Silica 44-901 

Alumina 34-506 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-688 

Oxide  of  manganese.  0-191 

Potash 6-6^8 

Soda trace 

Lime 3-592 

Magnesia 2-498 

Water 6-333 


99-337 

Formula:  (K,C,Mag,)S2+6AS+2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2'72.     H.  between  calc-spar  and  gypsum. 

It  is  found  disseminated  in  calc-spar  in  grains  about  the 
size  of  hemp  seed.  It  is  not  regularly  crystallized,  but  has  a 
crystalline  fracture,  with  natural  cleavage  planes.  When 
heated  B  B,  it  gives  off  water  and  loses  color.  It  melts  with 
great  difficulty  into  a  white  slag;  with  borax  and  microcosmic 
salt,  it  fuses  with  great  difficulty ;  with  soda  it  melts  easily, 
and  an  additional  quantity  does  not  render  it  less  fusible. 
The  distinctions  between  it  and  amphodelite  are  these :  that 
amphodelite  scratches  fluor  spar,  but  rosite  is  scratched  by  it; 
amphodelite  is  more  difficultly  fusible  alone,  and  easily  so  with 
a  little  soda,  but  with  a  larger  quantity  is  infusible. 

LEUCOPHANE. 

Jl/.  Erdmann.    (Ann.  des  Mines,  1842,  t.  ii.,  p.  448  ;  and  Jameson's  Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  vol. 
xxxii.,  p.  149.) 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Esmark,  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Langesundfjord,  in  Norway ;  and  it  has  been  analyzed  by 
Erdmann.  These  are  his  results  : 

Silica 47-82 

Glucina 11-51 

Lime 25-00 

Protoxide  of  manganese 1-01 

Potassium 0-26 

Sodium 7-59 

Fluorine 6-17 

99-36 

Formula:  2NFl+3(GS-f2CalS3.) 

Sp.  Gr.  2-974.    H.  about  that  of  fluor  spar. 

Leucophane  is  seldom  regularly  crystallized,  but  has  three 
distinct  cleavages.  When  cleaved  it  gives  four-sided  prisms, 
with  angles  of  53°  24'  7,  and  36°  26'  3,  which  appear  to  belong 
to  the  triclinometric  system.  Color  varies  from  pale  impure 
green  to  dark  wine-yellow;  in  thin  plates  it  is  colorless;  it 
gives  a  bluish  phosphorescent  light,  and  becomes  slightly  elec- 
tric when  heated ;  melts,  B  B,  into  a  clear,  somewhat  violet 
enamel ;  with  borax  gives  a  clear  amethyst  glass ;  with  a  little 
18* 


210  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

soda  it  gives  an  opake  globule ;  with  more  it  melts  into  the 
charcoal ;  with  microcosmic  salt  in  a  tube  it  gives  fluosilicic 
acid  gas.  It  occurs  in  sienite,  along  with  albite,  elaolite, 
yttrotantalite,  and  another  new  mineral  named  Mosandrite. 


MESOLE. 

Flabelliform  Kouphone  Spar,  Haidhiger.     (Brewster'ls  Jour.,  vii.  18.)    Vulcanus  flabelli- 

formis,  D. 

Sweden.  Annaklef.  Faroe.  Antrim. 

Silica 42-17 41-51 42-00 44-84 

Soda 10-19 10-80 5-63 5-56 

Alumina 27-00 26-84 28-00 28-48 

Lime 9-09 8-07 11-43 10-68 

Water 1 1-77 11-79 12-70 10-28 

100-J5  Hisinger.      99-01  Hisinger.     100-36  Berzelius.    99-84  Thom'n. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-35  — 2-4.     H.  =  35. 

In  implanted  globules,  which  have  a  flat  columnar  or  lamel- 
lar structure  radiating  from  the  centre ;  color  greyish-white, 
sometimes  yellow;  translucent,  with  a  silky  or  pearly  lustre; 
cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  broad  face  of  the  individual  ; 
laminae  slightly  elastic. 

It  occurs  at  Nalsoe  in  the  Faroe  Islands,  coating  the  cavi- 
ties of  basalt  and  amygdaloid,  and  associated  with  chabasie, 
apophyllite,  stilbite,  and  others  of  the  zeolite  family  ;  also  in 
Disco  Island,  Greenland,  in  large  individuals,  which  have  a 
silvery  lustre,  a  distinctly  lamellar  composition,  and  which 
bear  much  resemblance  to  crystallized  spermaceti.  Ska- 
gastrand  in  the  north  of  Iceland,  and  Rostanga  in  Scania, 
Sweden,  are  likewise  localities  of  mesole.  It  is  distinguished 
from  mesotype  by  its  perfect  single  cleavage  and  pearly  lus- 
tre; from  stilbite  or  heulandite  by  its  superior  specific  gravity  ; 
and  from  apophyllite  by  its  crest  or  fanlike  aggregations, 
which  never  occur  in  that  mineral.  When  associated  with 
apophyllite  or  stilbite,  it  always  forms  the  lowest  stratum,  im- 
mediately adjoining  the  basalt  or  amygdaloid,  in  the  cavities  of 
which  it  is  deposited.  — Allan's  Manual.  A  mineral  in  globu- 
lar masses,  very  nearly  resembling  this,  has  lately  been  found 
on  New  York  Island  in  gneiss,  accompanied  by  stilbite.  And 
Dr.  Thomson  has  analyzed  a  mineral  called  by  him  Harring- 
tonite,  which  in  composition  agrees  with  mesole ;  of  which  it 
is  probably  a  compact  variety.  Its  analysis  is  given  above. 

NEEDLESTONE.     MESOLITE.* 

Fuchs  and  Qehlen.     (Schweigger's  Jour.,  xviii.,  11.) 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  soda,  and  water. 

v  *"From  usaog,  middle,  and  AiQog,  a  stone:  it  being  intermediate  between  mesotype 
utd  scolezite. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


211 


Iceland. 
.  47-00  , 

Pargas, 
46-80... 

Faroe. 
,  47-50 

5.47  

5-40.., 

4-57 

Alumina  

..26-13  
..  9-35  

,  26-50.  .  , 
,  9-87.., 

26-10 
9-15 

Water  

..12-25  

,  12-30... 

12-80 

100-20  Gehlen. 


100-87  Berzelius. 


100-12  M.  Durocher. 


Sp.  Gr.  226.     H.  =  50  —  5-5. 

It  occurs  massive,  and  also  in  long  slender  prisms  termina- 
ted by  quadrilateral  pyramids.  It  cleaves  parallel  to  the  sides 
of  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  corresponding  in  measurement  with 
that  of  mesotype ;  there  is  also  a  remarkable  agreement  in 
some  of  its  secondary  planes  with  those  of  that  mineral,  of 
which  it  would  thence  appear  to  be  merely  a  variety.  The 
prisms  are  translucent,  or  transparent  and  colorless,  or  of  a 
greyish  color,  externally  shining  with  a  somewhat  pearly  lus- 
tre. B  B,  it  becomes  opake  and  curls  up,  and  finally  melts 
with  the  extrication  of  air-bubbles,  into  a  porous  and  almost 
opake  bead.* 


M  on  M 91°  22' 

e'l  or  M'  on  e/'l .  .  117     10 

e'2  or  M'  on  e"2  .  .  146    38 

g 162    30 

e'l  on  e"l 144 

e'l  on  el 142 

e'l  or  e"l  on  a' 162 

e'l  on  e'2  -  .     .  •  ...  150 


15 
10 
15 
42 


The  finest  specimens  of  this  mineral  are  found  in  the  Beru- 
fiord,  Iceland.  In  those  the  crystals  often  exceed  two  inches 
in  length,  and  diverge  or  interlace  in  the  most  beautiful  man- 
ner. It  occurs  in  colorless  transparent  radiated  masses,  also 
compact  and  opake  in  the  trap  district  of  the  Vendayah  Moun- 
tains, Hindostan;  in  Greenland;  in  Bohemia;  at  Pargas  in 
Finland,  and  the  Faroe  Islands,  where  it  forms  white  fibres  of 
a  silky  lustre,  grouped  in  radii. 

BREVICITE. 

Berzelius.     (Poggendorfs  Annalen,  xxxiii.,  112.,) 

This  name  has  been  given  by  Berzelius  to  a  mineral  sent 

*  The  variety  which  has  been  called  scolezite  (from  its  curling  up  like  a  worm,  B  B,) 
agrees  in  crystalline  form,  and  in  its  essential  physical  characters,  so  nearly  with  this 
species,  that  we  do  not  seem  authorized  to  separate  them.  The  difference  in  composi- 
tion is  no  more  than  that  which  we  often  see  in  the  analysis  of  two  specimens  of  the 
same  mineral  by  different  ch,emists..  It  must  be  confessed  that  there  is  not  a  little  con- 
fusion attending  the  classification  of  several  of  these  minerals,  which  approach  each 
other  so  nearly  that  further  examinations  will  probably  unite  them  into  a  fewer  number 
of  species.  [AM.  ED.] 


212  ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 

to  him  by  M.  Strom.  By  the  analysis  of  M.  Sonden  it  con- 
tains soda  10-32,  silica  43'88,  alumina  28-39,  lime  6*88,  mag- 
nesia 0-21,  and  water  9.63. 

In  transparent  prismatic  crystals  and  white  foliated  or  radi- 
ating masses,  occupying  the  cavities  of  a  trachytic  rock  at 
Brevig  in  Norway,  the  strise  occasionally  of  a  dark-red  hue. 
Its  crystallographical  characters  have  not  been  mentioned. 


GMELINITE.* 

Hexahedral  Kouphone  Spar,  Haid.    Sarcolite,  Vauqudm,    Hydrolite,  DeDrce.    Gmelin- 
ite,  Erewster.     (Edin.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  ii.,  262.)     Vulcanus  exfolians,D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  soda,  and  water. 

Montecchio  Maggiore.      Castel.  Antrim. 

Silica 50-0 50-00 39-89 

Soda 4-5 4-25 0-00 

Alumina 20-0 20-00 12-96 

Potash 0-00 0-00 9-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-00 0-00 8-27 

Lime 4-5 4-2.5 0-00 

Water 21-0 20-00 29-86 

99-50  Vauquelin.          98-50  Vauquelin.          99-92  Thomson.t 

A  very  pure  specimen  of  Irish  Gmelinite,  in  colorless  and 
nearly  transparent  crystals,  has  recently  been  analyzed  by 
Connell,!  with  a  result  differing  very  considerably  from  the 
above,  and  which  will  probably  be  taken  as  the  true  composition 
of  the  species.  It  is  as  follows  : 

Antrim. 

Silica 48-56 

.Alumina 18-05 

Lime 6-13 

Soda 3-85 

Potash 0-39 

Oxide  of  iron 0-11 

Water 21-66 

98-75 

Formula  as  indicated  by  this  analysis,  and  stated  by  Con- 
nell :  (Cal,  N,  K)S3+3AlS2+7Aq. 

It  differs  from  chabasie,  with  which  it  has  been  supposed  to 
be  allied  crystallographically,  in  containing  one  atom  more  of 
silica  and  water ;  and  from  Levyne  in  containing  two  atoms 
more  both  of  silica  and  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  20  —  2-1.     H.r=4-5. 

Primary  form  an  obtuse  rhomboid.  Secondary  form  a  flat 
six-sided  prism,  terminated  at  both  extremities  by  truncated 
six-sided  pyramids.  Crystals  sometimes  united  in  groups. 

*  Gmelinite,  in  compliment  to  Professor  Gmelin  of  Tubingen, 
f  Only  5-3  grains  were  employed  in  the  analysis. 
J  Edin.  Phil.  Jour,  xxiv.,  362. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  213 


y  on  y'  over  u .83°  36' 


Color  white,  passing  into  flesh-red;  translucent;  lustre  vi- 
treous; streak  white;  cleavage  distinct  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
the  primary,  fracture  uneven;  surface  of  the  prism  striated 
horizontally.  It  is  soluble  in  acids.  Its  behaviour  B  B  is 
thus  described  by  Sir  David  Brewster.  "  Small  portions  grad- 
ually raise  themselves,  and  after  standing  on  their  ends,  as  if 
they  were  under  the  influence  of  electricity,  they  are  pro- 
pelled with  violence  from  the  fragment."  (Variety  from  An- 
trim.) In  the  blow-pipe  flame,  per  se,  it  increases  in  bulk, 
assumes  the  appearance  of  an  enamel,  but  does  not  melt  into 
a  glass  ;  in  the  matrass  it  gives  off  its  water,  and  is  reduced 
to  powder.  "  The  low  degree  of  hardness  remarked  by  Vau- 
quelin,  (Mohs,  Min.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  105,)  and  the  forms  present- 
ed by  this  mineral  from  the  Vicentine,  prove  incontestibly  that 
this  mineral  nearly  agrees  with  rhombohedral  kouphone  spar, 
or  chabasie."  Gmelinite  occurs  coating  the  cavities  of  amyg- 
daloid rocks  at  Montecchio  Maggiore,  and  Castel  in  the  Vicen- 
tine ;  of  a  white  color  in  the  Deer  Park  of  Glenarm,  County 
Antrim ;  and  presenting  a  flesh-red  tinge  at  the  Island  Magee, 
near  Lr.rne.  It  has  recently  been  brought  from  Owhyhee,  one 
of  the  Sandwich  Islands,  where  it  occupies  small  cavities  in 
the  lava. 

COMPTONITE.* 

Comptonite,  Brewster.     (Edinb.  Phil.  Jour.,  iv.,  139.)    Brooke.     (Ibid,  vi.,  112.)    Comp- 
tonitic  Kouphone  Spar,  Haidinger.     Vulcanus  Comptonianus,  D. 

Contains  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  (Outlines,  fyc.t\Q\.  i., 
p.  356.)  — 

Silica 36-80 

Alumina 24-52 

Lime 10-89 

Peroxide  of  iron 3-66 

Soda 5-58 

Water 13-69 

95-14 

Formula :  8AlS+2CalS2+NS+9Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2.35  —  2'4.     H.  -—  5-0  —  5*5. 

*  Named  by  Dr.  Brewster,  in  honor  of  Lord  Compton  —  the  present  Earl  of  Northamp- 
ton —  by  whom  it  was  first  distinguished. 


214 


ALEALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


It  is  found  in  translucent  white  crystals,  which  yield  to  cleav- 
age parallel  to  the  planes,  M  and  T  of  the  following  figure ;  the 
primary  form,  according  to  Brooke,  is  a  Right  rectangular  prism, 
of  which  the  bases  are  not  square.  Frequently  the  edges  of  the 
prism  are  replaced  by  planes,  converting  it  into  an  eight-sided 
prism,  and  the  base  is  also  replaced  by  two  very  low  planes 
meeting  at  an  angle  of  177°  5',  as  shown  below.  Lustre  vitre- 
ous; streak  white;  fracture  small  conchoidal,  and  uneven; 
scratches  stilbite,  but  not  mesotype.  By  exposure  in  powder 
to  the  action  of  nitric  acid,  it  is  convertible  into  a  jelly.  B  B, 
it  gives  off  water,  intumesces  slightly,  becomes  opake,  and 
then  fuses  imperfectly  into  a  vesicular  glass;  the  globule  ob- 
tained with  borax  is  transparent ;  that  with  salt  of  phosphorus 
contains  a  skeleton  of  silica  and  becomes  opake  on  cooling. 


c'  J\ 

^^ 

M  on  T  .... 

90°  00' 

T  on  c'  

93  00 

a 

T 

c  on  c'  .... 
M  on  d'  .... 

177   5 
135  35 

This  mineral  occurs  among  the  vesicular  lava  of  Vesuvius, 
associated  with  mesotype  and  other  species.  It  has  also  been 
noticed  in  basalt  at  the  Pflaster  Kaute,  near  Eisenach  in  Hes- 
sia ;  forming  a  thin  coating  on  the  surface  of  mesotype,  and 
occupying  the  cavities  of  graustcin  at  Hauenstein  in  Bohe- 
mia: and  associated  with  analcime  and  Phillipsite  at  the  Cy- 
clopean Isles,  Sicily. 

LEDERERITE.* 

C.  T.  Jackson.    (Jim.  Jour.  o/Sct.,  xxv.,  78.) 

This  mineral  is  composed,  according  to  the  analysis  of  A.  A. 
Hayes,  (Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  xxv.,  84,)  of  silica  49'47,  alumina 
21-48,  lime  11  48,  soda  394,  phosphoric  acid  3'48,  oxide  of 
iron  014,  water  8'58. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-10.     H.=rf>. 

It  occurs  in  crystals  which  are  sometimes  colorless  and 
transparent,  but  usually  white  and  opake,  or  only  translucent 
on  the  edges,  some  of  them  being  of  a  pale  salmon  color.  The 
crystals  are  in  the  form  of  hexahedral  prisms,  deeply  replaced 


*  Named  in  compliment  to  the  Austrian  minister  to  the  United  States,  the  late  Baron 
Von  Lederer,  a  well  known  friend  of  American  mineralogy. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  215 

on  their  terminal  edges,  or  terminated  at  both  extremities  by 
hexahedral  pyramids,  having  at  their  summits  a  small  plane 
termination,  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  prism;  indica- 
ting a  regular  hexahedral  prism  for  the  primary  form.  This 
form  is  further  indicated  by  the  separation  of  faces  of  cleav- 
age made  visible  by  exposure  to  heat.  B  B,  according  to 
Hayes,  it  becomes  white,  and  divides  at  the  natural  joints;  at 
a  higher  temperature  it  fuses  into  a  white  enamel,  which  can 
be  rendered  more  vitreous  by  continuing  the  blast;  a  few 
bubbles  are  disengaged  when  it  is  thus  treated.  In  the  ma- 
trass, a  slight  empyreumatic  odor  is  perceptible.  Its  inferior 
hardness  and  specific  gravity,  but  more  especially  its  pyrog- 
nostic  characters  and  chemical  composition,  clearly  separate 
it  from  the  species  hydrolite,  or  gmelenite,  to  which  it  has 
been  referred :  one  consisting  of  bisilicates  of  alumina  and 
lime,  silicate  of  soda,  with  six  per  cent,  phosphate  of  lime, 
and  only  8'58  water ;  the  other,  by  Mr.  Connell's  analysis,  of 
bisilicate  of  alumina,  tersilicate  of  lime,  soda  and  potash,  no 
phosphoric  acid,  and  21*66  per  cent,  water. 

Some  of  the  crystals  are  elongated,  and  measure  one  third 
of  an  inch  in  the  direction  of  the  prismatic  axis,  but  most  of 
them  possess  nearly  equal  dimensions  in  the  opposite  direction, 
or  they  are  sometimes  even  in  low  flattened  prisms.  The  sec- 
ondary planes  on  the  edges  incline  on  M,  at  an  angle  of  130°  5', 
and  towards  each  other,  at  142°  10',  as  determined  by  the  re- 
flective goniometer,  by  M.  Dufrenoy,  of  the  School  of  Mines 
in  Paris.  Ledererite  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson  and  the 
editor,  between  Cape  Split  and  Cape  Blomidon,  Nova  Scotia, 
in  the  cavities  of  amygdaloid,  accompanied  by  calcareous 
spar,  mesotype,  analcime  and  stilbite.  It  has  become  a  very 
rare  mineral,  and  is  no  longer  found  at  the  locality.* 

HYPOSTILBITE. 

Beudant.    (  Traite,  t.  ii.,  p.  119.) 

Composition  as  follows : 

Faroe.  Faroe. 

Silica 52-43 52-25 

Alumina 18-32 18-75 

Lime 8-10 7-36 

Soda 2-41 2-39 

Water 18-70 18-75 

99-96  Beudant.  99-50  Dumeril. 

Formula  as  given  by  Beudant :  3AlS3+CalS+6Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2'14.     Does  not  scratch  glass. 

*  The  same  name  has  since  been  applied  to  a  variety  of  sphene  from  Grenville,  Upper 
Canada,  by  Prof.  Shepard. 


216 


ALKAL1NO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 


Either  in  white  dull  globules,  consisting  of  delicate  fibres, 
or  compact;  fracture  devoid  of  lustre.  Soluble  in  acid  with- 
out forming  a  jelly.  B  B,  fuses  with  difficulty  on  the  edges 
only,  intumesces  slightly,  and  becomes  externally  rough. 
Locality,  the  Faroe  Islands,  where  it  occurs  associated  with 
stilbite  and  epistilbite  in  amygdaloid  rocks. 

EPISTILBITE. 

Diplogenic  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Epistilbite,  Prof.  O.  Rose.     (Brewstcr's  Jour.,  iv.,  283.) 
Vulcanus  acutus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  soda,  and  water. 

Iceland.  Faroe. 

Silica 58-59 58-61 

Soda 1-78 1-20 

Alumina 17-5-2 17-03 

l,ime 7-56 8-21 

Water 14-98 13-80 


99-93  Rose. 


98  85  Beudant. 


Formula  according  to  Beudant:  3AlS3+CalS3+5Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-2  —  2  25.     H.  =  4'0  —  45. 
Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  135°  10/  and  44°  50', 


s  on  s 147°  40' 

M  on  M 135     10 

t  on    t  .  .  .  109     46 


Commonly  in  macled  crystals.  Color  white  or  yellowish  ; 
varying  from  transparent,  to  translucent  only  on  the  edges  ; 
lustre  vitreous,  except  on  the  faces  of  cleavage,  and  the  cor- 
responding crystalline  planes,  which  are  pearly.  Cleavage 
highly  perfect  parallel  to  T.  Alone,  B  B,  it  melts,  becomes 
white,  intumesces,  and  forms  a  blebby  enamel :  and  with  soda 
fuses  into  a  transparent  glass.  In  concentrated  muriatic  acid 
it  is  dissolved,  with  the  exception  of  a  fine  granular  residue  of 
silica. 

Epistilbite  occurs  in  large  distinct  crystals,  along  with  others 
of  the  zeolite  family,  in  the  trap-rocks  of  Iceland  and  the  Fa- 
roe Islands.  It  was  distinguished  from  stilbite  by  Prof.  G. 
Rose,  of  Berlin.  Dr.  Brewster  also  examined  it  optically, 
and  ascertained  that  it  exhibited  but  one  system  of  polarized 
rings. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  217 

SPHEROSTILBITE, 

Beudant.    ( Traite,  t.  ii.,  p.  170.) 

Composition  according  to  three  analyses  : 

Faroe.  Iceland.  Vagoe. 

Silica 55-25 55-61 56-50 

Alumina 17-25 16-68 16-50 

Lime 7-30 8-17 8-48 

Soda 1-85 1-53 1-50 

Water 19-25 19-30 18-50 

100-90  Beudant.  101-29  Gehlen.  101-48  Dumeril. 

Formula  by  Beudant,  3AIS3+CaIS2+6Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-31.     H.  above  30. 

In  globular  masses,  which  present  a  radiated  structure,  a 
pearly  lustre,  and  a  brilliant  fracture.  The  fibres  are  flexible, 
and  the  surfaces  of  the  globules  may  be  scratched  by  the  nail. 
It  forms  a  jelly  with  acids ;  and  fuses  B  B,  with  exfoliation  and 
intumescence. 

It  occurs  both  in  the  Faroe  Islands  and  in  Iceland. 


ERLANITE. 

Sreithaupt.    (Schweigger's  Jour,  of  Chem.,  vol.  vii.,  page  76.) 

Silica 5316 

Soda 2-61 

Alumina 14-03 

Lime 14-39 

Magnesia 5-42 

Oxide  of  Iron 7-14 

Oxide  of  manganese . . .  0-64 
Water 0-60 

98-99  Gmelin. 

Formula :  3AlS2+2CalS2+MgS2+(N,  F)S. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-0  —  3-1.     H.  =  6  25  —  7. 

Occurs  massive,  occasionally  compact,  generally  in  small 
and  fine  granular  concretions,  of  a  light  greenish-grey  color. 
Lustre  feebly  shining,  or  dull.  Streak  shining,  with  a  resi- 
nous lustre,  and  white ;  structure  distinctly  crystalline,  but  no 
regular  cleavage  has  been  observed ;  fracture  in  some  speci- 
mens foliated,  in  others  splintery.  B  B,  it  fuses  readily  into 
a  slightly  colored  transparent  compact  globule ;  and  with  bo- 
rax'forms  a  clear  greenish  glass. 

Erlamite  is  described  as  possessing  the  aspect  of  gehlenite. 
It  was  discovered  by  Breithaupt  in  the  Saxon  Erzgebirge,  form- 
ing a  part  of  the  oldest  gneiss  formation.  It  appears  to  be  a 
mere  mechanical  mixture.  —  Allan's  Manual.  This  last  re- 
mark may  prove  true  only  of  the  erlan-rock.  This  has  been 
used  for  two  hundred  years  as  a  flux  by  the  iron  smelters,  and 
mistaken  for  limestone,  until  Breithaupt  pointed  out  its  true 
character. 

19 


218  ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 

HUMBOLDTILITE.* 

JttontiGelli  and  Covelli.    Somervillite  of  Brooke,  (p.  514  Ency.  Brit.,  Art.  Min,~) 

Contains  according  to  the  following  analyses, 

Silica 43-96 49-36 

Lime 31  b7 31-96 

Magnesia 8-83 6-10 

Alumina 0-50 11-20 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-00 2-32 

Soda 0-00 4-28 

Potash 0-00 0-38 

)  Monticelli  

86-96  1  and  Covelli.  105-60  Kobell.  f 

These  last  results  are  so  unlike  the  first,  as  to  render  it 
probable  that  the  specimen  analyzed  by  Kobell,  was  not  a  pure 
one ;  and  it  gives  an  excess  of  over  five  per  cent.  Adopting 
the  first  analysis  by  the  discoverer  of  the  mineral,  the  atoms 
of  silica  are  about  twice  as  many  as  those  of  the  bases. 

Primary  form  a  Right  square  prism,  the  lateral  edges  of 
which  are  frequently  replaced  by  one  or  more  planes.  Cleava- 
ble  parallel  to  the  base.  Color  greyish-yellow  or  grey  ;  lustre 
vitreous,  passing  into  resinous  ;  fracture  conchoidal  or  un- 
even; between  transparent  and  feebly  translucent.  B  B, 
per  se  it  fuses  readily,  with  a  slight  intumescence,  into  a  dia- 
phanous glass,  which  is  blebby,  and  in  color  resembles  the 
mineral,  only  that  it  has  a  more  grey  or  greenish  hue.  With 
borax  it  melts  slowly  into  a  colorless  glass.  Reduced  to  pow- 
der after  being  calcined,  it  is  quickly  soluble  in  acid,  forming 
a  very  characteristic  jelly. 

Humboldtilite  occurs  in  the  cavities  of  matter  ejected  from 
Vesuvius. 


LAPIS-LAZULU 

Lazurstein,  W.    Lazulite,  H.    La  Pierre  d'Azur,  Br.     Azure-stone,  J. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  oxide  of  iron,  mag- 
nesia, soda,  and  sulphuric  acid. 

Silica  49-0,  alumina  H'OO,  lime  16'0,  soda  and  potash  8'0, 
oxide  of  iron  4'0,  magnesia  2'0,  sulphuric  acid  2'0.  —  Gmelin. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-95. 

This  mineral  is  found  massive  ;  also,  though  rarely,  in  rhom- 
bic dodecahedrons,  of  an  azure  blue  color  ;  the  texture  of  the 
massive  is  fine  grained  or  compact  with  a  glimmering  lustre, 
and  it  is  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass,  though  it  scarcely  gives 
sparks  with  steel ;  it  is  nearly  opake  ;  and  its  blue  color  is  not 
uniform,  as  it  frequently  encloses  iron  pyrites,  compact  fel- 
spar, and  quartz.  On  charcoal  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a 

*  Named  by  the  Italian  mineralogists  in  honor  of  Baron  Humboldt. 
t  Jahresbericht  by  Berzelius,  for  1832,  p.  169. 
J  Lapis-lazuli,  azure-stone,  from  its  blue  color 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


219 


white  glass  when  pure  :  with  salt  of  phosphorus  is  soluble  with 
effervescence,  the  portion  melted  burning  with  great  brillian- 
cy :  with  soda  is  partly  soluble  into  an  opake  greenish-grey 
glass,  which  assumes  a  red  appearance  on  cooling;  and  if  pre- 
viously calcined  and  reduced  to  powder,  loses  its  color  in 
acid.  The  finest  specimens  are  brought  from  China,  Persia, 
Lake  Baikal  in  Siberia,  and  Bucharia.  Beautiful  specimens 
have  been  obtained  in  Bolivia,  near  Atacama,  and  in  the 
Province  of  Copiapo,  in  Chili,  by  J.  L.  Blake.  Lapis-lazuli 
is  prized  by  the  lapidary,  but  is  chiefly  important  as  affording 
that  beautiful  pigment  called  ultra-marine,  so  highly  valued  by 
painters. 


NEPHELINE. 

Nephelin,  W.  H.    Sommit,  Karsten.    Rhomboidal  Felspar,  J.    Rhombohedral  Felspar,  M. 
Sornmite.     Spatura  hexagonurn,  D. 

Combination  of  soda,  silica,  and  alumina. 

Katzenbuchel.  Vesuvius. 

Silica  ........................  43.36  ......................  44-]  1 

Soda  ........................  13-36  ......................  20-46 

Alumina  .....................  33-49  ......................  33-73 

Potash  .......................  7-13  ......................  0-00 

Lime  .......................  1-90  ......................  0-00 

Oxide  of  iron  and  manganese  .  .  1-50  ......................  0-00 

Water  .................  1-39...  ..0-62 


101-13  Gmelin.  98-92  Arfwedson. 

Formula  from  the  last  analysis  :  3A1S+NS. 
Sp.  Gr.  25  —  26     H.  =  6-0. 

Occurs  in  regular  six-sided  prisms  (the  form  of  the  primary 
crystal,)  of  which  the  terminal  edges  are  sometimes  replaced. 
It  may  be  cleaved,  though  imperfectly,  parallel  to  all  the 
planes  of  that  solid  ;  fracture  conchoidal ;  colorless  or  greyish- 
white,  with  a  shining  vitreous  lustre  ;  transparent  or  translu- 
cent. B  B  it  is  fusible  into  a  blebby  colorless  glass.  With 
salt  of  phosphorus  is  soluble,  without  effervescence,  and  leaving 
a  silica  skeleton,  into  a  glass  which  becomes  opaline  on  cool- 
ing ;  and  with  borax  fuses  slowly  into  a  transparent  colorless 
globule.  A  translucent  fragment,  when  immersed  in  nitric 
acid,  assumes  a  nebulous  appearance  (whence  the  name  neph- 
eline,  from  v£(ps^)  a  cloud) ;  and  is  finally  converted  into  a 
jelly.  When  reduced  to  powder  it  gelatinizes  in  heated  mu- 
riatic acid. 


M 


Mon  M/ 120°  00' 

P  on  M  or  M' 96    00 

cl 151     53  H. 

c2 135    40 

Moncl 118       7H. 

c2  .  .  134     20 


220  ALKALINOEARTHY   MINERALS. 

The  fine  white  crystals  of  this  species  are  as  yet  almost  pe- 
culiar to  that  part  of  Vesuvius  called  Monte  Somma,  where 
they  occur  in  cavities  accompanied  by  garnet,  hornblende, 
mica,  and  idocrase;  it  has  been  met  with  in  the  lava  of  Capo 
di  Bove,  near  Rome;  and,  indistinctly  crystallized,  engaged 
in  clinkstone  at  Katzenbuchel  near  Heidelberg. 


ITTNERITE." 

Qmelin.    Leonhard.    (Schweigger's  Jahrbuch,  vi.,  74.) 

Silica 30-016 

Soda 11-288 

Alumina 28-400 

Lime 5-235 

Potash 1-565 

Water 10-',  59 

Oxide  of  irom 0-616 

Sulphate  of  lime 4-891 

Muriate  of  soda 1-618 


98-388  Gmelin. 

The  composition  of  this  mineral,  throwing  out  the  gypsum 
and  common  salt,  which  are  doubtless  accidental,  is  thus  ex- 
pressed by  Beudant  and  Dr.  Thomson  —  3AlS+(N,Cal,  K)S 
+2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-3.     H.  =  5-0  — 6-0. 

Primary  form  the  rhomboidal  dodecahedron.  Fracture  im- 
perfect conchoidal,  passing  into  uneven.  Color  bluish  grey 
or  ash-grey ;  lustre  resinous,  inclining  to  vitreous.  B  B,  on 
chare  al  it  fuses  per  se  with  strong  effervescence,  and  the  dis- 
engagement of  sulphurous  acid,  into  an  opake  blebby  glass, 
which  the  solution  of  cobalt  colors  blue;  is  imperfectly  solu- 
ble in  salt  of  phosphorus  ;  with  borax  melts  easily  into  a  trans- 
parent colorless  globule;  and  with  soda  is  changed  into  an 
opake  glass.  It  dissolves  quickly  in  acids,  forming  with  them 
a  jelly. 

This  mineral,  which  bears  much  analogy  with  hauyne  and 
sodalite,  is  found  in  basalt  at  Kaiserstuhl  in  the  Brisgau  near 
Freyburg.  Beudant  considers  it  a  hydrous  variety  of  nephe- 
line. 

NUTTALITE. 

Nuttalite,  Brooke.     (Annals  of  Philosophy,  xli.,  p.  366.)    Nuttalit.  L. 

Contains,  according  to  the  analysis  by  Muir,f 

*  In  honor  of  M.  Von  Ittner,  its  discoverer. 

f  Dr.  Thomson's  Outlines  of  Mineralogy,  &c.,  i.,  p.  383. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS,  221 

Silica,  ...............  37-81 

Alumina  ..............  25-10 

Lime  ..................  18-33 

Protoxide  of  iron  ......  7-89 

Potash  ...............  7-30 

Water  ................  1.50 

97-93 

Formula:  3AlS+2(|Cal-f^F+^K)S.  It  is  thus  shown  to 
differ  essentially  from  scapolite  in  chemical  composition. 

Its  primary  form  is  a  Right  square  prism,  in  which  it  occurs 
of  the  same  dimensions,  under  the  same  modifications  with 
scapolite,  but  is  more  rarely  surmounted  by  pyramids.  Cleav- 
age parallel  to  the  lateral  planes.  Fracture  uneven.  It  bears 
generally  considerable  resemblance  to  scapolite,  but  it  is  softer 
and  more  vitreous  in  the  fracture  ;  it  also  possesses  a  beautiful 
chatoyant  reflection  of  light  on  the  faces  of  the  prism.  Color 
white,  in  some  parts  yellowish,  in  others  bluish,  green  and 
grey;  the  yellow  portions  transparent,  the  blue  nearly  opake. 
Streak  white  ;  lustre  vitreous.  B  B,  it  melts  into  a  colorless 
glass,  and  with  borax  forms  one  which  is  blebby  and  pale 
white. 

The  locality  of  this  mineral  is  Bolton,  Mass.,  where  it  oc- 
curs in  coarse  granular  limestone,  with  epidote  and  titanium 
ore.  It  was  named  by  Brooke  in  honor  of  Prof.  Nuttall,  to 
whom  American  mineralogy  has  been  much  indebted. 

ELJEOLITE.* 

Fettstein,  W.    Pierre  Grasse,  Levy.    Lythodes.    Spatum  oleaceum,  D. 
Contains  Silica  ................  44-00  ..................  44-190 

Alumina.  .............  34-00  ..................  34-424 

Lime  .................  0-12  ............  ,  .....  0-529 

Potash  ...............  0-00  ..................  4-733 

Hoda  ................  16-50  ............  .  .....  16-874 

Peroxide  of  iron  .......  4-00  ..................  0-651 

Water  ................  0-00  ..................  0-687 


9862  Vauquelin. 

These  numbers  give  very  nearly  three  atoms  silicate  of  alu* 
mina,  and  one  atom  silicate  of  soda  and  potash.  Formula  : 
3AlS+(iK+fN)S. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-54  —  2-62.     H.  -  55  —  6*0. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about  112°  and  68°. 
It  occurs  massive,  of  a  dark  green,  bluish-grey,  or  brick^ 
red  color;  translucent;  lustre  resinous  ;  frequently  opalescent 
when  cut;  cleavage  both  parallel  and  perpendicular  to  the 
axis  of  a  four-sided  prism  ;  fracture  conchoidal.  It  gelatin- 
izes freely  with  acids  when  reduced  to  powder  ;  and  B  B  it 


*  From  the  Greek  e/.cuov?  oil,  and  Atdo£,  a  stone,  in  allusion  to  its  peculiar  resinous 
or  oilv-like  lustre. 

19* 


222 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 


fuses  into  a  white  enamel.  It  is  found  in  Norway,  imbedded 
in  the  zirconsyenite  of  Laurvig,  Stavern,  and  Frederickswarn. 
The  pale  blue  has  a  slight  opalescence  like  cats-eye,  whence 
it  is  occasionally  employed  for  ornamental  purposes.  This 
mineral  is  included  under  the  species  nepheline  by  Beudant. 

HAUYNE.* 

Hauyn,  Karsten.    Latialite,  H. 

Combination  of  potash  or  soda,  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and 
sulphuric  acid. 


Spinellane. 
Marino.          Lake  of  Laach.    Lake  of  Laach, 
Silica  35-48  43-0  38-50  
Potash  15-45  00-0  0-00  
Soda  0-00  13-0  16-56  
Alumina  18-87  29-5  29-25  
Lime  12-00  1-5  1-14  
Oxide  of  iron                1-16  2-0  1-50 

,    Lake  of  Laach. 
37-00 
0-00 
12-24 
27-50 
8-14 
1-15 

Sulphuric  acid  12-39  1-0  8-16  
Oxide  of  manganese.  0-00  6-0  1-00  

11-5H 
0-00 

Water 


1-20 2-5 3-00 1-50 


96-55  Gmelin.  98-5  Klaproth.   99-11  Bergemann.  99-09  Bergemann. 

Owing  to  the  different  results  of  these  several  analyses,  the 
formula  is  omitted.  Sp.  Gr.  2'68  —  3'0. 

The  Haiiyne  is  usually  found  in  grains  and  massive ;  but  it 
has  been  observed  in  extremely  brilliant  crystals,  in  the  form 
of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron.  When  this  mineral  is  opake, 
it  is  of  an  indigo-blue  color;  when  translucent,  blue  or  bluish- 
green  ;  is  somewhat  harder  than  quartz,  and  very  brittle ;  frac- 
ture conchoidal,  and  considerably  splendent.  B  B,  on  char- 
coal, it  loses  its  color,  and  fuses  slowly  into  an  opake  mass  ; 
with  borax  it  forms  a  diaphanous  glass,  which  becomes  yellow  on 
cooling ;  with  salt  of  phosphorus  is  decomposed  with  efferves- 
cence, leaves  a  silica  skeleton,  and  becomes  opaline  on  cool- 
ing ;  is  reducible  into  a  white  transparent  jelly  in  heated  acid. 


P  on  P'  or  P  on  P"  )        0      , 
or  P'  on  P"         ]  U 

a  on  a 90    00 

a  on   any  adjoining 
plane  P 135    00 


*  Haiiyne,  in  honor  of  the  late  celebrated  French  mineralogist,  Haiiy. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  223 

It  occurs  either  disposed  in  the  cavities  of  volcanic  debris, 
as  at  Vesuvius,  and  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rome  ;  or  imbed- 
ded in  lava  or  pumice,  as  near  Andernach,  on  the  Rhine. 

Haiiyne  is  distinguished  from  lazulite  by  its  vitreous  lustre, 
a  character  which  the  latter  does  not  possess,  and  also  by  its 
different  chemical  composition.  By  some  authors  it  has  been 
classed  with  sodalite;  but  the  analysis  of  this  mineral  by  Gme- 
lin  and  Bergemann,  would  seern  to  show  too  great  a  discord- 
ance, both  qualitively  and  quantitively,  for  uniting  it  with  that 
species. 

SPINELLANE.  Spinellane,  J.  H.  Nozin,  Leonliard.  This 
mineral  was  described  as  a  distinct  species  in  the  last  edition 
of  this  work,  but  it  is  obviously  only  a  variety  of  the  present 
species,  and  as  such  it  is  now  classed  in  the  latest  works.  Its 
crystalline  form  is  the  rhomboidal  dodecahedron,  sometimes 
elongated  (as  in  several  of  the  garnets)  into  six-sided  prisms 
with  trihedral  terminations,  as  shown  in  the  above  figure.  Its 
color  is  ash-grey,  the  crystals  being  generally  small,  though 
distinctly  formed,  and  translucent.  It  cleaves  with  brilliant 
surfaces,  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  dodecahedron  ;  scratches 
glass,  but  is  brittle;  specific  gravity  2'28.  B  B,  it  whitens, 
but  does  not  melt,  either  alone,  or  with  additions.  It  occurs 
in  the  drusy  cavities  of  glassy  felspar  on  the  borders  of  the 
Lake  of  Laach,  near  Andernach  on  the  Rhine,  with  quartz, 
black  mica,  and  magnetic  iron.  Its  above  analyses,  by  Kla- 
proth  and  Bergmann,  differ  so  considerably  that  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  these  chemists  may  have  operated  on  different 
minerals.  The  analysis  by  the  former  would  make  the  mineral 
to  consist  of  a  sesquisilicate  of  alumina  and  soda. 

HYDROUS  ANTHOPHYLLITE. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (  Outlines,  $c.,  vol.  ii.,  p.  209.) 

Composed  of  silica  54'98,  magnesia  13  37,  peroxide  of  iron 
9'83,  protoxide  of  manganese  1*20,  potash  6'80,  alumina  T56, 
water  11*44.  Dr.  Thomson  rejects  the  alumina  and  protoxide 
of  mancranese  as  accidental,  and  records  the  following  formula  : 


Sp.  Gr.  2-91.     H.  =  2-5. 

Color  greenish-yellow  ;  texture  diverging  fibrous  ;  specimens 
consisting  of  irregular  crystals,  diverging  from  various  centres 
and  sometimes  much  interwoven  with  each  other;  fibres  sepa- 
rable from  each  other,  but  less  perfectly  than  those  of  asbestus. 
They  are  fine,  easily  broken,  and  destitute  of  elasticity  :  lustre 
silky  ;  opake  ;  sectile  ;  feel  soft. 

This  mineral  was  formerly  known  to  American  mineralo- 
gists as  radiated  asbestus.  It  occurs  in  place,  and  in  boulders, 


224  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

on  the  west  side  of  New  York  Island,  where  it  forms  a  bed 
between  granite  and  gneiss.  It  was  sent  to  Dr.  Thomson,  for 
analysis,  by  Prof.  Torrey,  of  New  York. 

ANTRIMOLITE. 

Dr.   Thomson.    (Outlines,  Src.,  vol.  i.,  p.  326.) 

This  mineral  was  discovered  on  the  north  coast  of  the  county 
of  Antrim,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Giant's  Causeway.  Its  con- 
stituents, by  Dr.  Thomson's  analysis,  are  the  following :  silica 
43-470,  alumina  30-260,  lime  7'500,  potash  4'100,  protoxide 
of  iron  (H90,  chlorine  0-88,  water  15-320. 

Formula :  5AlS+(} Cal+£K)S3+5Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-0964.     H.  =  3'75. 

Its  color  is  chalk-white ;  texture  fine  silky  fibrous,  the  fibres 
diverging  from  the  central  nucleus  like  radii  from  a  common 
centre.  It  is  opake,  and  dull.  It  has  not  been  found  in  dis- 
tinct crystals,  but  composes  long  stalactitical  masses,  which 
adhere  to  the  summits  of  cavities  in  amygdaloid.  The  centre 
of  these  masses  encloses  a  foliated  variety  of  calcareous  spar, 
upon  which  the  antrimolite  has  implanted  itself. 

When  heated  it  gives  out  water,  which  reddens  vegetable 
blues,  and  contains  muriatic  acid.  The  quantity  driven  off 
amounts  to  15'42  per  cent.  B  B,  it  does  not  froth,  but  softens 
into  an  enamel.  With  biphosphate  of  soda  it  dissolves  very 
slowly  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass.  It  dissolves  readily, 
and  gelatinizes  in  muriatic  acid. 

PERICLINE. 

Heterotomous  Feldspar,  M.    Periklin,  Breithaupt.    Spatum  gemellum,  D. 

Contains  soda  9  99,  potash  2'41,  silica  69  91,  alumina  IS'93, 
lime  0'15,  oxide  of  iron  0'48  —  from  Zoblitz,  by  Gmelin. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-54  —  2'56.     H.  =  6-0. 

It  occurs  in  twin  crystals,  closely  resembling  in  its  measure- 
ments those  of  albite,  with  which,  also,  it  almost  precisely 
agrees  in  chemical  composition. 

' ':  i  ^\  \ 

P  on  M  ....  93°  l^ 
P  on  T  ....  114  45 
Mon  T  ....  120  18 


Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  P  and  T ;  more  so  to  T  than  to 
M,  the  reverse  of  which  is  the  case  in  albite.  Lustre  pearly; 
color  white,  yellowish  or  reddish. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  225 

It  occurs  in  large  distinct  crystals  at  St.  Gothard  in  Swit- 
zerland ;  in  the  Pfundersthal  and  Schmiernerthal  in  the  Tyrol  ; 
upon  the  Sau-alpe  in  Carinthia,  at  Zoblitz  in  Bohemia,  and 
other  places.  It  is  more  generally  opake  than  albite  or  felspar, 
and  its  specific  gravity  is  lower. 

LABRADORITE. 

Labradorstein,  W.    Feldspath  Opalin,  H.    Polychromatic  Feldspar,  M.    Labradore  Fel- 
spar.   Spatum  opalescens,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  soda,  and  oxide  of  iron. 

Labrador.  Labrador.  Ingermania. 

Silica 55-75 55-41 55-06 

Alumina 26-50 26-92 24-00 

Lime 11-00 10-89 10-25 

Soda 4-00 4-39 3-50 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-25 5-25 5-25 

Water 0-50 0-64 0-50 

99-00  Klaproth.        103-50  Thomson.        98-56  Klaproth. 

From  the  mean  of  these  analyses,  Dr.  Thomson  has  given 
the  formula  —  3AS'+(JCal+£N)S. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-7.     H.  =  6'0. 

Its  primary  form  is  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  1 19°  and 
61°.  The  cleavage  parallel  to  the  base  is  most  perfect ;  lustre 
internally  vitreous,  pearly  upon  the  perfect  faces  of  cleavage ; 
translucent  when  in  thin  fragments;  color  grey,  with  opaline 
reflections  of  a  blue,  yellow,  or  brilliant  red  hue.  B  B,  on 
charcoal,  it  fuses  quietly  —  3,  into  a  pretty  dense  clear  glass, 
whose  fracture  is  brilliant;  is  scarcely  affected  by  salt  of  phos- 
phorus, unless  reduced  to  powder,  when  it  is  decomposed  into 
a  skeleton  of  silica,  and  a  glass  which  becomes  opaline  on 
cooling;  and  with  borax  fuses  slowly  without  effervescence 
into  a  diaphanous  glass.  When  in  powder  it  is  entirely  dis- 
solved, and  forms  a  jelly  with  heated  muriatic  acid. 

Rough  indistinctly  formed  crystals  of  considerable  size  were 
brought  by  Giesecke  from  Greenland  ;  but  the  beautiful  irides- 
cent slabs  to  which  the  name  of  their  locality  is  applied,  are 
found  at  the  island  of  St.  Paul  on  the  coast  of  Labrador,  asso- 
ciated with  hornblende,  hyperstene,  and  magnetic  iron  ore. 
Magnificent  labradorite  has  been  found  in  the  neighborhood  of 
St.  Petersburg  in  Russia,  in  Finland,  and  in  the  Ural  mountains. 
A  specimen  from  the  former  place  was  sold  to  the  Duke  of 
Devonshire  for  one  thousand  rubles.  In  the  time  of  Catha- 
rine II.,  she  valued  the  stone  so  highly,  that  snuff  boxes  of 
several  small  stones  sold  for  fifteen  hundred  rubles.  It  occurs 
for  the  most  part  in  boulders,  but  in  Finland  it  forms  consid- 
erable veins,  accompanied  by  hornblende,  magnetic  iron  and 
garnet.  The  colors  of  these  specimens  play  between  dark 


226 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


sapphire-blue,  emerald-green,  violet,  gold-yellow,  pinchback, 
brown  and  brass-yellow;  the  shades  being  weaker  in  the 
Mountain  Labrador  of  Finland.  Labradorite  is  found  also  on 
the  Island  of  Sedlowatoi,  in  the  White  Sea,  of  a  pale  red  color, 
with  a  weak  azure  change,  like  adular.  Labradorite  forms 
one  of  the  constituents  of  a  greenstone  at  Campsie  Glen,  and 
near  Paisley  in  Scotland,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson. 

This  mineral  has  several  localities  in  the  United  States,  but 
the  finest  iridescent  specimens  have  been  found  in  New  York, 
as  in  Essex  and  Lewis  Counties,  generally  in  rolled  masses ; 
and  at  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  County,  in  fine  large  crystals, 
associated  with  phosphate  of  lime,  zircon  and  sphene.  They 
receive  a  fine  polish,  but  are  much  inferior  to  the  specimens 
from  Labrador. 


ALBITE.     CLEAVELANDITE.* 

Tetarto-prismatic  Feldspar,  M.  J.     Cleavelandite,  Brooke  and  Levy.   Tetartin,  Breithaupt. 
Spatum  triclinatum,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  and  soda. 

Finbo.  Arendal.  Chesterfield,  Mass. 

Silica 70-48 68-46 70-68 70-94 

Alumina 18-45 19-30 19-80 18-70 

Soda 10-50 9-27 9-06 8-83 

Lime 0-55 0-68 0-23 0-68 

99-98  Eggertz.       96-71  Rose.  99-77  Stromeyer.  99-15  Thomson. 

There  is  a  very  close  agreement  among  these  four  analyses. 
The  mean  gives  silica  70*139,  alumina  19'063,  soda  9'414  — 
which,  divided  by  the  atomic  weights,  give  of  atoms  of  silica 
35*07,  of  alumina  8-47,  and  of  soda  2'35.  The  atoms  of  silica 
thus  exceed  three  times  the  atoms  of  bases  by  2461 ,  but  if,  as 
Dr.  Thomson  supposes,  this  excess  is  accidental,  we  obtain  for 
the  constitution  of  this  mineral,  three  atoms  tersilicate  of  alu- 
mina and  one  atom  tersilicate  of  soda.  Formula  :  3A1S3+NS3. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-6  —  2-68.  H.  =  6-0. 

Mon  P 93°  30' 

P  on  T 115  05 

Mon  T 117  53 

P  on  P  the  re-entering  angle  .  .  186  40 

P  on  a? 127  28 

T  on  a: 110  29 

Edge  H  often  replaced  by  a  plane 

which  forms  with  M  an  angle  of  1 19  52 

and  with  P  an  angle  of 119  51 


*  From  albus,  white,  in  allusion  to  its  color.  Cleavelandite,  in  honor  of  Prof.  Cleave- 
land  of  Bowdoin  College.  The  name  was  at  first  applied  to  the  laminated  variety  from 
Chesterfield,  by  Brooke,  but  it  has  now  an  equally  extended  application  with  albite. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  227 

Primary  form,  a  Doubly  oblique  prism  (see  fig.  13,  p.  xl.,  of 
the  Introduction).  Generally  in  flat  twin  crystals,  of  which 
the  face  M  is  greatly  enlarged.  Color  commonly  white,  some- 
times grey,  green,  or  brown,  varying  from  transparent  to  opake. 
Lustre  pearly  upon  cleavage  planes,  vitreous  in  other  direc- 
tions. Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M  and  P,  less  so  to  T.  Its 
comportment,  B  B,  resembles  that  of  felspar,  fusing  quietly  =  4. 

Albite  occurs  in  large  transparent  colorless  crystals,  with 
pearlspar,  in  the  Tyrol ;  and  at  St.  Gothard  in  white  translucent 
twins,  having  a  brilliant  lustre;  at  Arendal  with  epidote  and  gar- 
net; with  eudyalite  and  hornblende  in  Greenland;  also  in  Si- 
beria, Norway,  Sweden,  Bohemia,  Oisans  in  Dauphine,  and 
elsewhere  on  the  continent.  In  the  granite  on  the  Mourne 
Mountains  it  is  associated  with  felspar,  from  which,  however,  it 
may  be  distinguished  by  its  superior  whiteness  and  translucen- 
cy.  Felspar  and  albite  indeed  frequently  occur  in  the  same  gran- 
ite, as  in  that  of  Pompey's  Pillar,  and  the  block  on  which  the 
statue  of  Peter  the  Great  in  St.  Petersburg  is  placed,  the  albite 
presenting  a  greenish-white  color,  while  the  felspar  is  flesh- 
red.  The  crystals  from  Baveno  are  often  extremely  curious 
in  this  respect,  the  albite  being  disposed  in  parallel  position 
upon  the  faces  of  the  felspar,  from  which  its  greater  whiteness 
distinguishes  it.  Albite,  more  frequently  than  felspar,  is  one 
of  the  constituents  of  syenite  and  greenstone,  as  in  the  rocks 
around  Edinburgh.  It  is  also  a  frequent  constituent  of  the 
granite  of  England.  Rome  de  1'Isle  first  distinguished  it  as  a 
particular  species  under  the  name  of  white  schorl ;  but  it  is  to 
Dr.  G.  Rose  that  mineralogists  are  indebted  for  their  more 
accurate  knowledge  of  its  properties.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

In  the  United  States,  it  forms  very  considerable  masses  of 
a  foliated  structure,  and  is  sometimes  in  crystals,  at  Chester- 
field, Mass.,  where  it  is  penetrated  by  crystals  of  rubellite  and 
green  tourmaline.  It  occurs  also  at  Williamstown  and  Go- 
shen  in  the  same  State,  and  at  Paris,  Maine,  where  the  associa- 
ted minerals  are  the  same  as  at  Chesterfield.  It  accompanies 
the  chrysoberyl  at  Haddam,  Ct.,  and  is  found  in  a  granular 
form  containing  beryl  at  Munroe,  Ct.  It  occurs  in  granite  at 
Governeur,  St.  Lawrence  County,  N.  Y.,  and  in  beautiful  white, 
nearly  transparent  crystals  at  Granville,  Washington  County, 
N.  Y.,  discovered  by  Prof.  Emmons. 


ANALCIME. 

ihedral  Kouphone  ! 
ulcanus  cubicus,  D 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  soda,  and  water. 


Kubizit,  W.    Analcime,  H.    Hexahedral  Kouphone  Spar,  M.    Hexahedral  Zeolite,  J. 
Vulcanus  cubicus,  D. 


228  ALKAL1NO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 


Fassa.  Kilpatrick.          Giant's  Causeway. 

Contains  Silica 55-12 55-07 55-60 

Alumina 22-99 22-22 23-00 

Soda 13-53 13-7 1 14-65 

Water 8-27 8-22 7-90 


99-91  Hose.  99-22  Connell.          101-15  Thomson. 

These  analyses  very  nearly  coincide,  and  they  give  for  the 
constitution  of  this  mineral,  three  atoms  bisilicate  of  alumina, 
one  atom  bisilicate  of  soda,  and  two  atoms  water.  Formula  : 
3AJS2+NS2+2Aq. 

Sp.Gr.  2-2  — 2-53.     H.  =  5'5. 

Analcime  generally  occurs  in  distinct  crystals,  either  color- 
less and  transparent ;  or  white,  grey,  red,  and  opake.  The 
cube  is  the  primary  form,  there  being  occasional  appearances 
of  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  of  that  solid;  fracture  im- 
perfect conchoidal ;  lustre  shining,  and  between  pearly  and 
vitreous.  It  becomes  weakly  electric*  by  friction.  Alone  on 
charcoal,  B  B,  it  becomes  white  and  opake,  and  fuses,  with- 
out intumescence,  into  a  diaphanous  glass  ;  with  borax  is  very 
difficultly  soluble.  It  dissolves  in  acids,  and  when  reduced  to 
powder,  forms  a  jelly  with  heated  muriatic  acid.  The  solu- 
tion after  separation  of  the  silica  gives  an  abundant  precipitate 
with  ammonia. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  each  solid 
angle  is  replaced  by  three  planes,  thereby  adding  twenty-four  planes  to 
it.  Fig.  3.  represents  the  icositetrahedron  a  crystal  on  which  these 
twenty-four  planes  are  increased  to  their  utmost  extent,  so  that  no  part 
of  the  primary  planes  is  visible,  and  forming  a  solid  bounded  by  twenty- 
four  equal  and  similar  trapeziums. 


Haiiy. 
P  on  P'  or  P"  )          0 

or  P'  on  P"  5 
P  P'  or  P"  on  b  144    44 
b  on  b 146    26 


*  Whence  Analcime,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  feebleness  of  this  property. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  229 

The  most  perfectly  pelucid  crystals  of  this  mineral  are 
brought  from  the  Cyclopean  Islands,  near  Catania;  they,  as 
well  as  most  of  those  from  the  Tyrol,  present  the  above  form 
(the  tri-epointe  of  Haiiy) ;  while  the  only  crystallization  met 
with  in  Dunbartonshire,  Glen  Farg,  and  other  Scottish  locali- 
ties, is  that  of  fig.  3.  These  in  general  are  more  or  less 
white  and  opake,  occurring  in  crystals  three  or  four  inches  in 
diameter.  At  the  Seisser  Alp  in  the  Tyrol,  large  individu- 
als, extremely  similar  in  appearance,  are  met  with ;  and  in  the 
Faroe  Islands,  Iceland,  several  of  the  Hebrides,  the  Vicentine, 
and  elsewhere,  among  the  cavities  of  amygdaloidal,  basaltic, 
and  trap  rocks,  it  is  of  frequent  occurrence,  associated  with 
prehnite,  chabasie,  apophyllite,  &c.  Small  crystals  have  been 
found  in  the  lava  of  the  Sandwich  Islands  associated  with 
Gmelinite,  according  to  Dana.  In  Nova  Scotia,  trapezohedral 
analcime  abounds  in  the  cavities  of  the  trap  rocks  which  skirt 
the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  the  crystals  are  sometimes 
nearly  transparent  and  an  inch  in  diameter;  their  color  varying 
from  pure  white  to  flesh  red.  They  never  present  any  portion 
of  the  primary  faces;  are  usually  associated  with  mesotype. 

In  the  United  States  it  is  a  rarely  occurring  mineral.  It 
has  been  found  near  Yonkers,  Westchester  County,  N.  Y.,  by 
Prof.  Beck,  but  the  only  important  locality  is  in  the  trap  rock 
of  Bergen,  N.  J.,  where  it  assumes  only  the  perfect  trapezo- 
hedral form  ;  as  is  the  case  also  at  Patterson,  N.  J.,  where  it 
was  discovered  a  number  of  years  since  by  Pierce  and  Torrey. 
Near  East  Haven,  Ct.,  it  has  been  found  in  trap  rock,  and  also 
very  sparingly  at  Deerfield,  Mass.,  with  chabasie  and  quartz. 

CUPREOUS  ANALCIME.  This  was  discovered  by  Dr.  Jack- 
son and  the  editor  in  Nova  Scotia,  in  the  cavities  of  amygda- 
loid. The  crystals  have  the  common  form  of  fig.  3,  are  of  a 
verdigris-green  color  externally,  but  paler  towards  the  centre, 
and  softer  than  the  common  variety,  consisting  of  granular 
particles  of  composition.  They  owe  their  color  to  the  pre- 
sence of  from  two  to  three  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  copper, 
pretty  uniformly  diffused  through  some  of  them.  In  one  or 
two  instances,  these  crystals  were  found  attached  to  minute 
filaments  of  native  copper,  by  which  they  were  thus  connected 
with  the  rock,  or  suspended  in  its  cavities. 

SODALITE.* 

Dodecahedral  Zeolite,  J.    Dodecahedral  Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Sodalitc,  Ilamj.     Vulca- 
nus  dodecahedius,  D. 

Combination  of  soda,  silica,  and  alumina,  with  a  small 
quantity  of  muriatic  acid. 

*Sodalite,  from  its  containing  soda. 

20 


230 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Greenland.  Vesuvius. 

Soda 25-00 26-55. . . 

Silica 36-00 35-99. . . 

Alumina 32-00 32-59. . . 

Lime 0-00 0-00... 

Muriatic  acid 6-75 5-30. . . 

Protoxide  of  Iron.  0-25 0-00... 

Volatile  matter...  0-00 0-00.., 


Greenland. 
....25-50... 
. . .  .38-52. . . 
....27-48... 
....  2-70... 

3-06... 

....  1-00... 


Vesuvius. 

20-96 

. . .  .50-98 
. . .  .27-64 

0-00 

....  1-29 
..  0-00 


2-10 0-00 


}  Wachtmeist'r 
100-00  Eckeberg.   100-43  Arfwed.  100-30  Thorn.      100.87  \  and  Berzelius. 

Berzelius  and  Beudant,  adopting  the  last  analysis,  have 
given  the  formula  thus:  2A1S+NS2.  But  Dr.  Thomson, 
from  the  mean  of  his  own  analysis  and  Eckeberg's,  deduces 
two  atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  and  one  atom  simple  silicate 
of  soda;  both  rejecting  muriatic  acid. 

Its  color  is  white,  light  green,  or  bluish-green.  It  occurs 
massive,  but  more  often  crystallized  in  rhombic  dodecahe- 
drons, parallel  to  the  planes  of  which  it  yields  to  mechanical 
division :  the  cross  fracture  is  commonly  conchoidal,  with  a 
vitreous  lustre.  It  is  translucent;  and  yields  with  difficulty  to 
the  knife.  The  varieties  of  this  mineral  comport  themselves 
differently  B  B  on  charcoal ;  that  from  Vesuvius,  per  se,  suffers 
no  change,  except  that  its  edges  become  rounded ;  while  the 
Greenland  variety  melts,  with  intumescence  and  a  rapid  ebul- 
lition, into  a  colorless  globule ;  with  borax  both  varieties  afford 
a  diaphanous  glass,  fusing  however  in  small  quantity  and  with 
extreme  difficulty. 


P  on  F  or  P  on  P'' 
or  P'  on  P" 


120°  00' 


This  mineral  occurs  in  white,  translucent  dodecahedral  crys- 
tals of  considerable  magnitude,  imbedded  in  or  coating  the 
cavities  of  certain  volcanic  rocks,  with  pyroxene,  ice-spar, 
&,c.,  at  Vesuvius;  in  the  Kangerdluarsukfiord,  West  Green- 
land, of  a  green  color,  both  massive  and  crystallized,  associa- 
ted with  eudyalite,  augite,  and  Arfwedsonite ;  and  massive 
of  a  grey  color,  imbedded  in  trap  at  the  Kaiserstuhl  in  the 
Brisgau.  The  Cancrinite  of  Hoffman,  containing  soda  24'47, 
silica  38-40,  alumina  32'04,  lime  0  32,  loss  4'77,  is  evidently 
the  same  mineral.  It  is  fusible  in  masses  of  an  azure  blue- 
color,  presenting  six  pretty  distinct  cleavages,  which  form 
together  angles  of  120°.  It  occurs  in  the  zircon  rocks  of 
Miask,  near  Ilmensee  in  Siberia. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


231 


SARCOLITE. 

Octahedral  Kouphone  Spar,  Haidinger.    Sarcolithe  de  Thomson,  H. 

H.  about  5-0. 

Color  pale  flesh-red,  or  brownish-white ;  semi-transparent ; 
lustre  and  fracture  vitreous;  very  brittle. 


P  on  n  .        ...  115 


This  mineral,  from  its  hardness  and  vitreous  aspect,  was 
classed  by  Haiiy  with  analcime ;  but  the  combination  of  the 
octahedron  and  cube,  under  which  form  it  occurs,  never  hav- 
ing been  observed  in  the  latter  substance,  rendered  their  sepa- 
ration unavoidable.  It  is  found  among  the  anciently  ejected 
debris  of  Vesuvius,  associated  with  wollastonite,  hornblende, 
and  others  of  the  zeolite  family ;  being  extremely  brittle  and 
full  of  flaws,  it  splits  and  falls  to  pieces  unless  carefully  han- 
dled. It  was  discovered  and  named  by  the  late  Dr.  Thomp- 
son of  Naples,  and  is  designated  by  Monticelli,  analcime  car- 
nea;  the  analysis,  however,  given  both  by  him  and  Haiiy,  re- 
fers to  Gmelinite.  —  Allan's  Manual.  Until  an  analysis  of 
this  mineral  decides  to  the  contrary,  there  can  be  no  sufficient 
reason  for  separating  this  mineral  from  analcime  on  the  ground 
of  a  mere  difference  in  the  secondary  form  of  its  crystals.  It 
is  highly  important  that  a  genuine  specimen  of  it  be  subjected 
to  analysis.  The  name  sarcolite  has  also  been  given  by  Vau- 
quelin  to  the  same  mineral  which  is  now  known  as  hydrolite 
or  Gmelinite. 


OBSIDIAN.* 

Obsidian,  W.   Lave  Vitreuse  Obsidienne,  H.    Empyrodox  duartz,  M.    Fusible  Quartz,  J. 
Hyalus  Vulcani,  D.     Pitchstone.     Pumice. 


New  Spain. 

Hecla.              JMarekanite. 

Iceland. 

Soda      ? 

•-1-6J                       7.OQ  

..  3-552 

Potash  5  
Silica  

....72-0... 

..  6-0  \  '  uu  
..78-0  77-50  

,  0-000 
.  .84-000 

Alumina  

....12-5  

..10-0  11-75  

..  4-640 

Oxide  of  iron... 

....  2-0  

..  1-0  1-25  

..  5-012 

Lime  

....  0-0  

..  1-0  0-50  

..  2-392 

96-5  Descotils. 

97-6  Vauquelin.  98-00  Klaproth. 

99-596  Thom»or 

*  From  Obiidius,  the  name  of  the  first  person  who  brought  it  from  Ethiopia. 


232  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Pitchstone.  Pitchstono. 

Meissen.  Newry.  Arran.  Saxony. 

Soda 1-75 2-85 6-2:20 6-320 

Silica 73-00 72-80 03-500 73-100 

Alumina 14-50 1 1-50 12-730 13-560 

Lime 1-00 1-20 4-4tiO J-484 

Protoxide  of  iron..  1-00 3-03 3-790 0-864 

Water 8-50 8-50 8-000 4-724 

99-75  Klaproth.    99-88  Knox.         98-712  Thomson.    100-042  Thomson. 

As  might  be  supposed  in  a  non-crystallized  mineral,  these 
analyses  show  no  very  near  approach  to  a  uniform  chemical 
constitution  ;  and  the  formula,  therefore,  will  not  be  given. 
Sp.  Gr.  about  2-35.     H.=6-0. 

Obsidian  occurs  in  beds,  in  large  masses,  and  in  small 
grains ;  color  greenish-,  or  brownish-black,  or  smoke-brown  ; 
possesses  internally  a  shining  vitreous  lustre;  fracture  large 
conchoidal ;  some  varieties  are  transparent,  others  nearly 
opake,  or  only  translucent  on  the  edges ;  is  very  brittle.  It 
occasionally  much  resembles  common  glass.  Iceland  and  the 
Lipari  Islands  are  the  most  celebrated  localities  of  obsidian ; 
though  some  remarkable  varieties  are  likewise  found  in  Ascen- 
sion, Teneriffe,  and  many  of  the  South  Sea  Islands,  Siberia, 
and  Mexico.  The  specimens  from  Iceland  are  almost  opake, 
exhibiting  a  brownish  tinge  only  on  the  thinnest  edges,  while 
those  from  Lipari  are  more  transparent,  and  of  a  greyish  color. 
In  Lipari  the  large  continuous  tracts  of  obsidian  form  the 
lower  strata,  while  those  varieties  of  a  more  pumaceous  aspect 
occur  invariably  at  a  higher  level.  The  purest,  blackest,  and 
most  beautiful  specimens,  however,  form  imbedded  nodules  in 
the  pumice  at  a  great  height,  in  masses  from  two  inches  to  as 
many  feet  in  diameter.  Obsidian  is  frequently  interspersed 
with  small  white  opake  globules,  which,  being  formed  in  par- 
allel lines,  give  it  a  stratified  appearance  ;  and  some  of  the  Li- 
pari specimens  closely  resemble  certain  glass-house  slags.  A 
variety  presenting  a  silky  and  chatoyant  lustre  is  found  in 
New  Spain;  and  another  of  a  transparent  bottle-green  hue, 
in  detached  masses,  at  Moldantheim  in  Bohemia,  It  fre- 
quently contains  imbedded  crystals  and  grains  of  felspar  and 
mica;  and  certain  varieties  also  include  specks  of  olivine, 
and  traces  of  other  volcanic  minerals. 

1.  MAREKANITE  occurs  in  the  form  of  grains,  of  a  pearly 
white,  and  consisting  of  thin  concentric  layers;  it  is  found  at 
Marekan*   in  the  Gulf  of  Kamschatka,  and  it  possesses  the 
general  characters  of  obsidian. 

2.  PITCHSTONE. t     Pechstein,  W.    Petrosilex  Resinite,  H. 

*  Whence  Marekanite.  f  From  the  resemblance  of  some  its  varieties  to  pitch. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  2-33 

The  colors  of  this  variety  are  various  shades  of  grey,  blue, 
green,  yellow,  brown,  and  black,  but  they  are  not  lively.  Devoid 
of  regular  form  or  cleavage ;  it  occurs  massive,  the  structure 
sometimes  slaty,  occasionally  curved;  has  a  glistening  resino- 
vitreous  lustre,  and  an  imperfectly  conchoidal  fracture,  which 
is  frequently  the  chief  characteristic  distinction  between  pitch- 
stone  and  obsidian ;  almost  always  opake,  or  only  translucent 
on  the  edges.  Pitchstone  is  found  extensively  in  the  hills 
around  the  valley  of  Tribisch  near  Meissen  in  Saxony ;  also 
in  the  Isle  of  Arran,  where  it  forms  veins  traversing  granite ; 
and  in  Ireland,  near  Newry,  County  Down,  in  smooth  lamel- 
lar concretions  of  a  mountain-  or  leek-green  color.  When 
composed  of  roundish  masses,  imbedded  in  a  vesicular  matrix, 
pearl-stone  is  formed :  these  consist  of  concentric  coats,  and 
not  unfrequently  include  a  grain  of  obsidian.  They  form  ex- 
tensive beds  in  Hungary  ;  also  in  Iceland,  Spain,  Mexico,  and 
elsewhere. 

3.  PUMICE.     Bimstein,  W.     Contains  soda  and  potash  3'0, 
silica  77 '5,  alumina  17'5,  oxide  of  iron  1'75. 

Pumice  is  extremely  porous,  of  a  fibrous  texture,  and  is 
harsh  to  the  touch ;  its  color  is  grey,  tinged  with  brown  or 
yellow ;  it  has  a  shining  pearly  lustre,  is  translucent  on  the 
edges,  and  very  light.  It  fuses  into  a  dirty-green  blebby  glass. 

Pumice  is  frequently  interstratified  with  the  compact  obsi- 
dian at  the  Lipari  Isles.  Its  usual  lightness  and  freedom  from 
humidity  render  it  a  peculiarly  suitable  building  material  ; 
sometimes  it  is  fibrous,  its  filaments  having  a  peculiarly  silky 
aspect;  and  frequently  it  presents  the  most  delicate  glassy 
texture,  breaking  into  a  million  of  atoms  on  the  smallest  stroke 
with  the  hammer.  At  the  northern  extremity  of  the  Island  of 
Lipari,  it  forms  a  hill  eight  hundred  or  one  thousand  feet  in 
height,  which  from  its  peculiar  whiteness  and  scanty  herbage 
is  termed  II  Campo  Bianco.  This,  and  the  isles  of  Ponza,  are 
the  great  deposits  of  the  pumice  known  in  commerce,  and 
from  these  localities  it  is  quarried  and  exported  in  large  quan- 
tities ;  for  though  by  no  means  an  uncommon  mineral  in 
other  volcanic  countries,  as  in  Hungary,  the  neighborhood  of 
Andernach  on  the  Rhine,  Teneriffe,  Vesuvius,  and  Ischia,  it 
occurs  at  these  localities  in  small  cinder-like  masses,  and  is 
neither  so  massive  nor  so  pure  as  at  Lipari. 

4.  SPHJERULITE.    Sphserulite,  J.    Spha3rulith,  L.    Contains 
potash  and  soda  3*58,  silica  79'12,  alumina  12'0,  oxide  of  iron 
2-45,  mao-nesia  I'lO,  water  1*7(5.  —  Fucinus. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-4  —  2  54.     H.  =  6-5  —  7-0. 
Occurs  in  roundish  or  spheroidal  imbedded  masses,  whose 
20* 


234  ALKAL1NO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

surface  is  sometimes  rough,  sometimes  quite  smooth;  color 
brown,  yellow,  or  grey;  opake ;  no  regular  cleavage.  It  is 
almost  infusible  B  B,  the  edges  only  becoming  covered  with  a 
sort  of  enamel. 

This  variety  is  met  with  in  round  nodules  imbedded  in 
pitchstone  at  Spechtshausen,  in  Saxony;  in  radiated  orbicular 
masses  in  ash-grey  pearlstone  at  Glashutte,  near  Schemnitz 
in  Hungary;  in  round  balls  which  have  a  radiated  fibrous 
structure,  disposed  in  soft  friable  clay,  which  is  evidently  a 
decomposed  rock,  in  the  Shetland  Islands;  and  in  botryoidal 
masses  of  a  bright  yellow  color  in  Brittany.  It  was  first  dis- 
tinguished by  Breithaupt. 

SAUSSURITE. 

Prismatic  Nephrite  Spar,  Haid.    Jade  Tenace,  H.    Nephrus  peritomus,  D. 

Soda 5-50 6-0 

Silica 49-00 44-0 

Alumina 24-00 30-0 

l.ime 10-00 4-0 

Magnesia 3-75 0-0 

Oxide  of  iron 6-50 12-5 

99-55  Klaproth.  100-5  Saussure. 

Sp.  Gr.  32  — 34.     H.  =55. 

In  masses  of  a  greenish-white,  mountain-green,  or  ash-grey 
color  ;  lustre  pearly,  inclining  to  vitreous  on  the  faces  of  cleav- 
age; resinous  in  compound  varieties;  cleavage  in  two  direc- 
tions, parallel  to  faces  which  meet  at  an  angle  of  120°  nearly ; 
is  translucent  on  the  edges,  unctuous  to  the  touch,  and  ex- 
tremely tough.  B  B  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  white  glass. 

It  was  first  discovered  by  Saussure,*  in  rounded  masses,  on 
the  edge  of  the  lake  of  Geneva;  it  is  pecular  to  primitive 
mountains,  as  in  Corsica,  in  Greenland,  at  Madras,  arid  else- 
where, constituting,  with  augite  and  hornblende,  the  rocks 
called  gabbro  and  euphotide. 


SCAPOLITE.t     MEIONITE.t 

Scftpolith,  W.     Prysmato-pyramidal  Felspar,  J.     Dipyre.     Meionite,  VV.  H.    Paranthine, 
Wernerite,  H.    Pyramidal  Felspar,  M.    "Spatum  quadratum,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime  and  soda. 


*  In  honor  of  whom  it  is  named. 
\  From  the  prismatic  form  of  its  crystals. 

J  From  [isttav,  less,  so  named  from  the  lowness  of  the  pyramid  with  which  the  crystal 
is  usually  terminated. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  235 


Scapolite.  ScapoUte. 

Peranthine.     Pargas.  Finland.  Bolton,  Mais. 

Silica 43-83 41-^5 4(>-30 

Alumina 35-43 33-58 26-48 

Lime 18-96 20-36 18-6  J 

Soda  and  Lithia 0-00 1-50 3-64 

Water 1-03 332 5-04 

99-28  Nordenskibld.      99-05  Nordenskibld.    lOu-08  Thomson. 

Meionite,  Meionite.  Meionite. 

Vesuvius.  Monte  Soma.  Tyrol. 

Silica 40-8 40-53 39-92 

Alumina 30-6 32-72 31-97 

Lime 22-1 24-24. . . .' 2;i-86 

Soda  and  Lithia 2-4 0-00 0-00 

Potash  and  Soda 0-0 1-81 0-89 

Peroxide  of  iron 1-0 0-18 2-24 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  0-0 0-00 0-17 

Water..,  0-0 0-00 0-95 


100-0  Gmelin.  99  48  Stromeyer.        100-00  Stromeyer. 

Beudant,  who  has  not  united  scapolite  and  meionite  as  one 
species,  gives  for  the  formula  of  the  first  3AlS+CalS ;  and 
for  the  last  2AlS+CalS.  But  the  identity  of  these  minerals  is 
now  fully  established,  physically  and  crystallographically,  and 
taking  the  mean  of  several  of  the  most  accurate  analyses  which 
have. hitherto  been  made,  and  which  are  above  stated,  the 
atoms  of  bases  will  be  found  equal  to  those  of  silica,  and  the 
atoms  of  alumina  to  be  twice  those  of  lime.  Hence  the  con- 
stitution of  both  minerals  is  expressed  by  the  same  formula 
which  Beudant  has  given  for  meionite,  viz.,  2AlS-fCalS. 
It  is  obvious  that  the  other  constituents  are  not  essentially 
combined. 

gp.Gr.  25  —  27.     H  =  5-0  —  55.* 

Scapolite  occurs  in  prisms  of  four  or  eight  sides,  sometimes 
terminated  by  tetrahedral  pyramids  ;  they  are  often  aggregated 
laterally.  It  also  occurs  massive.  The  primary  form  is  a 
Right  square  prism,  and  it  yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
planes  M  M7,  and  interruptedly  parallel  with  d,  of  the  follow- 
ing figures.  Its  colors  are  white,  grey  or  yellowish;  some- 
times deep  red  and  opake;  or  various  shades  of  green.  It  has 
a  shining  or  somewhat  pearly  lustre;  is  translucent,  or  nearly 
transparent;  and  generally  presents  a  greenish  color,  either 
pale  and  somewhat  translucent,  or  dark,  and  then  the  crystals 
are  nearly  opake.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  with  a  strong  heat,  it 
fuses,  with  violent  intumescence,  into  a  colorless  semi-trans- 
parent mass ;  with  borax  it  dissolves  with  effervescence,  into 
a  transparent  glass. 

*  Dana  found  the  hardness  of  a  nearly  transparent  variety  from  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  to 
be  5-5,  nearly  6,  and  its  specific  gravity  2-612  —  2-749. 


236 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


M  on  M          } 

or  >.  .  .     90°     0' 

P  on  M  or  M  ) 

M  on  d 135       2 

. e 153  24 

d  on  e 161  35 

a  on  d 122  5 

Mona    .......  112  5 

a  on  a 136  22  H. 

Mon& 140  18 

a  on  6 151  31 

Scapolite  occurs  in  primitive  mountains,  being  met  with  in 
the  iron  mines  of  Arendal,  in  gneiss;  in  the  mining  district  of 
Wermeland  in  Sweden  ;  presenting  large  and  beautiful  crys- 
tals in  the  parish  of  Pargas  in  Finland ;  at  Akudlek  in  Green- 
land, &,c.  Meionite  is  found  principally  at  Vesuvius,  in  dis- 
tinct crystals  imbedded  with  other  volcanic  minerals  in  the 
d'ebris  of  ancient  eruptions.  The  pure  white  and  nearly  trans- 
parent varieties,  wherever  they  occur,  are  properly  included 
under  the  name  meionite. 

Scapolite  is  an  abundant  mineral  in  the  United  States.  The 
white  crystalline  limestone  of  Essex,  Orange,  Lewis,  and  St. 
Lawrence  Counties,  N.  Y.,  have  afforded  the  finest  crystals.* 
The  prisms  are  from  three  to  five  inches  in  length,  but  these 
are  generally  imperfect,  while  the  smaller  ones  are  often  pure 
white,  translucent  to  semi-transparent,  and  possess  a  high  de- 
gree of  perfection  and  finish.  At  Edenville,  Orange  county, 
the  form  nearly  approaches  the  primary,  the  only  replacements 
being  on  two  lateral  edges  of  the  prism  by  tangent  planes, 
fig.  3.  Near  Gouverneur,  St.  Lawrence  County,  very  short 
prisms  resembling  the  dioctaedre  of  Hauy,  fig.  4,  have  been 


*  Numerous  secondary  forms,  from  these  localities,  have   been  figured  by  Prof.  Beck 
and  Dr.  Horton.    See  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  page  330,  et  seq. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  237 

met  with.  They  are  associated  with  apatite,  sphene,  and 
pyroxene.  At  Bolton  and  Boxborough,  Mass.,  large  crystals, 
but  usually  without  regular  terminations,  occur  in  veins  of 
quartz  which  traverse  the  white  limestone.  A  beautiful  pink 
and  lilac  colored  variety  of  a  laminated  crystalline  structure, 
and  forming  considerable  masses,  may  be  also  obtained  at  the 
last  named  locality;  but  more  abundantly  in  the  neighboring 
town  of  Littleton.  A  compact  variety  occurs  at  Westfield, 
Mass.,  and  a  fibrous  one  at  Monroe,  Conn.  In  Bucks  County, 
Penn.,'  in  the  lime  stone  quarries,  it  is  found  both  crystallized 
and  massive,  associated  with  table-spar,  zircon  and  phosphate 
of  lime. 

1.  WERNERITE.      The   variety   termed   Wernerite    occurs 
principally  at  Arendal,  in   short  thick  crystals  which  have  a 
granular  composition,  and  present  for  the  most  part  darker 
shades  of  color ;  beautiful  specimens  are  also  brought  from 
Greenland.     Paranthine,  including  the  most  compact  varie- 
ties, possess  pure  white  and  pale-blue  colors,  and  is  met  with 
in  the  limestone  quarries  of  Gulsjoo  and  Malsjo  in  Wermeland. 

2.  BERGMANNITE  of  Schumacher,  from  Stavern  in  Norway. 
It  occurs  massive,  and  of  a  greyish-white  or  brick-red  color. 
It  is  supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  scapolite. 

3.  DIPYRE*  of  Haiiy,  Schmelztein  of  Werner.     It  occurs 
in  slender  indistinctly  formed  prisms,  of  a  greyish,  or  reddish- 
white  color,  fasciculated  into  masses ;  and  has  also  been  ob- 
served in  the  form  of  a  hexahedral    prism  terminated    by  a 
low  pyramid.     Lustre  vitreous;  translucent;  hard  enough  to 
scratch  glass ;    and   becomes  slightly  phosphorescent  by  the 
application  of  heat.     B  B  it  fuses  with  effervescence  into  a 
blebby  colorless  glass.     It  is  found  in  the  torrent  of  Mauleon, 
in  the  Western  Pyrenees,  imbedded  in  a  kind  of  soft  slate 

4.  EKEBERGITE,  Berzelius.      Sodaite,  Ekebrrg.     The  fol- 
lowing description  of  this  mineral  is  given  by  Necker.     It  is 
not  found  crystallized,  but  occurs  in  compact  or  finely  fibrous 
masses,  of  a  green,  greyish,  or  brownish  color ;  occasionally 
in   thin    laminae.     Transparent:  lustre  vitreous  or  resinous; 
with  difficulty  acted  upon  by  acids.     B  B,  in  the  matrass,  it 
yields  a  little  water,  without  altering  its  appearance;  on  char- 
coal it  whitens,  loses  its  transparency,  intumesces  slightly,  and 
melts  into  a  blebby  colorless  glass.     In  borax  or  salt  of  phos- 
phorus it  fuses  with  effervescence;    and  in  soda  forms,  with 
considerable  difficulty,  a  greenish  glass. 

*  Dipyre,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  the  double  effects  of  fire,  in  allusion  to  its  phos- 
phorescence and  fusibility  by  heat. 


238  ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 

Its  analysis  gave  Ekeberg,  silica  46,  alumina  28-75,  lime 
13-50,  soda  525,  oxide  of  iron  0  75,  water  2  25. 

PEKTOLITE. 

Von  KobdL     (Kastner^s  Archiv.,  xiii.,  385.) 

Silica 51<3° 

Lime 33-77 

Soda 8-26 

Potash 1'57 

Water 3-89 

Alumina  and  oxide  of  iron 0-90 

9y-;y  Kobell. 

Formula,  as  given  by  Beudant :  4CalS2+(K,  N)S3+3Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-69.     H.  =  4'0  — 5'0. 

Occurs  in  spheroidal  masses,  which  have  a  columnar  com- 
position, and  consist  of  delicate  divergent  fibres  radiating  from 
a  centre;  color  greyish;  surface  generally  dull  ;  opake;  lus- 
tre pearly  on  the  fracture;  small  fragments  placed  in  muriatic 
acid,  after  several  days  are  converted  into  a  jelly  ;  yields  easily 
a  white  translucent  glass  when  exposed  to  the  action  of  the 
blowpipe. 

It  bears  considerable  resemblance  to  certain  fibrous  radiated 
varieties  of  mesotype.  It  forms  large  masses  on  Monte  Baldo 
in  the  Souther^Tyrol,  and  at  Monzoni  in  the  Fassa-thal. 

CHABASIE.* 

Schabasit,  W.    Chabasie,  H.    Rhombohedral  Zeolite,  J.    Rhombohedral  Kouphone 
Spar,  M.     Vulcanus  rhombohedrus,  D 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and  water,  with  a  little 
soda  and  potash. 

Gustafsberg.  Faroe.  Kilmalcolm.  Antrim. 

Silica 50-65 48-38 50-14 48-99 

Alumina 17-90 19-28 17-48 1 9-77 

Lime 9-73 8-70 8-47 4-01 

Soda 0-00 0-00 0-00 6-06 

Potash  and  soda  ..  1-70 2-50 2-58 0-00 

Water 19-50 21-40 20-83 20-70 


99-48  Be 

rzelius.t  100-20  Arfwedson.  99-50  Connell. 

99-53  Lehunt. 

Colorless  crystals.      Biebendbifel. 

Kilmalcolm. 

B< 

ihemia. 

Tyrol. 

Faroe. 

Silica  

48-75... 

.48-18  

..48-63  

..47-25 

Alumina  .. 

17-44... 



.19-27  

..19-5-2  

..20-85 

Lime  

10-47... 



.  9-65  

..10-22  

..  5-74 

Potash  ... 

1-55... 

.  0-21  

..  0-28  

..   1-65 

Soda  

0-00... 

.  1-54  

..  0-56  

..  2-34 

Water.  .  .  . 

21-72... 

'.!!'.  ".  '.  '.  ! 

.21-10  

..20-70  

.  .21-30 



M.  Du- 

99-93  Thomson. 

99-95  Hoffman. 

99-91  Hoffman. 

9JHJ3J 

rocher.J 

*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  a  particular  species  of  stone.  It  was  first  named  and  de- 
scribed by  Box  d' Antic,  in  a  memoir  read  to  the  Nat.  Hist.  Soc.  of  Paris,  about  the  year,  1780, 

t  The  excess  of  silica  in  this  analysis,  is  attributed  by  Berzelius  to  the  quartz  on  which 
the  crystals  rested.  Edinb.  Phil.  Jour,  vii.,  p.  2. 

1  Ann.  des  Mines,  1841,  t.  xix.,  p.  457.  This  result  differa  considerably  from  all  the 
iers,  even  from  the  specimen  analyzed  by  Arfwedson  from  the  same  place,  and  it  comes 

mch  nearer  to  the  composition  of  Levyne, 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  239 


............          ............     - 

19-66  ............  21-60  ............  20-52 


99-60  A.  A.  Hayes.  99-79  Hoffman.   100-40  Thomson.     99-C9  A.  A.  Hayes. 

The  formula  which  has  been  given  by  Arfvvedson  and  Con- 
nell  to  express  the  constitution  of  chabasie,  and  which  we  ob- 
tain from  the  first  seven  analyses  before  stated,  is,  3AlS2+(Cal, 
N,  K,)S2+6Aq.  In  the  second  analysis  of  the  chabasie  from 
Nova  Scotia,  by  Hoffman,  there  was  found  an  excess  of  silica, 
which  excluded  it  from  the  common  formula,  while  in  other 
respects  it  conformed  to  it.  This  induced  Hoffman  to  regard 
it  as  distinct  from  chabasie.  ||  Subsequent  examinations  have 
proved  this  excess  to  be  constant,  and  instead  of  bisilicate  of 
lime  and  alkalies,  as  associated  in  common  chabasie,  we  now 
have  a  tersilicate  of  these  bases.  In  the  specimens  of  Acadia- 
lite from  different  localities  in  Nova  Scotia,  the  potash  and 
soda  replace  variable  proportions  of  the  lime  ;  but  in  the  speci- 
men analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  there  is  neither  potash  nor 
soda,  and  a  notable  deficiency  in  alumina,  which,  however,  is 
partly  made  up  by  the  oxide  of  iron.  The  formula  for  Aca- 
dialite, is,  therefore,  thus  stated  :  3AlS2+(Cal,  N,  K,)S3+6Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  20  —  21.  H.  =  40  —  4-5. 

This  mineral  is  found  crystallized  in  the  form  of  an  Obtuse 
rhomboid  of  94°  46'  and  85°  14',  by  measurements  on  the 
planes  of  cleavage  with  the  reflective  goniometer;  it  yields  to 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  rhomboid,  occasionally 
with  brilliant  surfaces.  Color  white  or  greyish,  sometimes 
pale-red,  brick-red,  and  yellow;  transparent  or  translucent; 
scarcely  hard  enough  to  scratch  glass.  Fracture  uneven  ; 
brittle.  Lustre  highly  vitreous.  Alone  it  melts  easily  B  B, 
into  a  spongy-like  white  enamel.  Is  easily  soluble  in  muriatic 
acid. 


*  Colorless,  and  nearly  transparent  crystals  from  Swan's  Creek,  Basin  of  Mines,  Nova 
Scotia. 

t  Brick-red  hemitrope  crystals,  (Sp.  Gr.  2-075,)  Parsboro',  Nova  Scotia.  Selected  bjr 
Charles  Cramer,  Esq.,  of  St.  Petersburg.  See  Poggendorf's  Annalen  1832,  No.  7. 

t  Yellowish  crystals,  (Sp.  Gr.  2-020),  Partridge  Island,  Nova  Scotia.  See  Lond.  Edinb. 
and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  1843,  vol.  xxii.,  p.  192. 

§  Reddish  brown  crystals,  opposite  Two  Islands,  Nova  Scotia.  The  specimens  anal- 
yzed by  Dr.  Thomson  and  Mr.  Hayes,  were  selected  for  these  gentlemen  by  the  editor, 
and  the  results  of  the  latter  were  not  made  public  until  they  appeared  in  this  work. 

||  See  his  paper  in  vol.  xxx.,  p.  366,  of  the  American  Journal  of  Science,  copied  from 
Poggendorf's  Annalen. 


240 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


P    on  P' 94°  46' 

P    or   P'  on  P" 85  14 

P    on  gt,  P"  on  g,  or  P'  on  g"   .  120       5 
P    on  i    or  i      ) 

P'  on  t'  or  i'    > 175  30 

P"  on  i"  or  t''    ^ 

i  on  i,  i'  on  i',  or  i"  on  i"    ....  173  32 

g  on  m 143  59  H. 


Chabasie  is  met  with  in  the  fissures  or  cavities  of  some  ba- 
saltic rocks,  or  within  geodes  of  quartz  or  agate,  which  are  dis- 
seminated in  those  rocks.  It  is  thus  found  in  large  and  very 
beautiful  crystals  in  the  amygdaloids  of  Faroe,  Iceland,  and 
Greenland,  often  associated  with  stilbite  and  green  earth. 
Splendid  specimens  occur  in  a  kind  of  greenstone  rock  (the 
graustcin  of  Werner)  at  Aussig  in  Bohemia.  Smaller  but 
more  transparent  varieties  are  met  with  in  the  basalt  of  the 
Giant's  Causeway ;  disposed  on  trap  and  accompanying  stil- 
bite atKilmalcolm  in  Renfrewshire,  where  they  are  sometimes 
of  a  reddish  color ;  in  the  Isle  of  Skye,  and  elsewhere  in  the 
west  of  Scotland  ;  also  at  Gustafsberg  in  Sweden  ;  in  the  agate 
balls  of  Oberstein  in  Deuxponts;  and  at  Husavic  in  Iceland, 
in  small  transparent  crystals  filling  the  cavities  of  the  fossil 
Venus  Islandica.  It  does  not  occur  massive. 

The  trap  rocks  of  the  United  States  have  furnished  several 
localities  of  this  mineral,  as  at  Deerfield,  Mass.,  Farmington 
and  Cheshire,  Conn.,  where  it  is  accompanied  by  prehnite. 
But  the  crystals  are  inferior  in  beauty  and  size  to  those  from 
foreign  localities,  and  they  rarely  present  any  modifications. 
The  finest  have  been  obtained  at  Bergen,  N.  J.,  where  they 
are  associated  with  apophyllite,  stilbite  and  calc-spar.  At 
Chester,  Mass.,  and  Hadlym,  Conn.,  it  occurs  in  mica  slate. 
At  West  Farms,  West  Chester  County,  N.  Y.,  and  at  Harlem, 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  241 

near  New  York  city,  it  is  associated  with  stilbite  and  Heu 
landite.  At  the  latter  place  its  color  is  yellow  or  brownish- 
red.  Crystals  having  the  same  color  have  also  been  found  at 
Stonington,  and  others  of  a  yellowish-white  color  at  North 
Killingworth,  Conn.,  in  primitive  rock,  by  Prof.  Shepard. 
The  sienite  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  has  also  furnished  many 
very  good  specimens  of  the  colorless  variety. 

ACADIALITE.  This  variety  of  chabasie,  if  such  it  is  to  be 
considered,  is  found  in  the  trap  rocks  of  Nova  Scotia.  The 
principal  locality  is  on  the  northern  shore  of  the  Basin  of 
Mines.  The  crystals  are  of  variable  color,  but  usually  wine- 
yellow,  or  flesh  red,  and  present  highly  polished  faces  some- 
times more  than  an  inch  in  length.  They  are  more  or  less 
modified  on  their  superior  edges,  and  lateral  solid  angles,  by 
single  planes,  and  not  unfrequently  united  in  hemitropes. 
Fig.  2  is  one  of  the  commonest  secondary  forms  of  this  mine- 
ral from  Nova  Scotia.  Sometimes  the  solid  angles  alone  are 
replaced,  as  are  also  very  rarely  the  terminal  edges,  as  in  fig.  3.* 
Faces  of  the  primary  planes  much  curved  and  striated,  so  as 
to  prevent  the  accurate  use  of  the  goniometer.  But  accord- 
ing to  Prof.  G.  Rose,  the  acadialite  offers  no  variation  in  its 
angles  compared  with  common  chabasie.  Tamnau  had  sup- 
posed it  probable  that  the  variations  in  the  angles  of  chabasie, 
as  given  by  different  authors,  were  owing  to  changes  in  the 
chemical  composition  of  the  mineral.  The  result  by  Prof.  G. 
Rose,  seems  to  show  that  this  is  not  the  case  to  any  apprecia- 
ble extent,  even  where  there  is  the  greatest  difference  in  com- 
position.! 


CAPORCIANITE. 

This  substance  was  first  observed  by  Dr.  Paolo  Savi  at  Ca- 
porciani,  in  the  valley  of  the  Caecino,  where  it  occurs  in  a 
copper  mine,  and  has  been  described  by  him  in  his  Memorie 
per  servire  allo  studio  della  costituzione  Jisica  della  Toscana. 
It  evidently  belongs  to  the  class  of  zeolites,  and  it  conducts 
itself  perfectly  similar  to  the  other  zeolites  in  so  far  as  its  fria- 
bility and  relation  to  fluxes  are  concerned;  but,  according  to 
Dr.  Anderson,  who  has  examined  and  analyzed  this  mineral, £ 
it  differs  from  them  in  this  much,  that,  previous  to  melting,  it 


*  I  give  this  figure  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Tamnau,  of  Berlin,  for  I  have  never  seen  a 
crystal  from  Nova  Scotia,  which  exactly  represents  this  modification.  [AM.  ED.] 

f  See  the  valuable  "  Monograph  on  Chabasie,"  by  Dr.  Tamnau  of  Berlin,  in  which 
he  has  given  figures  of  all  the  occurring  forms  of  this  mineral,  and  stated  its  most  im- 
portant localities.  [AM.  ED.] 

J  Trans,  of  the  Roy.  Soc.  of  Edinb.,  vol.  xv.,  part  2,  p.  332. 

21 


242  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

swells  out  only  to  a  very  inconsiderable  degree;  for  it  melts 
almost  at  the  same  instant  that  the  swelling  manifests  itself. 
Its  analysis  yielded  the  following  results : 

Silica 52-8 

Alumina 21-7 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-1 

Boda 0-2) 

Lime 11-3  f  r 

Magnesia 0-4  £ 

Potash 1-1  ) 

Water 13-1  ==  100-7, 

The  monatomic  bases  being  expressed  by  r,  Dr  Anderson, 
from  the  contained  oxygen,  determined  the  formula  thus, 
(r,  Al,  S,  and  Aq,  being  to  each  other  as  1:3:8:3)  — 
rS2+3A!S-+3Aq.  Rammelsberg  has  given  a  somewhat  dif- 
ferent formula. 

Caporcianite  thus  stands  chemically  in  near  relation  with  an- 
alcime,  chabasie,  and  Levyne,  from  which  it  is  separated  merely 
by  the  difference  in  the  quantity  of  water  which  it  contains. 
They  all  consist  of  a  bisilicate  of  the  first  as  well  as  of  the  sec- 
ond term ;  and  the  quantity  of  oxygen  in  the  alumina  is  in  all 
of  them  three  times  that  contained  in  the  monatomic  basis. 

It  occurs  in  masses  composed  of  crooked  fibres  of  a  greyish 
red  color,  but  the  crystallographical,  as  well  as  the  ordinary 
physical  characters  of  this  mineral,  have  not  been  given  in 
the  single  notice  which  the  editor  has  seen  of  it,  and  he  has 
not  been  able  to  obtain  the  work  here  referred  to,  in  which, 
it  is  presumed,  they  are  stated  at  length. 


PHAKOLITE. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  small  crystals  in  the  Bohemian  Mit- 
telgebirge,  and  has  been  usually  supposed  to  be  nearly  allied 
to  chabasie,  having  for  its  primary  form  a  Rhomboid  differing 
but  a  few  minutes  in  its  angles  compared  with  that  of  chaba- 
sie; one  being  94°,  and  the  other  94°  24',  according  to  Brei- 
thaupt,  who  supposes  the  phakolite  to  be  a  distinct  species. 
Tamnau  has  referred  us  to  three  figures  in  his  Monograph  on 
chabasie,  which  perfectly  represent  the  forms  of  phakolite,  and 
he  seems  to  have  no  hesitation  in  classing  it  with  chabasie.  In 
its  characters,  B  B,  and  its  physical  relations  generally,  there 
is  also  a  close  resemblance  between  the  two  minerals.  But 
in  opposition  to  this  view,  we  are  now  presented  with  an  anal- 
ysis of  the  mineral  by  Dr.  Anderson  of  Edinburgh,  and  also 
by  M.  Rammelsberg,*  showing  a  very  marked  disagreement 
in  their  chemical  constitution.  They  have  given  the  follow- 
ing results : 

*  Trans,  of  the  Roy.  Soc.  of  Edinb.,  vol.  xv.,  part  2,  p.  333.     Rammelsberg's  Handwor- 
terbuch  des  chemischer  Theils  der  Mineralogie,  (First  Supplement),  p.  112. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  243 

Sili  ca 45-628 46-46 

Alumina 19-480 ?  91  >4r 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-431 5 

S-!oda 1-684  )      0-95 

Lime 13-304  (      10-45 

Maenesia 0-143  f  r* 0-00 

Potash 1-314)      1-29 

Water 17-976  =  99-960.  Anderson.     19-40  =  100-00.  Rammelsberg. 

The  mineralogical  formula  obtained  from  these  numbers 
by  calculating  the  quantities  of  oxygen,  is  thus  stated  by  Dr. 
Anderson,  (r  expressing  the  monatomic  bases,  Cal,  Mg,  K,  N), 
rS3+2A!S+3Aq. 

It  appears  then,  that,  unlike  chabasie,  phakolite  belongs  to 
that  class  of  hydrous  trappeari  minerals,  which  consist  of  a  ter- 
silicate  in  the  first  term,  as  here  expressed,  and  in  the  second 
of  a  simple  silicate  of  the  base  along  with  water.  It  thus  bears 
a  much  nearer  resemblance  to  mesotype  and  mesolite,  though 
none  in  crystalline  form.  This  mineral,  according  to  Dr. 
Thomson,  has  lately  been  found  in  Ireland. 

Rammelsberg,  from  his  own  analysis,  is  disposed  to  regard 
this  mineral  as  a  mixture  of  Acadialite  and  scolezite  with  an 
additional  atom  of  water.  (See  First  Supplement  to  his 
Handworterbuch,  p.  112. 

LEVYNE. 

Macrotypous   Kouphone  Spar,  M.     Levyne,  Brewster,  (Edirib.  Jour,  of  ScL,  h.,  332.) 
Connell,  (Ibid,  v.  332.;    Vulcanus  Levy  anus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  lime,  and  water,  with  a  little 
soda  and  potash. 

Antrim.  Faroe.  Antrim. 

Silica 44-75 48-00 46-30 

Alumina 20-33 20-00 22-47 

Lime 8-83 8-35 9-72 

Soda 3-33 2-75 1-55 

Pota=h 000 0-41 1-26 

Oxide  of  iron 0-00 0-00 0-77 

Magnesia 0-77 0-40 0-00 

Oxide  of  manganese..  0-00 0-00 0-19 

Water 20-00 19-30 19-51 

98-04  Thomson.  99-21  Berzelius.          101-77  Connell. 

The  formula  indicating  the  composition  of  this  from  the 
last  analysis,  as  stated  by  Connell  is,  S(Cal,N,K)+3AlS2-f 
5Aq.  It  thus  differs  from  chabasie  in  containing  one  atom 
less  of  silica,  and  one  atom  less  of  water ;  and  from  Acadialite 
in  containing  two  atoms  less  of  silica. 

3  Sp.  Gr.  2-198  — 22.     H.  —  4-0. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid  of  79°  29'.  The  color  of  this 
species  is  white,  or  milk  white.  Semi-transparent;  lustre  vi- 
treous; streak  white;  cleavage  indistinct,  parallel  to  the  faces 
jof  the  primary ;  fracture  imperfect  conchoidal ;  brittle. 


244  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Compound  crystal  from  Faroe. 


P  on  F 125°  12' 

o  on  g 136       1 

o  on  P 117     24 


Upon  charcoal  it  intumesces,  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus 
yields  a  transparent  globule,  which  contains  a  skeleton  of  sil- 
ica, and  becomes  opake  on  cooling.  In  the  glass  tube  it  gives 
off  a  considerable  quantity  of  water,  whitens,  and  becomes 
opake;  but  it  is  not  soluble  in  acids,  nor  does  it  gelatinize 
with  them. 

Sir  David  Brewster  subjected  this  mineral  to  optical  exami- 
nation, and  named  it  in  compliment  to  Mr.  Levy,  who  had 
previously  examined  its  crystallographic  properties.  He  has 
shown  its  character  in  this  respect  to  be  different  from  chaba- 
sie,  thus  affording  with  the  crystallographical  differences  ob- 
served by  Haidinger,  evidence  of  its  distinct  nature  compared 
with  chabasie.  This  evidence  is  now  confirmed  by  the  analy- 
sis of  Connell.*  It  occurs  disposed  in  cavities  of  trap,  asso- 
ciated with  acicular  arid  radiated  mesotype,  at  the  Little  Deer- 
park  of  Glenarm,  county  Antrim ;  also  at  Skagastrand  in 
Iceland;  at  Dalsnypen  in  Faroe;  Godhaven  in  Disco  Island, 
Greenland;  in  the  Vicentine;  and,  though  rarely,  in  large 
reddish  colored  opake  crystals  at  Hartfield  Moss  in  Renfrew- 
shire. Mr.  Connell  has  also  found  it  in  the  Isle  of  Skye. 

TOURMALINE. 

Tourmalin,  W.    Schorl,  Br.    RhomboidalTourmaline,  J.    Rhomboherlral  Tourmaline,  M. 
Aphrizite.     Rubellitc.     Indicolite.     Tunnalus  rhomhohedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  oxide  of  iron,  and  lime, 
with  small  proportions  of  magnesia,  potash,  soda  and  boracic 
acid. 


Black.  Black.  Brown. 

Karinbricka.  Greenland.  Orford.  N.H 


2-53 


4-90 


Black.]          Brown. 
Rabenstein.   St.  Gothard. 

Soda 1-75?  lon 

Potash 0-485 L'M *w 0-22 

Silica 35-48 37-81 37-65 38-79.' 33-70 

Alumina 34-75 31-61 33-46 37-1 9 33-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 17-44 17-77 9-38 5-81 11-80 

Protoxide  of  manganese..  1-89 1-11 O-oO 000 3-00 

Boracic  acid 4-02 4-18 3-83 3-63 3-10 

Magnesia 4-68 5-99 10-98 5-86 6-40 

Lime 0-00 0-98 0-25.. loss..  1-86 2-90 


100-49 


100-65 


95-11 


96-51 


99-00 


*  Berzelius  was  led  by  his  own  analysis,  as  above  stated,  to  regard  this  mineral  as  cha- 
basie ;  but  it  has  been  since  ascertained  that  the  specimen  sent  to  him  was  a  mixture  of 
both  minerals,  and  it  is  inferred  that  crystals  of  both  were  employed  in  his  analysis. 
[AM.  ED.] 

f  The  first  four  of  the  above  analyses  are  by  Gmelin.  Ann.  dea  Mines,  s.  s.,  iii.,  p.  218. 
The  fifth  analysis  is  by  Dr.  Jackson. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  245 

The  composition  of  this  mineral,  as  comprising  the  black, 
green,  brown,  red,  and  blue  varieties,  differs  so  much,  that 
chemists  have  not  attempted  to  express  it  by  a  formula.  Bo- 
racic  acid  is  contained  in  all  these  varieties,  and  lithia  in 
rubellite. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-0  —  32.     H.  =  7'0  —  75. 

It  occurs  both  in  semi-crystalline  prisms  of  irregular  form 
and  deeply  striated  on  the  surface,  and  in  prisms  of  six  or 
more  sides,  variously  terminated,  the  two  terminations  being 
generally  dissimilar.  Sometimes  these  prisms  are  extremely 
short  and  thick,  and  at  others  are  acicular  or  even  capillary. 
Its  color  is  usually  black,  dark-green,  or  brown ;  the  latter  be- 
ing generally  translucent  in  one  direction  and  opake  in  the 
other,  the  black  altogether  opake;  externally  the  crystals  are 
splendent.  The  primary  form  is  considered  to  be  an  Obtuse 
rhomboid  of  133°  50',  and  46°  10'.  Cleavage  and  fracture 
uneven  and  imperfect.  It  is  not  so  hard  as  quartz.  One  of 
its  remarkable  characters  is,  that  it  becomes  electric  when 
heated ;  the  termination  which  presented  the  greatest  number 
of  planes,  was  supposed  by  Haiiy  to  exhibit  in  all  cases  the 
positive  or  vitreous  electricity,  while  that  which  consisted  of  the 
smaller  number,  indicated  the  negative  or  resinous  —  an  infer- 
ence, however,  which  more  recent  experiments  have  proved 
not  to  be  uniformly  true.*  B  B,  the  black  tourmaline  of  Bovey 
intumesces,  and  becomes  a  black  scoriaceous  mass ;  with  borax 
it  fuses  into  a  transparent  glass.  Fused  with  a  mixture  of 
fluor  spar  and  bisulphate  of  potash,  it  communicates  to  the 
flame  a  transient  green  color.t 


Fig;.  1  represents  the  primary  rhomboid,  of  which  the  summit  is  re- 
placed by  a  triangular  plane  in  fig.  2,  as  well  as  each  lateral  solid  angle, 
by  planes  which  form  the  ordinary  six-sided  prism  of  this  mineral ;  the 
edges  of  the  prism  are  modified  in  fig.  3. 

*  The  phenomena  of  the  pyro-electricity  of  minerals,  have  lately  been  investigated  hy 
Prof.  Forbes  of  Edinburgh,  and  many  important  results  have  been  obtained  by  him,  ex- 
tending to  several  other  minerals  the  remarkable  law  of  Becquerel,  that  the  intensity  of 
electricity  rises  to  a  maximum,  when  the  speed  of  cooling  has  become  comparatively 
low.  He  has  noticed  the  singular  fact,  that  a  crystal  of  tourmaline  presented  on  cooling 
a  vitreous  pole  at,  both  extremities,  while  the  central  portions  of  it  were  resinously  elec- 
trified. Trans.  Roy.  Soc.,  Eclinb.  vol.  xiii.  [AM.  ED.] 

t  The  color  is  most  distinctly  seen  when  the  mixed  flux  of  fluorspnr  and  bisulphate  of 
potash  is  fused  on  the  platinum  wire,  and  a  little  of  the  mineral  in  the  state  of  fino 

21* 


246 


ALKALINO-EARTHY.    MINERALS. 


P  on  P7 

P  or  P'  on  m 


-  on  g 
or  P' on  i 


133° 

156 

141 

138 

117 

120 

149 


Pon 

P  or  P  on  e 
e  on  e'  or  e" 
e  on/1  .  . 

/I  on/2 155 

e  on  i  or  i' 147 

e  on  g 136 

a  on  e 90 

mon  e  .         .  103 


50' 
50 
10 
7 
25 
00 
30 
25 
32 
15 

00  c.  g. 
30  c.  s. 


Tourmaline  is  confined  to  primitive  rocks,  such  as  gneiss, 
granite,  mica-schiste,  &,c.,  and  to  the  veins  which  traverse 
these  rocks.  The  largest  and  most  striking  black  crystals  oc- 
cur in  Greenland;  at  Horlberg  near  Bodenmais  in  Bavaria ; 
at  Karinbricka  in  Sweden ;  and  near  Bovey  in  Devonshire, 
coating  the  cavities  of  red  granite  and  associated  with  apatite; 
small  brilliant  black  crystals,  having  much  the  aspect  of  tin  ore, 
are  met  with  imbedded  in  white  quartz  in  Norway,  at  St.  Just 
in  Cornwall,  and  in  decomposed  felspar  at  Andreasberg  in  the 
Hartz  ;  these  are  known  as  Aphrizite.  Large  curved  crystal- 
line prisms  occur  in  granite  at  Portsoy  in  Banffshire  ;  also  in 
Norway,  Saltzburg,  the  Tyrol,  and  Saxony,  —  the  name  Schorl, 
which  is  applied  to  this 'variety,  being  derived  from  the  village 
of  Schorlan  in  the  latter  country. 

Tourmaline  is  also  met  with  in  pale  yellowish-brown  crys- 
tals imbedded  in  talc  at  Windisch  Kappel  in  Carinthia  ;  in 
pale-green  translucent  crystals  in  dolomite  at  St.  Gothard ;  of 
a  dark  pistachio-green  color  in  Brazil ;  and  nearly  pure  white 


powder  is  then  strewed  on  the  surface  of  the  melted  flux.  A  good  and  clear  flame  is 
necessary.  The  color  is  observed  at  the  moment  when  the  mineral  begins  to  fuse  with 
the  flux.— Von  Kobell. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  247 

in  Siberia  and  Switzerland.  In  Elba  the  crystals,  when  trans- 
parent, frequently  exhibit  parallel  zones  of  distinctly  different 
colors,  being  red  at  the  two  extremes,  and  dark-blue  in  the 
centre,  or  partly  grass-green  and  partly  azure-blue,  &,c.  Tour- 
maline possesses  the  singular  property  of  exhibiting  different 
colors  according  as  it  is  viewed  parallel  or  perpendicular  to 
the  axis  of  its  crystals,  and  almost  invariably  is  less  transpa- 
rent in  the  first  of  these  directions  than  in  the  last. 

In  the  United  States,  a  rare  clove-brown  tourmaline  occurs 
in  talcose  slate  at  Orford,  N.  H.,  crystallized  specimens  of 
which  are  more  than  two  inches  in  diameter  and  six  inches  in 
length,  sometimes  with  perfect  terminations.  Also  a  radiated 
variety  of  the  same  color  is  abundant  at  this  locality.  Its 
analysis  by  Dr.  Jackson  is  given  at  the  beginning  of  this  arti- 
cle. The  common  black  variety  has  numerous  localities,  a 
few  only  of  which  will  be  named,  as  at  Richmond  and  Lyme, 
N.  H.,  in  white  quartz  and  talcose  slate,  the  crystals  being 
regularly  terminated;  at  Paris  and  Brunswick,  Me.,  Monroe 
and  Haddam,  Conn.,  Greenfield,  N.  Y.,  and  Chester,  Dela- 
ware County,  Penn.,  —  where  the  crystals  possess  highly  pol- 
ished surfaces,  and  are  of  considerable  magnitude.  Two  of 
these  crystals  are  shown  on  the  opposite  page ;  for  others 
consult  the  treatises  by  Dana,  Shepard  and  Beck.  The  red 
and  green  varieties  have  been  found  at  Paris,  Me.,  and 
Chesterfield  and  Goshen,  Mass.  Specimens  from  the  former 
place  are  celebrated  for  their  gem-like  purity  —  the  outer 
portion  often  consisting  of  a  deep  green  tourmaline  enclos- 
ing a  transparent  rubellite,  some  of  the  crystals  being  two 
inches  in  length,  and  an  inch  in  diameter.  Specimens  from 
Chesterfield  are  similarly  united,  but  they  are  small  and  ex- 
ceedingly brittle.  They  penetrate  a  smoky  quartz,  and  are 
accompanied  by  Cleavelandite,  in  a  vein  of  granite  traversing 
gneiss.  The  blue  variety  (indicolite)  occurs  in  the  greatest 
perfection  at  Goshen ;  less  beautiful  at  Paris.  A  cinnamon- 
brown  variety  occurs  at  Gouverneur,  N.  Y.,  in  crystals  which 
are  highly  modified ;  also  at  Newton,  N.  J.,  and  Carlisle,  Mass. 

1.  INDICOLITE.  Tourmaline  d'Uto,  Blue  tourmaline  con- 
taining more  oxide  of  iron  than  oxide  of  manganese.  Silica 
40-30,  alumina  4050,  boracic  acid  T10,  oxide  of  iron  4'85, 
oxide  of  manganese  1*50,  Lithia  4-30,  water  3'60. —  Arfwed- 
son.  In  crystals  of  an  indeterminate  form  and  presenting  an 
indigo-blue  color  (hence  its  name).  Alone  B  B  it  whitens, 
intumesces  slightly,  and  becomes  scoriaceous  on  the  surface, 
but  does  not  melt.  With  borax  it  fuses  with  effervescence, 
but  more  difficultly  than  rubellite. 


248  ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Its  principal  locality  is  the  iron  mine  of  the  island  of  Uton 
near  Stockholm,  where  it  occurs  disseminated  in  a  gangue  of 
quartz,  steatite,  and  felspar. 

2.  GREEN  TOURMALINE.     This  variety  from  Brazil,  and  a 
specimen  from  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  yielded  the  following : 

Brazil.  Chesterfield. 

Silica 40-30 38-80 

Alumina 39-16. 39-61 

Lithia  and  Potash 3-59 0-00 

Soda 0-00 4-95 

Protoxide  of  iron 5-93 7-43 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  2-14 2-88 

Boracic  acid 4-59 3-88 

Volatile  matter 1-58 1-02 

97-02  Gmelin.  93-57  Gmelin. 

3.  RUBELLITE.    Siberite.    Tourmaline  Apyre,  H.    Apyrite. 
Tourmaline  rouge.      Tourmaline   containing  more  oxide  of 
manganese  than  oxide  of  iron.     Sp.  Gr.  3  059. 

Moravia.  Siberia. 

Silica 42-13 39-37 

Alumina 36-43 44-00 

Boracic  acid 5-74 4-18 

Oxide  of  manganese 6-32 5-02 

Lime  1-20 0-00 

Potash 2-41 1-29 

Lithia 2-04 2-52 

96-27  Gmelin.  97-96  Gmelin. 

The  rube'llite  presents  various  shades  of  red,  from  a  slight 
tinge  to  a  fine  pink,  and  sometimes  a  violet  color.  Its  crys- 
tals are  rarely  distinct,  being  commonly  closely  aggregated. 
Alone  on  charcoal,  B  B,  it  turns  milk-white,  intumesces,  splits, 
vitrifies  on  the  edges,  but  does  not  fuse ;  with  borax  it  forms 
a  transparent  glass;  on  platina,  with  soda,  it  exhibits  to  an 
intense  degree  the  green  color  indicative  of  manganese.  It 
occurs  imbedded  in  lithomarge  near  Ekatherineburg  in  Sibe- 
ria: and  accompanying  lepidolite  at  Rozena  in  Moravia. 
Some  of  the  Siberian  specimens  exhibit  internally  a  brown  or 
blue  color,  surrounded  with  carmine-red  or  some  other  lighter 
tinge,  or  internally  a  red  hue  bordered  with  pistachio-green. 

EDINGTONITE. 

Hemi-pyramidal  Feldspar,  Haidinger.*    Vulcanus  hemiquadratus,  D. 

According  to  Turner,  it  contains  silica  35'09,  alumina  27*69, 
lime  12-68,  water  13-32,  and,  as  he  supposes,  about  10  or  12 
per  cent,  of  alkali. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-7  — 2-75.     H.  =  40  — 4-5. 

*  firewater's  Edin.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  vol.  iii.,  p.  376. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  249 


n  on  n  over  the  summit  .  .  129°     8' 
P  on  P  over  n  and  n  .         .    92    41 


Occurs  in  small  extremely  distinct  greyish-white  translucent 
crystals,  whose  primary  form,  according  to  Hadinger,  is  a 
Right  square  prism.  The  secondary  form  under  which  it  oc- 
curs is  a  hernihedral  crystal,  the  upper  and  lower  basal  edges 
of  the  same  lateral  face  being  differently  modified.  Lustre 
vitreous;  streak  white;  brittle.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to 
the  lateral  planes.  B  B  it  fuses  into  a  colorless  mass,  though 
a  pretty  strong  heat  is  necessary  for  that  purpose.  It  yields 
water  when  exposed  to  high  temperatures,  and  becomes  at  the 
same  time  opake  and  white. 

Edingtonite  was  remarked  by  Haidinger  on  a  specimen  of 
Thomsonite  from  Dunbartonshire,  in  the  collection  of  Mr. 
Edington  of  Glasgow.  Its  peculiar  crystalline  form,  specific 
gravity,  and  hardness,  are  sufficiently  characteristic,  although 
from  its  extreme  scarcity  a  satisfactory  analysis  has  not  yet 
been  made. 

KROKYDOLITE.* 

Krokydolite,  Haussman.     Blau  Eisenstein,  Klaproth.    Siderus  fibrosus,  D. 

Of  this  there  are  two  varieties;  one  like  asbestus,  the  other 
fibrous  ;  neither  being  in  distinct  crystals. 


Fibrous. 
Coatains  Soda  ...................  7'03  ................  7-11 

Silica  ..................  50-81  ................  51-64 

Protoxide  of  iron  .......  33-88  ................  34-38 

Oxid-fi  of  manganese  .....  (M7  ................  0-02 

Magnesia  ...............  2-39  ................  2-62 

Water  ................  5-58  ................  4-01 

Lime  ..................  0-02  ................  0-05 

99  81  Stromeyer.          99-85  Stromeyer. 

Sp.  Gr.  32  —  3-39.     H.  above  40. 

Color  lavender-  or  indigo-blue  ;  streak  lavender-blue  or  leek- 
green.  Occurs  in  fibrous  masses  which  are  flexible  and 
elastic  like  asbestus,  and  compact;  opake;  lustre  silky;  not 
magnetic  ;  not  affected  by  water  or  acids.  It  resembles  asbes- 
tus; but  is  distinguished  from  it  by  the  melting  of  its  fibres 

*  From  xnoxvg,  like  wool,  on  account  of  its  divisibility  into  minute  threads. 


250 


ALKALINO-EARTH7.    MINERALS. 


when  held  in  the  flame  of  a  spirit  lamp.  The  mineral  itself 
melts  before  a  strong  red  heat  into  a  black  opake  magnetic 
globule.  With  borax  it  forms  easily  a  transparent  green- 
colored  glass. 

Its  locality  is  the  Orange  River  in  Southern  Africa.    It  was 
first  described  by  Haussman  and  Strorneyer  in  1830. 


ACHMITE.* 

Acmite,  Akmit,  Haidinger.     Achmit,  Stromeycr.     (Edinb.  Phil.  Jour.,ix.,  55.)     Augitus 
cuslidatus,  I). 

Combination  of  soda,  silica,  and  peroxide  of  iron. 

Silica 55-25 

Soda 10-40 

Oxide  of  iron 3J-25 

Oxide  of  manganese  ..   1-08 
Lime 0-72 

98-70  Berzelius. 

Formula  :  3FS9+NS3.  The  analysis  by  Lehunt,  gives  only 
two  atoms  bisilicate  of  iron. 

Sp.  Gr.  35.     H.  =6-0  — 65. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  86°  57',  and 
93°  3'.  Opake ;  when  in  thin  fragments  translucent,  and  ex- 
hibiting a  yellowish-brown  tint;  lustre  vitreous;  streak  pale 
yellowish-grey;  cleavage  distinct  parallel  to  M,  less  so  paral- 
lel to  r,  ?,  and  s;  fracture  imperfect  conchoidal ;  surface  of  r 
irregularly  striated  longitudinally. 


M  on  M  over  r 86°  56> 

s  on  s 119    SO 

edge  between  s  and  s  to  )  1A,,       A 

the  face  r \  106       ° 

the  angle  a  b  c 28     19 


Frequently  macled  parallel  to  r.  Alone,  B  B,  achmite  fuses 
readily  into  a  brilliant  black  globule ;  with  borax  forms  a  glass 
colored  by  iron;  and  when  reduced  to  powder  is  acted  upon 
by  the  sulphuric  and  muriatic  acids. 

This  is  a  rare  mineral,  its  only  known  locality  being  Run- 


*  From  axiiy,  a  point,  from  the  form  of  its  crystals. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  251 

demyr,  near  Kongsberg,  in  Norway.  It  there  occurs  in  crys- 
tals sometimes  a  foot  long,  imbedded  in  granite,  which,  how- 
ever, from  their  frangibility,  are  not  easily  disengaged  entire. 
It  was  described  by  Stromeyer  and  analyzed  by  Berzelius  in 
1821. 


CUMMINGTONITE, 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines,  $c.,  i.,  p.  492.)    Augitus  scopiformis,  D. 

Contains  Soda 8-44 

Silica 56-54 

Protoxide  of  Iron 21-67 

Protoxide  of  manganese..  7-80 
Loss  from  heat 3-18 

97-63  Muir. 

Formula  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  3FS  +NS3+MnS3+UAq. 
Sp.  Gr.  320.     H.  i=2-?5. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  fine  needles,  forming  tufts  of  crys- 
tals, which  diverge  slightly  from  one  another.  According  to 
Shepard  it  offers  a  cleavage  parallel  to  an  oblique  rhombic 
prism.  Color  greyish-white.  Lustre  silky.  Opake  or  trans- 
lucent only  on  the  edges.  Alone  it  does  not  melt  BB;  with 
soda  it  effervesces  and  fuses  into  a  dark  colored  globule;  and 
with  borax  forms  a  black  glass,  indicating  the  presence  of 
much  iron  and  manganese.  It  is  found  at  Cummington  and 
Plainfield,  in  Massachusetts,  in  mica  slate  associated  with  gar- 
nets. By  most  mineralogists  it  is  united  with  epidote. 

CHLOROPHJEITE.* 

Dr.  MacCulloch.     (  Western  Isles  of  Scotland,  i.,  p.  504.) 

This  mineral,  when  newly  broken,  is  of  a  green  color, 
varying  from  the  fine  transparent  yellow-green  of  olivin,  which 
it  sometimes  resembles,  to  the  dull  muddy  green  of  steatite,  to 
which  it  then  bears  an  equal  similitude.  After  a  few  hours' 
exposure  it  turns  darker,  and  shortly  becomes  black.  The 
fracture  is  generally  conchoidal.  It  is  so  soft  as  to  be 
scratched  by  a  quill,  and  is  brittle.  Specific  gravity  2'020. 
B  B  it  remains  unchanged,  neither  cracking  nor  sensibly  alter- 
ing its  color  nor  translucency.  Consists  principally  of  silica 
and  iron,  with  a  little  alumina,  and  probably  an  alkali. 

It  is  found  imbedded  in  the  amygdaloid  of  Scuirmore  in  the 
Isle  of  Rum,  the  base  being  either  a  basalt  or  a  black  indura- 
ted clay-stone.  It  also  occurs  in  Fifeshire,  in  Iceland,  and  in 
the  United  States,  at  Gill,  Mass.,  and  at  Southbury,  Conn. 


*  Chlorophaeite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  appearing  of  a  green  color  (when 
newly  broken.) 


252 


ALKALI  NO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 


The  nodules  are  generally  round,  and  vary  from  the  size  of 
a  radish  seed  to  that  of  a  pea  and  upwards;  sometimes  they 
are  hollow. 

LEHUNTITE.* 

Compact  zeolite,  Thomson.     (Outlines,  Sfc.,  i.,  p.  338.) 

Dr.  Thomson  has  given  this  name  to  a  species  of  zeolite 
which  occurs  at  Glen  Arm,  a  precipice  on  the  east  coast  of 
the  county  of  Antrim,  in  an  amygdaloidal  rock.  Its  constitu- 
ents, by  the  analysis  of  Dr.  R.  D.  Thomson,  are: 

Silica 47-33 

Alumina 24-00 

Soda 13-23 

Lime 1-52 

Water 13-60 

99-65 

If  we  allow  for  a  small  deficiency  of  silica,  the  constitution 
of  Lehuntite  is  three  atoms  bisilicate  of  alumina,  one  atom 
bisilicate  of  soda  and  lime,  and  three  atoms  water.  Formula: 
3AlS2+(fN+iCal)SH-3Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-953.     H.  =  3-75. 

Color  flesh-red.  Appears  to  the  naked  eye  like  a  lump  of 
sugar.  Under  the  microscope  it  appears  to  be  composed  of 
minute  scales.  The  mass,  when  broken  in  two  exhibits  the 
appearance  of  five  distinct  layers,  three  of  them  flesh-red,  and 
two  of  them  white  lines  separating  the  flesh-red  portion  into 
three  portions.  Or  it  may  be  described  as  a  flesh-red  mass, 
with  two  parallel  white  lines  near  the  centre.  Translucent  on 
the  edges.  B  B  fuses  into  a  white  enamel.  With  carbonate 
of  soda  it  melts  easily  into  a  white  enamel.  With  borax  or 
biphosphate  of  soda  it  forms  a  transparent  bead  with  a  silica 
skeleton,  which  becomes  opake  on  cooling. 

EUDYALITE.t 

Eudilyt,  Stromeyer.    Eudialyte.    ( Jameson's  Man.,  p.  322.)  Carbunculus  rhomboliedrus,  D. 

Composed  of  silica,  soda,  zirconia,  lime,  the  oxides  of  iron 
and  manganese,  muriatic  acid,  and  water. 

Silica7 52-47 53-32 

Soda 13-92 13-82 

Zirconia 10-89 11-10 

Lime 10-14 9-79 

Ox-ideofiron 6-85 6-75 

Oxide  of  manganese  ....  2-57 2-06 

Muriatic  acid 1-03 1-03 

Water 1-80 1-80 

99-71  Stromeyer.  99-67  Stromeyer. 

*  In  honor  of  Captain  Lehunt. 

I  Eudalite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  ready  solubility  in  acids. 


ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS, 


253 


Taking  the  last  analysis,  Beudant  gives  this  formula: 
ZS3+3(N,  Cal,  F)S3. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-89.     H.  =r  50  —  55. 

Eudyalite  occurs  both  massive  and  crystallized,  but  the  crys- 
tals are  generally  small  and  irregular.  The  following  figure, 
however,  is  taken  from  a  very  perfect  crystal  nearly  an  inch  in 
diameter,  which  was  brought  from  Greenland  by  Giesecke. 
And  the  remarkably  fine  crystal  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Brooke  of  London,  having  numerous  secondary  planes,  has 
been  measured  by  Levy,*  who  ascertained  its  primary  form  to 
be  an  Acute  rhomboid  of  73°  40',  and  106°  20'. 


Pon  P  overt*  ....  106°  20' 

P  on  z 126     13 

P  on  u 143     10 

P  on  o  .  .112     33 


Its  color  is  red  or  brownish-red,  and  generally  somewhat 
translucent;  lustre  vitreous,  cleavage  parallel  to  o  very  per- 
fect, less  so  parallel  to  z;  fracture  conchoidal  or  uneven. 
BB,  it  fuses  into  a  leek-green  scoria;  and  when  reduced  to 
powder  loses  its  color,  and  gelatinizes  with  acids.  This  min- 
eral was  distinguished  by  Stromeyer ;  its  locality  is  Kangerdlu- 
arsk  in  West  Greenland,  where  it  occurs  either  accompanying 
sodalite  and  hornblende,  or  imbedded  in  compact  white  felspar. 

*  Edinburgh  Journal,  xii.,  81. 


22 


CLASS   III 

ACIDS. 


OP  the  acids  only  three  have  been  found  in  the  uncombined 
state,  viz.,  sulphuric,  boracic,  and  arsenous  acids. 


NATIVE  SULPHURIC  ACID. 

Liquid  sulphuric  acid,  Jameson.    Acide  Sulphurique  Hydrate,  Beudanl.    Hydrous  sulphu- 
ric acid.     Aqua  Sulphurica,  D. 

This  acid  has  been  found  in  its  natural  state  in  the  caverns 
of  the  volcanic  mountain  Zaccolino,  near  Sienna.  The  con- 
cretions are  in  the  form  of  cauliflowers,  depending  from  the 
roofs  of  the  grottoes,  and  adhering  to  sulphate  of  lime.  Prof. 
Pictet  mentions  a  cavern  near  Aix  in  Savoy,  from  the  roof  of 
which  this  acid,  mixed  with  water  and  a  little  sulphate  of  lime, 
is  observed  to  drop.  It  was  also  noticed  by  Dolomieu  in  the 
caverns  of  Etna. 

In  the  United  States  a  remarkable  locality  of  this  acid  ex- 
ists in  the  town  of  Byron,  Gennesee  county,  N.  Y.  It  is  a 
spring  from  which  the  dilute  acid  flows  in  quantity  sufficient 
to  carry  a  light  grist  mill ;  the  water  at  all  times,  being 
sufficiently  acid  to  give  the  common  test  with  violets,  and  to 
coagulate  milk.  It  destroys  and  chars  the  vegetable  matter 
with  which  it  comes  in  contact.* 

NATIVE  BORACIC  ACID. 

Sassoline,  J.    Prismatic  Boracic  Acid,  M.     Acidum  Boracicum,  D. 

The  pure  varieties  consist  of  boron  33*68,  and  oxygen 
66'32;  or  I  atom  boron+*2  atoms  oxygen.  But  they  are  usu- 

*  See  a  particular  description  of  this  spring  by  the  late  Prof.  Eaton,  iu  the  Amer.  Jour, 
of  Science,  xv.,  238. 


ACIDS.  255 

ally  mixed  mechanically  with  several  other  substances.    Klap- 
roth  found  a  specimen  of  sassolite  to  consist  as  follows. 

Sassolite.  Tuscany. 

Hydrous  boracic  acid 81-33        Boracic  acid 76-50 

Sulphate  of  magnesia 10-50        Sulphate  of  ammonia 8-50 


lime 2-83 


magnesia 2-63 

lime 1-01 

soda 091 

potash 0-37 

peroxide  of  iron  0-36 


Silica 2-66  ' 

Carbonate  of  lime 1-66  «( 

Alumina 0-66  " 

Peroxide  of  iron 0.33  " 

Alumina  ...  1 0-32 

99-97        Chloride  of  ammonium 0-29 

Water 6-56 

Sulphuric  acid 1-32 

Silica 1-02 

99-79  Wittstein.* 

Sp.  Gr.  1-48. 

In  loose  scaly  particles,  or  crystalline  grains  (probably  six- 
sided  tables),  sometimes  aggregated  in  the  form  of  crusts. 
Color  greyish  or  yellowish-white.  The  latter  arising  from  ad- 
mixture with  sulphur.  Lustre  pearly  ;  taste  acidulous,  and 
slightly  bitter.  It  fuses  readily  at  the  flame  of  a  candle,  and 
yields  a  transparent  glassy  globule,  which  becomes  opake  on 
cooling  if  there  be  any  gypsum  in  union.  When  dissolved  in 
alcohol  it  communicates  to  the  flame  a  fine  green  tint. 

It  occurs  in  a  state  of  perfect  purity,  or  mechanically  mixed 
with  a  little  sulphur,  at  the  island  of  Volcano,  one  of  the  Lipari 
group ;  sometimes  massive  and  in  incrustations  which  present 
a  fibrous  structure;  and  frequently  pulverulent,  and  disposed 
as  a  loose  covering  on  the  surface  of  the  sulphur.  It  is  like- 
wise deposited  by  some  of  the  lagoni  of  Tuscany,  whence 
is  brought  the  principal  part  of  the  boracic  acid  of  commerce. 
It  is  collected  in  water,  and  then  obtained  in  a  solid  state. 
During  favorable  seasons  from  seven  to  eight  thousand  pounds 
are  thus  obtained  in  one  day.t  The  hot  springs  of  Sasso  af- 
ford the  variety  called  Sassoline,  which  is  sometimes  in  stalac- 
tites of  a  white  color,  and  sometimes  spotted  with  yellow.  In 
the  Andes  of  Acatana,  South  America,  near  the  volcano  Puta- 
na,  boracic  acid  was  found  by  Mr.  Blake,  both  free  and  in 
combination  with  soda. 


NATIVE  ARSENOUS  ACID. 

Arsenious  Acid.     Acidum  Arsenosum,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  arsenic  75'82,  oxy- 
gen 24-18. 

It  has  been  found  accompanying  ores  of  silver,  lead,  and 

*  London  Chemical  Gazette,  Dec.,  1842. 
f  Dr.  Bowring  on  the  statistics  of  Tuscany. 


256  ACIDS. 

arsenic,  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  also  in  Bohemia  and 
Hungary.  It  occurs  in  minute  capillary  crystals,  or  stellae, 
implanted  upon  other  ores;  also  in  botryoidal  and  stalactitio 
masses. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-69.     H.  :=  1  5. 

It  has  a  vitreous  or  silky  lustre,  its  color  being  white  or 
with  a  reddish  or  yellow  tinge.  Transparent  and  opake. 
Taste  astringent  and  sweetish.  B  B,  it  entirely  escapes  in 
white  fumes.  It  is  soluble  in  hot  water.  It  is  probable  that 
its  origin  must  be  ascribed  to  the  decomposition  of  some  of 
the  arsenical  ores. 


CLASS    IV. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS 


UNDER  this  head  are  comprehended  those  minerals  which 
chiefly  consist  of  an  earth  combined  with  an  acid ;  some  of  them 
include  variable  proportions  of  oxides  of  iron,  manganese,  &c., 
which  may  be  considered  only  as  incidental  ingredients. 

SUBSULPHATE  OF  ALUMINA. 

Aluminite,  J.     Websterite,  Levy.     Alumine  Sous-sulfatee.     Hallite.    Trisulphate  of 
Alumina,  Thomson. 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid,  alumina,  and  water. 

Halle.  New  Haven.  Auteuil. 

Sulphuric  acid 23-36 23-27 23-0 

Water 46-33 46-76 47-0 

Alumina 30-26 29-87 30-0 

99-95  Stromeyer.      99-90  100-0  Dumas 

Its  constitution  is  one  atom  sulphuric  acid,  three  atoms  alu- 
mina, and  nine  atoms  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  1 -6C9.     H.  —  2'0. 

In  reniform  masses  and  botryoidal  concretions,  of  a  white 
or  yellowish-white  color,  occasionally  translucent,  but  more 
frequently  dull  and  opake,  with  an  earthy  fracture ;  it  yields 
to  the  nail,  is  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  adheres  to  the  tongue. 
It  fuses  with  difficulty  B  B,  but  dissolves  readily  in  acids, 
without  effervescence.  It  imbibes  water,  but  does  not  in  con- 
sequence fall  to  pieces. 

It  occurs  imbedded  in  ferruginous  clay,  which  rests  on  the 
chalk  strata  on  the  coast  near  New  Haven  in  Sussex ;  also  at 
Epernay  in  France,  and  in  plastic  clay  at  Halle  on  the  Saale 
in  Prussia. 

22* 


258  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

SULPHATE  OF  ALUMINA. 

Sulphate  of  Alumina,  Boussingault.     Alunogene,  Beudant. 

Contains  Sulphuric  acid 36-4 35-87 

Alumina 16-0 14-64 

Water 46-6 46-37 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-4 0-50 

Soda 0-0 2-26 

99-91  Boussin.  99-64  Thomson. 

The  mineral  consists  of  one  atom  sulphate  of  alumina,  and 
six  atoms  of  water.     Formula:  AlSl+GAq. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-66.     Very  soft. 

In  crystalline  masses  and  efflorescences.  Color  white,  oc- 
casionally tinged  yellow  when  impure;  translucent;  lustre 
silky;  taste,  and  comportment  B  B,  similar  to  alum. 

Humboldt  observed  this  mineral  in  clay-slate  at  Araya  near 
Cumana;  also  at  Socono,  and  elsewhere  in  South  America. 
It  is  found  in  large  quantities  in  Bolivia,  and  between  Huasco 
arid  Coquimbo  in  Chili.  Near  Calama  in  Bolivia,  it  forms  a 
bed  from  two  to  four  feet  deep.  —  Blake. 


WAVELLITE.* 

Wavellite,  J.     Alumine  Hydro  -phosphatee,  H.     Lasionite,  Devonite,  Fuchs.     Wavellit, 

Klaproth.    Hydrargillite,  Davy.    Hydrous  cliphosphatc  of  alumina,  Thomson.     Astra- 

lus  rhomhicus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  water,  and  alumina,  with  a 
little  lime,  the  oxides  of  manganese  and  iron,  and  fluoric  acid. 


Phosphoric  acid 
Alumina  
Water  
Lime  
Oxide  of  iron  & 

Devonshire. 
33-40  
35-35  
26-80  
0-50  
mang..   1-25  

Amberg1. 
34-72.. 
36-5H.. 
28-00.. 
0-00.. 
0-00.. 

Ireland.  Freil 
34-65  34-06.... 
34-00  36-60.... 
28-75  27-40.... 
0-99  0-00.... 
2-15  Ox.  of  iron  1-00 

}erg. 
.  .  .  .33-28 
....36-39 
....27-09 
0-00 
.  2-69 

Fluoric  acid 

2-06  

0-00.. 

0-00  0-00. 

0-00 

1  Rich-     

99-36  Berz.         99-38  Fuchs.     99-55  \  ardson.  99-06  99-45J- 

Formula  as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  3Al'2Ph+5Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-337.     H.  =  3  5  —  4-0. 

Primary  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  122°  15',  and  57°  45'. 

It  occurs  in  minute  crystals,  which  usually  adhere  together 
and  radiate,  forming  hemispherical  or  globular  concretions  from 
a  very  small  size  to  that  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  The  gene- 
ral form  of  the  crystals  is  that  of  a  rhombic  prism  with  diedral 
terminations,  but  the  lateral  edges  of  the  prism  are  sometimes 
replaced ;  and  they  are  rarely  sufficiently  distinct  to  admit  of 
measurement.  It  cleaves  parallel  to  M  and  ht  with  brilliant 

*  Wavellite,  in  honor  of  Dr.  Wave],  its  discoverer. 

t  Analysis  of  two  varieties  from  Freiberg,  by  Erdmann,  as  given  in  Rammelsberg'a 
Haodwcerterbuch  des  chenuschen  Tbeils  der  Mineralogie,  ii.,  265. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


259 


surfaces ;  commonly  translucent,  sometimes  opake,  and  pos- 
sessing a  silky  or  vitreous  lustre ;  color  yellowish-white,  yel- 
low, greyish,  green,  or  bluish  ;  occasionally  of  a  dingy  brown, 
owino-  to  the  progress  of  decomposition ;  brittle.  It  is  infusi- 
ble, but  under  the  blowpipe  becomes  white,  opake,  and  loses 
its  crystalline  form,  giving  a  slight  greenish  tinge  to  the  flame. 
It  is  soluble  in  heated  acid,  without  effervescence,  emitting  a 
vapor  which  sometimes,  (fluoric  acid  not  always  being  present), 
slightly  corrodes  the  glass. 


M  on  M'    ....  122°  15'* 

a  on  a 107     26 

a  on  g2 122     24 

gl  on  #2    ....  174     45? 

gl  onh 112     30? 

§2oah 112     25 


It  was  first  discovered  by  Dr.  Wavel  in  small  veins  and  cavi- 
ties in  argillaceous  schiste,  near  Barnstable,  in  Devonshire ;  it 
has  been  since  found  at  Stenna  Gwyn,  near  St.  Austle  in 
Cornwall,  on  a  decomposing  granite;  in  very  highly  colored 
pistachio-green  masses  at  Clonmel,  and  near  Cork  ;  in  white 
stellated  groups  on  red  sandstone  at  Zbirow  and  Benaun  in 
Bohemia ;  on  brown  iron  ore  at  Amberg,  in  Bavaria  (a  varie- 
ty named  by  Fuchs  Lasionite) ;  in  the  Shaint  Isles  of  Scot- 
land ;  in  Greenland  in  small  globular  masses  on  resinite  quartz 
and  anagonite,  of  a  yellowish-grey  and  brownish-red  color.  — 
Levy's  Catalogue.  In  South  America,  it  has  been  found 
near  Villa  Ricca  in  Brazil,  by  Mawe,  and  in  the  mines  of 
Hualgayoe  by  the  celebrated  Humboldt.  The  Striegisan  of 
Breithaupt,  from  Striegis  in  Frankenberg,  is  evidently  a  vari- 
ety of  wavellite. 

This  is  an  exceedingly  rare  mineral  in  the  United  States. 
In  the  Reports  of  Prof.  H.  D.  Rogers  on  the  geology  of  Penn- 
sylvania, it  is  mentioned  as  occurring  in  the  slate  quarries  of 
York  county;  and  Prof.  F.  Hall,  cites  a  locality  in  the  vicinity 
of  Nashville,  Tenn. ;  but  specimens  from  these  places  are  as 
yet  rarely  seen  in  American  cabinets. 


*  In  giving  the  form  of  this  mineral,  Levy  remarks  that  as  the  above  measurements  by 
Phillips  do  not  agree  perfectly  with  each  other,  and  lead  to  very  complicated  crystallo- 
graphical  signs,  they  should  only  be  regarded  as  approximations  which  require  to  be  cor- 
rected by  new  observations.  See  his  Catalogue,  vol.  i.,  p.  296.  f  AM.  Eo.J 


260  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

CACOXENITE* 

Kakoxene,  Steinmann,  (in  Brewster's  Journal,  vol.  163.)     Arealus  radiatus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  water,  fluoric  acid,  alumi- 
na, peroxide  of  iron,  silica,  and  a  small  quantity  of  lime. 

Phosphoric  acid  17'86,  alumina  10'Oi,  silica  8'90,  peroxide 
of  iron  36'82,  lime  0'15,  water  and  fluoric  acid  25'95. — 
Steinmann.  Beudant  remarks  that  it  is  difficult  to  arrange 
these  constituents  so  as  to  deduce  a  formula  for  this  mineral; 
but  throwing  out  the  lime  and  fluoric  acid,  he  gives  it  thus : 
AlS+-2FPh+5Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-38. 

In  extremely  minute  fibrous  crystals,  which  appear  to  be 
irregular  six-sided  prisms  terminated  by  pyramids  of  six  faces, 
generally  disposed  in  diverging  groups  radiating  from  a  point. 
Color  brownish-yellow  of  different  hues ;  lustre  silky,  some- 
times adamantine;  adheres  to  the  tongue;  has  an  argillaceous 
odor,  and  —  probably  from  an  accidental  admixture  with  some 
saline  substance  —  has  an  astringent  taste.  In  water  it  partly 
loses  its  lustre  and  becomes  brown  ;  and  when  placed  on  a 
red  coal  it  emits  a  green  phosphoric  light.  B  B,  on  charcoal, 
it  decrepitates  powerfully;  with  borax  is  [incompletely  soluble 
into  a  dark  bottle-green  colored  glass;  and  with  soda  fuses 
with  difficulty  into  a  blackish  mass. 

Cacoxenite  occurs  disposed  on  brown  iron  ore  in  the  iron 
mines  of  Hrbeck  near  Zbirow  in  Bohemia;  and,  but  for  its 
deeper  tint,  might  be  readily  mistaken  for  karpholite,  which  is 
found  under  similar  circumstances. 


AMBLYGONITE.t 

Amblygonite,  Leonhard.    Amblygonic  Au^ite  i?par,  Haid'm^er.    Augitus  Lithicus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  alumina,  and  lithia. 

Phosphoric  acid  54*12,  alumina  3896,  lithia  692.  —  Ber~ 
zclius. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive,  and  in  Rhombic  prisms  of 
106°  10'  and  73°  50',  which  are  rough  externally,  and  present 
a  greenish-white,  a  mountain-  or  sea-green  color.  It  cleaves 
parallel  to  the  sides  of  the  prism  with  brilliant  surfaces;  and 
when  reduced  to  thin  laminaB,  it  varies  from  translucent  to 
transparent.  On  charcoal  it  fuses  readily  into  a  clear  glass, 
which  becomes  opake  on  cooling;  with  borax  it  melts  into  a 
transparent  colorless  glass. 

*  From  xuxoc,  bad,  and  £*»>oj,  a  guest,  in  allusion  to  the  bad  influence  of  its  phos- 
phoric acid  on  the  iron  extracted  from  the  ore  with  which  it  occurs, 
f  From  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  obtuse  angles  of  its  prism. 


ACIDIFEEOUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


261 


It  is  found,  with  tourmaline  and  topaz,  in  granite,  at  Churs- 
dorf  near  Penig  in  Saxony;  and  at  Arendal  in  Norway.  It 
was  first  recognized  as  a  peculiar  species  by  Breithaupt. 

CHILDRENITE. 

Brooke.     (Brande's  Quarterly  Journal,  vol.  xvi,,  p.  274.)     Fluellus  Childrcnii,  D. 

A  compound  of  phosphoric  acid,  alumina  and  iron,  accord- 
ing to  Wollaston.     Its  complete  analysis  has  not  been  given. 
H.  =  45—  5-0. 


e  on  e 130°  20' 

e  on  e  over  the  edge  x  102  30 

e  on  e! 97  50 

a  on  a  .          .  I'M  54 


In  very  minute  yellow  or  brownish-yellow  crystals,  disposed 
either  singly  or  in  crystalline  coats  on  carbonate  of  iron  or 
quartz.  Cleavage  in  planes  parallel  to  the  axis;  lustre  vitre- 
ous, inclining  to  resinous;  translucent;  streak  white;  frac- 
ture uneven.  The  only  known  locality  of  this  mineral  is  the 
vicinity  of  Tavistock  in  Devonshire;  it  was  distinguished  by 
Levy,  who  named  it  in  compliment  to  Mr.  Children  of  the 
British  Museum.  —  Allan's  Manual. 


CALAITE. 

Calaite,  Fischer.    Odontalite.    Turquoise.    Uncleavable  Azure  Spar,  M.    Callais,  proba- 
bly, of  Pliny.     Lazulus  amorphus,  D. 

Consists,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  phosphate  of  alumina 
and  phosphate  of  lime,  silica,  the  oxides  of  iron  and  copper, 
and  a  little  water;  while  John  noticed  only 

Alumina 44-59 

Phosphoric  acid 33-90 

Oxide  of  copper 3-75 

Oxide  of  iron 1-80 

Water 19-00 

99-95 

Adopting  this  analysis,  and  rejecting  the  small  quantity  of 
oxides  of  iron  and  copper,  its  composition  as  stated  by  Dr. 
Thomson,  is  one  atom  phosphoric  acid,  three  atoms  silica,  and 
two  and  a  half  atoms  water.  Or  it  is  a  hydrous  triphosphate 
of  alumina. 


262  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  8  —  30.     H.  =  5*0  —  6-0. 

It  occurs  in  reniform  masses,  which  are  either  botryoidal  or 
mammillated  ;  has  a  peculiar  greenish-blue  color,  but  of  va- 
rious shades,  passing  on  the  one  hand  into  sky-blue,  and  on 
the  other  into  apple-green ;  and  is  dull  internally;  but  occa- 
sionally the  lustre  is  waxy,  rarely  splendent;  fracture  conchoi- 
dal;  rough  and  uneven,  frequently  scaly.  It  is  commonly 
opake;  rarely  translucent  on  the  edges;  streak  white.  The 
decomposed  specimens  resemble  porcelain-clay.  In  the  re- 
ducing flame  of  the  blowpipe  it  becomes  brown,  and  colors 
it  green,  but  does  not  fuse;  with  borax  it  melts  readily  into  a 
limpid  glass. 

The  oriental  calaite  occurs  in  alluvial  clay  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Nishapuri  and  Firuzkuh  in  the  Persian  Korassan ; 
and  is  found  on  sale  in  most  of  the  cities  of  Persia,  being  val- 
ued for  ornamental  purposes,  and  when  highly  colored,  very 
much  esteemed  as  a  gem.  The  Persian  king,  retains  for  him- 
self all  of  the  most  richly  colored  varieties. 

Malachite,  with  which  turquoise  may  sometimes  be  con- 
founded, yields  a  green  streak,  while  that  of  calaite  is  white. 

The  occidental  turquoise  found  near  the  town  of  Simor,  in 
Lower  Languedoc,  is  merely  tooth  or  bone,  colored  with  phos- 
phate of  iron.  Analysis  by  La  Grange:  phosphate  of  lime  80, 
carbonate  of  lime  8,  phosphate  of  iron  2,  phosphate  of  magne- 
sia 2,  alumina  1*5,  water  1/6. 

FLUELLITE. 

Levy.     Wollaston.    (Ann.  of  Phil.  1824,  p.  241.)      Fluate  of  Alumina.    Fluellus  pyram- 

ialis,  D. 

Combination  of  alumina  and  fluoric  acid. 

In  small  acute  rhombic  octahedrons,  whose  angles  are  109° 
82',  and  144°;  the  acute  solid  angles  generally  replaced. 
White  and  transparent;  lustre  vitreous.  Occurs  with  Wavel- 
lite  and  chalkolite  on  quartz  at  Stenna-gvvin  in  Cornwall,  but 
is  an  extremely  rare  mineral. 

It  was  discovered  by  Levy,  but  examined  and  named  by  Dr. 
Wollaston,  who  could  discover  nothing  in  it  but  fluoric  acid 
and  alumina. 


AZURITE. 

Lazulit,  W.  H.    Azurite,  J.    Prismntic  Azure  Spar,  M.     Klaprotbine,  Beudant.    Feld- 
spath  blue,  H.     Blue  Spar.     Lazulus  rhombicus,  D. 

This   mineral  is  a  hydrous  diphosphate   of  alumina   and 
magnesia. 


ACIDIFEROUS-EARTHY    MINERALS. 


263 


Blue  Ppar. 

Krieglach.  Radel-graben. 

Phosphoric  acid 4H-32 41-81 

Alumina 34-53 35-73 

Magnesia 13-56 9-34 

Lime.. 


0-48 


0-00 


Oxide  of  iron 0*0 2-64 

Silica 6-50 2-10 

Water 0-50 6-06 

99-66  Brandes.*  97-68  Fuchs. 

Taking  the  analysis  by  Fuchs,  the  atoms  of  acid,  including 
the  silica,  amount  to  half  the  atoms  of  the  bases,  showing  the 
mineral  to  consist  of  disalts.  The  oxide  of  iron  and  alumina 
which  are  united  with  the  silica,  as  disilicates,  Dr.  Thomson 
supposes  to  be  accidental,  whence  he  gives  the  formula  — 


Sp.  Gr.  30  —  3- 1 .     H.  =  5  0  —  6-0. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  121°  30',  according 
to  Brooke. 

Lazulite  rarely  occurs  crystallized,  being  more  often  granu- 
lar, or  in  small  fragments,  exhibiting  various  shades  of  azure 
blue.  It  is  slightly  translucent,  brittle,  yet  nearly  as  hard  as 
quartz;  the  fracture  is  lamellar,  and  its  cleavage  is  parallel 
with  the  planes  of  the  prism,  though  indistinct.  B  B,  it  intu- 
mesces  a  little,  and  assumes  a  glassy  appearance  where  the 
heat  has  been  highest,  but  does  not  melt.  With  borax  it  yields 
a  clear  colorless  globule. 


The  second  of  the  above  figures  represents  a  superb  crystal  in  the  pos- 
session of  H.  J.  Brooke,  Esq. 


M  on  M' 121°  30' 

e  or  M'  on  ef    ....  138     45 

M  on  d 140    30 

M  or  M'  on/ 150     45 

a  on  a' 91    30 

cl  or  cl' .      129     10 


a  on  core' or  a'  on  e"  or  e'"  158°  10' 

cl  on  cl' 120    40 

cl  on  c2'  or  cl'  on  c2'  .  .  150    00 

e  on  d  or  e'  on  d' 162    36 

cl  on  e  or  cl'  on  e' ....  139    25 
cl  on  d 141     20 


It  occurs  in  a  gangue  of  quartz,  near  Vorau  in  Styria;  and 
in  narrow  veins  traversing  clay-slate  in  the  torrent  beds  of 
Schlamming  and  Radel-graben  near  Werfen  in  Saltzburg. 


*  This  mineral,  analyzed  by  Brandes,  has  by  some  been  separated  into  another  species 
called  blue  spar,  but  there  does  not  seem  sufficient  ground  for  the  distinction.   [AM.  £D.] 


264  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

RHOMBOHEDRAL  CARBONATE  OF  LIME. 

CALCAREOUS    SPAR. 

Kalkspath,  W.     Chaux  carbonatee,  K.     Ppath  calcaire,  Br.     Calc  Spar,  J.     Calcius 
rhombohedrus,  D.     Culcite,  Brooke. 

Carbonate  of  lime,  as  a  pure  anhydrous  salt,  exists  in  two  in- 
compatible crystalline  forms,  viz.,  the  rhombohedral  as  calca- 
reous spar,  and  in  the  right  rhombic  prism  as  arragonite ;  the  lat- 
ter being  isomorphous  with  carbonate  of  strontian,  from  which, 
however  it  is  readily  distinguished.  It  consists  of  one  atom 
(2'75)  carbonic  acid,  and  one  atom  (3*5)  lime  —  6  25  ;  or  in  100 
parts,  of  lirne  56,  carbonic  acid  44.  Formula:  CalC.  These 
numbers  are  nearly  approached  by  the  following  analyses. 

Lime 56-15 55-50 56-33 

C'uibonic  acid 43-70 44-00 43-50 

99-85  Stromeycr.          99'50  R.  Phillips.          99-83  Biol. 

Sp.  Gr.  2719.     H.  =  3-0. 

Its  most  prevalent  color  is  white ;  it  is  frequently  transpa- 
rent, and  is  then  strongly  doubly  refractive.  Occurs  crystal- 
lized in  upwards  of  eight  hundred  varieties  of  form,  all  origi- 
nating from  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  105°  5',  and  74°  55';  this 
rhomboid  may  readily  be  obtained  by  cleavage,  and  may  itself 
occasionally  be  cleaved  parallel  to  a  plain  passing  through 
the  greater  diagonals  in  one  direction;  the  brilliant  surfaces 
of  the  primary  are  well  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  reflective 
goniometer.  Cross  fracture  occasionally  conchoidal,  but  not 
easily  obtained.  It  effervesces  violently  with  acids.  The 
Iceland  variety,  which  is  considered  to  be  the  purest  form 
of  carbonate  of  lime,  is  transparent,  and  doubly  refractive  in 
a  high  degree,  hence  its  familiar  appellation  Iceland  spar,  or 
doubly  refracting  spar.  Some  varieties  of  calcareous  spar 
give  a  yellow  phosphorescent  light  when  laid  on  a  hot  coal  or 
struck  in  the  dark;  as  that  accompanying  garnet  in  Werme- 
land  ;  laumonite  in  Britanny,  &.c.  Alone,  on  charcoal,  B  B, 
it  becomes  caustic  by  heat,  and  shines  with  peculiar  bright- 
ness as  soon  as  all  the  carbonic  acid  is  expelled.  Does  not 
yield  water  in  the  matrass,  but  with  the  fluxes  comports  itself 
like  arragonite. 

i.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary,  an  obtuse  rhomboid.     Fig.  2,  tbe  same,  of  which 
the  lateral  edges  and  terminal  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  planes.     Fig. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


265 


8,  in  this  both  the  lateral  and  terminal  and  solid  angles  are  replaced.  Both 
this  and  the  former  figure  tend,  by  the  extension  of  the  modifying  planes, 
to  the  production  of  the  six-sided  prism  (fig.  4),  on  which  no  portion  of 
the  primary  planes  is  visible.  Fig.  5,  an  acute  rhomboid.  Fig.  6,  a  rhom- 
boid more  obtuse  than  the  primary. 


Bournon  described  fifty-six  modifications  of  the  rhomboid  of  carbonate 
of  lime,  and  other  mineralogists  have  greatly  increased  the  number.  It 
would  be  perhaps  impossible  to  represent  the  whole  of  these  with  any 
tolerable  accuracy  on  one  figure ;  the  above  figure  (2)  therefore  is  intended 
only  to  point  out  the  fact,  that  the  several  modifications  are  referrable  to 
three  great  classes,  viz.,  prisms,  acute  rhomboids,  and  obtuse  rhomboids. 
Thus  the  planes  a  and  e  e  e,  replacing  the  solid  angles,  tend,  by  their  ex- 
tension, to  produce  a  six-sided  prism  represented  by  the  small  fig.  4 ; 
the  plane  a  with  the  planes  ooo  replacing  the  lateral  edges,  likewise  tend 
to  produce  a  regular  six-sided  prism,  while  a  in  conjunction  with  the 
planes  I II  III,  tend  to  a  twelve-sided  prism.  Thus  also  of  rhomboids, 
the  plane  b  situated  on  the  primary  plane,  and  c  on  the  edge,  tend  to  two 
rhomboids  much  more  obtuse  than  the  primary,  or  than  that  which  would 
be  consequent  on  the  extension  of  the  planes  m,  while  g  and  k  would  pro- 
duce very  acute  rhomboids.  The  planes  dl  dl,  of  which  six  are  visible 
on  the  figure,  would  produce  very  obtuse  dodecahedrons;  the  planes 
d'2  d2,  less  obtuse  ;  while  the  consequence  of  the  extension  of  the  planes 
h  h  would  be  acute  dodecahedrons,  and  of  the  planes  i  i  still  more  acute. 
But  of  rhomboids,  both  acute  and  obtuse,  there  is  an  almost  endless  vari- 
ety, all  actually  differing  by  admeasurement. 


Nova  Scotia. 


Rossie,  N.  Y. 


266  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

It  occurs  in  veins  in  almost  every  kind  of  rock,  from  the 
oldest  to  the  newest  alluvial  strata,  and  accompanies  or  con- 
stitutes the  gangue  of  a  great  variety  of  minerals.  It  is  so 
generally  distributed,  that  any  enumeration  of  its  localities 
would  be  impossible.  Among  those  most  distinguished  may 
be  mentioned  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  where  the  six-sided 
prisms  have  been  found  in  great  beauty ;  Alston  Moor  in 
Cumberland,  which  affords  the  flat  rhombic  crystals  ;  and  Der- 
byshire, whence  the  pale-yellow  transparent  pyramids,  some- 
times of  very  large  dimensions,  are  obtained.  The  transpa- 
rent variety  from  Iceland  is  not  found  in  distinct  crystals, 
although  the  surfaces  of  the  masses  indicate  crystallization, 
and  are  often  implanted  with  stilbite  and  heulandite.  The 
crystallized  sandstone  of  Fontainebleau,  in  France,  (chaux  car- 
bonatee  quartzifere,  of  Hau'y,)  is  a  variety  of  this  species  me- 
chanically mixed  with  sand. 

In  Upper  Canada,  at  Perth,  Dr.  Holmes  has  discovered  a 
very  beautiful  pale  rose-colored  Iceland  spar,  from  which 
doubly  refracting  cleavage  rhomboids  of  several  inches  have 
been  obtained.  Near  Montreal,  Lower  Canada,  low  lenticular 
crystals,  a  modification  of  the  equiaxe  of  Haiiy,  abound  in  the 
dark  colored  limestone.  In  Nova  Scotia  this  mineral  is  of  very 
frequent  occurrence  in  the  trap  rocks,  appearing  sometimes  in 
the  form  of  scalene  triangular  planed  dodecahedrons,  but  usu- 
ally in  very  acute  rhomboids,  and  rarely  in  those  more  obtuse 
than  the  primary.  They  here  accompany  the  various  zeolite 
minerals,  but  are  more  generally  found  scattered  over,  or  inter- 
spersed with,  crystals  of  stilbite  and  Laurnonite,  which  occupy 
the  geodes  and  cavities  of  the  amygdaloid.  They  are  deeply 
striated  parallel  to  the  natural  joints  of  the  primary  crystal, 
and  are  frequently  in  hemitropes.  Though  usually  colorless 
and  transparent,  they  are  in  some  instances  of  a  straw-yellow, 
or  even  honey-yellow  appearance.  A  very  common  modifica- 
tion of  the  insulated  rhomboids  of  this  mineral  from  Nova  Sco- 
tia, is  that  shown  by  the  fourth  figure  on  the  last  page,  in 
which  the  terminal  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
a,  and  by  three  small  planes,  6,  resting  on  the  primary  faces  of 
the  crystal.  These  tend  to  the  production  of  a  more  obtuse 
rhomboid  than  the  primary.  There  is  sometimes  an  addi- 
tional replacement  c,  resting  on  the  edges  of  the  crystal,  but 
none  of  these  replacements  are  carried  to  an  extent  which 
much  obscures  the  ordinary  rhomboidal  form  of  the  crystal. 

We  shall  mention  a  few  only  of  the  numerous  localities  of 
this  mineral  in  the  United  States.  The  finest  crystals  for  size 
and  transparency  have  been  found  at  Oxbow,  and  at  the  lead 
mines  of  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  in  primitive 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS.  267 

limestone.  They  appear  in  the  form  both  of  rhomboids  and 
scalene  dodecahedrons,  and  are  grouped  with  crystals  of  galena 
and  pyrites  in  the  most  beautiful  manner.  Compound  or  twin 
crystals  are  very  common  at  this  locality,  and  the  last  figure 
on  page  265,  represents  one  of  them  in  the  editor's  collection 
more  than  a  foot  in  length.  Cleavage  rhomboids,  perfectly  co- 
lorless and  transparent,  may  be  obtained  from  these  masses,  mea- 
suring from  four  to  six  inches  across  their  planes.  Perfect  hex- 
ahedral  prisms  (prismatique  of  Haiiy,  fig.  4,  p.  264)  occur  in  the 
narrow  veins  of  the  limestone,  and  are  sometimes  attached  to  a 
pink  colored  variety  of  this  mineral.  Crystals  in  the  same  form, 
but  terminating  in  trihedral  pyramids,  the  terminal  solid  angles 
of  the  rhomboid  being  replaced  by  planes  resting  on  its  primary 
faces,  (dodecahedre  of  Haiiy,  fig.  3,  p.  265)  have  also  been  dis- 
covered at  Martensburg,  Lewis  county,  N.  Y.  In  the  newer 
limestone  at  Lockport,  Lewiston  and  Niagara  Falls,  the  dog 
tooth  spar  variety  (scalene  triangular  planed  dodecahedrons, 
metastatique  of  Haiiy,  fig.  1,  p.  265)  abounds,  and  is  associated 
with  magnesian  carbonate  of  lime,  and  transparent  selenite ; 
more  rarely  with  sulphate  of  strontian,  fluor  spar,  and  anhydrite. 
At  Schroon,  Essex  county,  N.  YM  masses  possessing  a  fine  green 
tinge,  have  been  found  by  Prof.  Beck.  Beautiful  crystalliza- 
tions of  this  mineral  accompany  the  datholite  and  apophyllite 
at  Bergen,  N.  J.,  the  green  fluor  spar,  at  Lowville,  Lewis 
county,  N.  Y.,  the  Prehnite  of  Charlestown,  Mass.,  the  pearl 
spar  and  quartz  near  Phcenixville,  Chester  county,  Penn. 

The  following  are  several  varieties  of  this  species,  some  of 
which  assume  the  character  of  rocks. 

1.  SCHIEFER  SPAR.*    Schiefer-spath,  W.     Chaux  carbonatee  nacree, 
H.     Slate-spar,  J.     Argentine,  Kirwan.     This  variety  occurs  massive, 
and  in  extremely  thin  tabular  plates  intersecting  each  other  in  various 
directions,  but  without  any  determinate  crystalline  form.     Its  color  is  usu- 
ally white,  with  a  shining  and  more  or  less  pearly  lustre ;  it  is  translucent, 
yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and  often  possesses  a  greasy  feel.     Specific 
gravity  about  2.5.     It  is  infusible ;  but  is  soluble  with  effervescence  in 
acids.     It  is  an  almost  pure  carbonate  of  lime. 

It  occurs  in  metalliferous  beds  in  Norway ;  in  Glen  Tilt,  Perthshire ; 
in  Assynt,  Sutherlandshire  ;  and  in  the  county  of  Wicklow,  in  Ireland.  la 
the  United  States  extensive  masses  of  it  exist  in  the  mica  slate  at  North- 
ampton, and  smaller  quantities  have  been  obtained  at  Monroe,  Conn 

2.  AGARIC  MINERAL. t     ROCK  MILK.     Berg  milch,  W.      Chaux 
carbonatee    spongieuse,  H.     Is  of  a  white  color,  or  yellowish  or   grey- 
ish white;  and  is  soft,  dull, meagre  to  the  touch,  soils  the  fingers,  is  very 
tender,  opake,  and  so  light  as  to  float  for  a  short  time  on  water.     It  is 
nearly  pure  carbonate  of  lime. 

It  is  found  in  beds  and  crevices  of  calcareous  rocks  in  Switzerland, 

*  Schiefer  or  slate-spar,  in  allusion  to  its  slaty  structure. 

f  Described  by  Pliny  under  the  name  of  Agaricon ;  —  resembling  fungus. 


268  ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 

where  it  is  employed  for  white-washing  the  houses;  also  near  Ratisbon  ; 
at  Sunderland  in  Durham ;  and  in  Oxfordshire. 

3.  APHRITE.*     EARTH-FOAM.     Schaumerde,  W.     Chaux  carbona- 
tee nacree  lamellaire,  H.     Ecume  de  Terre,  Br.     This  variety  is  found 
sometimes  solid,  more  often  in  a  friable  state;  it  consists  of  white  scales 
of  a  shining  pearly  or  pseudo-metallic  lustre.     It  is  opake,very  soft  to  the 
touch,  and  nearly  pure  carbonate  of  lime.     It  is  usually  found  in  calcare- 
ous rocks  in  veins  or  cavities ;  and  differs  from  schiefer-spar  principally 
in  being  less  coherent.     It  occurs  in  Hessia,  and  abundantly  at  Eisleben 
in  Thuringia,  in  mountains  consisting  of  stratified  limestone. 

4.  STALACTITIC  CARBONATE  OF  LIME.     Kalk-sinter,  W.     Chaux 
cabonatee  concretionnee,  H.     Calc  sinter,  J.     Occurs  mammillated,  or  in 
long  straight  pendulous  masses  or  tubes,  coating  the  interior  of  caves  and 
fissures.     The  fracture  is  either  lamellar  or  fibrous,  the  fibres  diverging 
from  the  centre ;  the  cleavage  always  that  of  the  perfect  rhomb  ;  with  a 
pearly  or  silky  lustre  ;  prevalent  color  yellowish-white. 

Stalactites  are  sometimes  of  prodigious  dimensions,  of  which  the  grotto 
of  Antiparos  in  the  Archipelago,  the  extensive  caves  of  Adelsberg  in  Car- 
niola,  and  that  of  Auxelle  in  France,  are  striking  instances.  The  most 
remarkable  in  Britain  are  to  be  found  in  the  cavern  of  Castleton,  and  other 
caves  in  Derbyshire,  and  Macallister  Cave  in  the  Isle  of  Skye.  They 
abound  also  in  the  celebrated  caves  in  Virginia,  as  well  as  in  the  caver- 
nous limestone  elsewhere  in  the  United  States. 

Stalactites  are  now  continually  forming.  They  are  deposited  from  wa- 
ter loaded  with  particles  of  carbonated  lime,  in  the  hollows  and  caverns 
of  mountains  ;  the  water,  finding  its  way  into_  these  through  crevices  in 
the  roof,  becomes  exposed  to  the  air,  evaporation  ensues,  and  thus  the 
calcareous  particles  are  caused  to  precipitate.  Some  caverns  have  been 
entirely  filled  with  calcareous  stalactite,  so  that  it  is  occasionally  obtained 
in  large  masses  ;  in  this  state  it  is  called  Alabaster,  and  is  used  in  statuary 
and  in  the  formation  of  vases  ;  its  name  being  derived  from  Alabastron,  an 
Egyptian  village  between  the  Nile  and  the  Red  Sea,  which  was  the  prin- 
cipal locality  known  in  ancient  times. 

5.  GRANULAR     LIMESTONE.      Kalkstein,  W.      Chaux   carbonatee 
saccharofde,  H.     Granular   limestone  is  massive,  and   consists  of  small 
grains  or  minute  crystals,  presenting  a  lamellar  structure  and  brilliant  lus- 
tre :  but  as  these  grains  intersect  each  other  in  every  direction,  the  lustre 
of  the  mass  is  only  glimmering.     It  is  of  various  colors ;  white,  grey,  yel- 
low, bluish,  reddish,  greenish,  &c.,  and  is  sometimes  veined  or  spotted ; 
fracture  splintery,  occasionally  slaty,  in  consequence  of  containing  paral- 
lel layers  of  mica  ;  somewhat  translucent,  and  brittle. 

Granular  limestone  is  found  in  many,  if  not  in  most  primitive  countries  ; 
it  sometimes  forms  entire  mountains,  but  more  often  occurs  in  beds.  It  is 
considered  to  be  of  contemporaneous  formation  with  gneiss,  porphyry, 
argillaceous  and  micaceous  schiste,  with  which  it  frequently  alternates. 
In  the  Alps  and  the  Pyrenees  examples  of  this  are  of  frequent  occurrence. 

The  whitest  and  more  esteemed  primitive  limestone  was  termed  by  the 
French  mineralogists,  Chaux  carbonatee  saccharoKde,  from  its  likeness  to 
sugar  when  in  small  masses.  From  its  important  uses  in  the  arts,  it  is 
commonly  called  Statuary  marble.  The  most  celebrated  statuary  mar- 
bles of  ancient  times  were  found  in  the  islands  of  Paros,  Naxus,  and  Te- 
nos,  in  the  Archipelago.  Parian  marble  is  white,  large  grained,  and 
considerably  translucent.  The  Pentelicon,  taken  from  quarries  on  a 
mountain  called  Pentelicus,  near  Athens,  is  traversed  by  greenish  or 
greyish  veins,  which  are  commonly  micaceous.  The  marble  of  Carrara 


*  Aphrite,  from  the  Greek  ;  —  a  foam-like  substance. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS.  269 

has  a  finer  grain  and  closer  texture,  and  is  that  now  usually  employed  by 
statuaries ;  the  quarries  of  this  marble  are  on  the  eastern  coast  of  the  Gulf 
of  Genoa,  and  are  worked  on  the  face  of  a  mountain  to  the  height  of  about 
eight  hundred  feet. 

The  name  Lucullite,  as  applied  to  black  marble,  arose  from  the  quan- 
tity of  that  color  which  Lucullus  imported  into  Rome,  from  an  island  in 
the  Nile.  That  from  Kilkenny  in  Ireland  encloses  shells  of  a  whitish 
color,  which,  when  the  marble  is  cut  and  polished,  present  segments  of 
circles ;  this  is  much  used  for  chimney-pieces  and  ornaments. 

The  Verd  antique  consists  of  carbonate  of  lime  imbedded  in  green  ser- 
pentine ;  its  geological  situation  is  not  known. 

The  Lumachelli  marble  exhibits  beautiful  iridescent  colors,  which  are 
sometimes  prismatic  internally,  but  more  commonly  of  various  shades  of 
red  or  orange,  whence  it  has  also  obtained  the  name  of  Fire  marble.  It 
occurs  at  Bleyberg  in  Carinthia,  in  beds  forming  the  roof  of  a  lead  mine. 
Its  colors  are  attributed  to  the  shells  of  a  variety  of  nautilus. 

The  Gotham,  Ruin,  or  Landscape  marble,  found  near  Bristol,  exhibits, 
when  cut  and  polished,  the  appearance  of  a  landscape  or  ruins ;  it  is  of 
common  occurrence  in  the  Val  d'Arno  near  Florence. 

6.  ANTHRACONITE,  Swinestone,  Stinkstone*  which  emits  a  strong 
fetid  odor  when  scraped,  owing,  it  is  believed,  to  the  presence  of  sulphu- 
retted hydrogen,  is  found  columnar,  granular,  and  compact,  and  of  various 
shades  of  grey,  brown  and  black.     The  harder  and  more  compact  varie- 
ties, which  receive  a  good  polish,  are  used  in  ornamental  architecture. 

In  Dalmatia  a  variety  of  limestone  occurs  so  bituminous  that  it  may  be 
cut  like  soap,  and  is  employed  in  the  construction  of  houses ;  when  fin- 
ished, the  walls  are  set  fire  to ;  the  bitumen  burns  out,  and  the  stone  be- 
comes white  ;  the  roof  is  then  put  on,  and  the  house  afterwards  completed. 

7.  OOLITE!  is  always  found  massive,  and  in  beds.     The  globular  par- 
ticles are  sometimes  composed  of  concentric  lamellae,  and  usually  adhere 
by  means  of  a  calcareous  cement;  it  is  soft  when  first  quarried,  but  har- 
dens by  exposure  to  the  air.     Its  color  is  whitish,  yellowish-white,  or 
ash-grey,  depending,  as  is  believed,  on  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the 
argillaceous  matter  with  which  it  is  usually  combined.     It  is  an  impure 
carbonate  of  lime,  and  will  not  burn  into  quicklime.     The  Portland  and 
Bath  stones  are  varieties  of  this,  and  in  many  parts  of  the  south  of  England 
its  properties  are  well  known  as  a  building  material. 

8.  PISOLITE  or  Pea~stone,\   differs    considerably  from   oolite.     It  is 
generally  white,  brown,  or  reddish,  and  is  composed  of  round  or  spheroi- 
dal masses,  from  the  size  of  a  pea  to  that  of  a  hazle-nut,  imbedded  in  a 
calcareous  cement.     These  masses  always  consist  of  concentric  lamella?, 
in  the  midst  of  which  is  commonly  found  a  grain  of  sand.     It  is  opake, 
soft,  and  brittle.     At  Klagenfurt  in  Carinthia,  and  at  Carlsbad  in  Bohe- 
mia, it  occurs  in  great  quantities,  the  mineral  waters  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
latter  rising  from  beds  of  pisolite. 

9.  CHALK.     Kreide,  W.     Craie,  H.     Is  a  massive  opake    carbonate 
of  lime,  of  a  white,  greyish,  or  yellow  color,  having  an  earthy  fracture 
and  a  low  specific  gravity.     It  varies  much  in  hardness,  but  is  generally 
soft  to  the  touch,  and  adheres  to  the  tongue.     It  composes  a  large  portion 
of  the  newest  secondary  rocks  in  the  south  of  England,  and  contains  abun- 
dance of  marine  as  well  a*  terrestrial  organic  remains.     Its  uses  are  well 


*  From  the  strongly  fetid  odor  it  gives  out  when  rubhed. 

f  Oolite,  or  Roe-stone  ;  so  denominated  from  the  resemblance  between  the  little  round 
lasses  of  which  it  is  composed,  and  the  roe  of  a  fish. 
\  Pisolite  or  Pea-stone,  from  the  similarity  of  its  spherical  masses  to  the  pea. 

23* 


270  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

known,  in  furnishing  lime  for  manure  and  cement,  in  polishing  metals  and 
glass,  as  a  marking  material,  and  in  painting  and  white-washing. 

10.  MARL  is  a  mixture  of  limestone  and  clay,  possessing  an  earthy  frac- 
ture, a  greater  or  less  degree  of  compactness,  and  a  yellow  or  reddish-grey 
color.     It  falls  to  pieces  on  exposure  to  the  air,  arid  is  then  plastic  in  wa- 
ter ;  it  is  partially  soluble  in  acids,  with  violent  effervescence.     It  occurs 
in  considerable  quantity  in  Thuringia,  and  is  produced  by  the  decomposi- 
tion of  shells  in  bogs  and  standing  water. 

11.  TUFA,  Kalk-Tuff,  W  ,  is  the  most  impure,  the  most  irregular,  and 
the  most  porous  of  all  the  varieties  of  carbonate  of  lime,  being  an  alluvial 
deposit  from  calcareous  springs.     Immense  formations  of  this  substance 
have  taken  place  near  Terni,  Tivoli,  and  other  places  in  Italy  ;  also  in 
some  parts  of  Germany      From  its  generally  occurring  in  a  soft  state,  and 
its  possessing  the  property  of  hardening  on  exposure  to  air  and  moisture, 
tufa  makes  a  useful  building  material  in  the  construction  of  bridges  and 
docks.     It  varies  in  respect  to  hardness,  is  opake,  rough,  light,  cellular, 
and  often  incrusts  other  substances,  as  vegetable  stems,  leaves,  &c. 

PRISMATIC  CARBONATE  OF  LIME. 

ARRAGONITE.* 

Arragon,  W.    Arragonite,  H.     Prismatic   Limestone,  J.     Prismatic  Lime  Haloide,  M. 
Calcius  rhornbicus,  D. 

Consists  of  carbonate  of  lime,  united  with  accidental  por- 
tions of  carbonate  of  strontian  and  water. t 

Arragon.  Waltsch.  Bohemia. 

Carbonate  of  lime 94-82 99-29 97-98 

Carbonate  of  strontian  ..  4-08 0-51 J-09 

Water 0-98 0-15 0-26 

99-88  Stromeyer.        100-05  Stromeyer.          99-33  Stromeyer. 

Sp.  Gr.  26  —  3-0.     H.z=35  —  4'0. 

This  mineral  occurs  massive,  the  texture  being  generally 
fibrous,  with  a  silky  lustre ;  in  the  form  of  small  branches  con- 
sisting of  fibrous  crystals  which  diverge  from  a  centre,  —  a 
variety  known  under  the  denomination  of  Flos  ferri;  also 
in  crystals  which  at  first  sight  appear  to  be  regular  six-sided 
prisms,  but  on  close  inspection  present  a  longitudinal  crevice 
down  each  lateral  face,  and  somewhat  similar  appearances  con- 
verging in  the  centre  of  the  terminal  planes;  these,  in  fact, 
are  macles  consisting  of  three  simple  crystals  which  cross 
each  other  at  particular  angles.  It  cleaves  parallel  to  the  late- 
ral planes  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  116°  5',  and  63°  55',  — 
the  primary  form.  Most  prevalent  color  white,  though  some- 
times tinged  yellow,  green,  and  blue.  The  crystals  are  inter- 
nally shining  or  vitreous;  they  are  translucent  —  the  small 

*  Arragonite,  from  its  having  been  first  found  in  the  province  of  Arragon  in  Spain. 
fThe  results  of  chemical  analysis  have  shown  that  the  crystalline  form  of  arragonite 
is  in  no  way  attributable  to  the  presence  of  carbonate  of  strontian,  and  that  this  mineral 
has  the  same  composition  with  common  calcareous  spar,  though  from  circumstances  not 
well  understood,  one  has  taken  the  shape  of  a  Rhomboid,  and  the  other  that  of  a  Right 
rhombic  prism.  See  k'  Dimorphism,"  p.  Ixxxiv.  of  the  Introduction  to  this  volume. 
Also  a  very  valuable  article,  by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  on  the  artificial  production  of  arragonite, 
in  the  Lon.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.,  third  series,  vol.  xii.,  p.  465.  [AM.  ED.] 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


271 


ones  sometimes  colorless  and  transparent ;  yield  to  the  knife 
and  are  brittle,  but  scratch  calcareous  spar  easily.  They  re- 
fract doubly  in  particular  directions.  Thin  fragments  of  trans- 
parent crystals  decrepitate  in  the  flame  of  a  candle;  other 
varieties  lose  their  translucency  and  become  friable.  With 
borax  it  dissolves  and  forms  a  transparent  glass,  which  crys- 
tallizes on  cooling;  but  in  soda  it  is  insoluble.  It  presents  a 
yellowish-red  phosphorescent  light  upon  hot  iron;  and  is  solu- 
ble in  the  nitric  and  muriatic  acids,  during  which  process 
carbonic  acid  is  disengaged ;  paper  dipped  into  a  mixture  of 
this  solution  and  alcohol  burns  with  a  purple  flame. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  form,  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  which  in  fig.  2  is 
modified  by  planes  replacing  the  four  acute  angles,  so  as  to  cause  the 
plane  P  of  fig.  1  to  disappear.  In  fig.  3,  two  crystals  of  the  same  form 
as  fig.  2  cross  each  other.  Fig.  4  represents  two  crystals  crossing  each 
other,  of  which  the  planes  M  M  and  P  of  fig  1  appear,  but  the  acute 
edges  of  that  figure  are  replaced  by  planes  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the 
prism.  In  fig.  5,  three  similar  crystals  cross  each  other;  these  do  not 
often  occur  so  distinct,  but  usually  as  represented  by  fig.  6,  in  which 
they  are  more  closely  united  in  the  general  form  of  a  six-sided  prism. 
The  dotted  lines  represent  the  cracks  observable  down  each  face,  aris- 
ing from  the  contact  of  the  planes  forming  the  diedral  terminations  of 
the  several  crystals  of  which  fig.  5  is  composed ;  and  from  the  same, 
cause  the  six  lateral  planes  of  this  apparently  six-sided  crystal  are  not  flat, 
but  each  presents  a  slightly  re-entering  angle. 


M  on  M'  

116°  30' 

M'  on  h  

121  38 

M  on  cl'  or  M'  on  cl  . 

108  18 

b  or  M'  on  b  .  . 

144  00 

cl  on  cl'  

1  08  18 

c2  

150  30 

c3  

141  00 

h  

125  55 

b  

136  30 

129  33 

This  mineral  is  named  from  its  locality,  the  province  of  Ar- 
ragon,  in  Spain,  where  it  was  first  found  in  large  detached  twin 
crystals,  disseminated  in  a  ferruginous  clay,  accompanied  by 
sulphate  of  lime.  The  most  transparent  and  best-defined  prisms 
however,  occur  near  Bilin  in  Bohemia,  in  a  vein  traversing 
basalt ;  while  the  branching  or  coralloidal  varieties,  to  which 
the  name  of  Flos-ferri  has  been  given,  occur  in  beds  of  iron 


272  ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 

ore,  and  are  particularly  beautiful  in  the  Styrian  mines  of 
Eisenerz,  where  they  appear  stalactitically  disposed  on  the 
roofs  and  sides  of  considerable  cavities.  The  coralloidal  arra- 
gonites  of  Arzberg,  in  Styria,  are  by  far  the  most  beautiful 
that  have  been  found.  Radiated  and  acicular  minute  white 
crystals  have  been  found  in  the  recent  lavas  of  Vesuvius. 
The  massive,  silky,  aud  fibrous  variety,  termed  satin  spar, 
occurs  at  Dufton,  in  thin  veins,  traversing  shale,  generally 
accompanied  by  iron  pyrites;  it  is  susceptible  of  a  fine  polish, 
and  is  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  ornaments.  Stalactitic 
specimens  of  a  snowy  whiteness  have  been  met  with  at  Lead- 
hills  ;  also  in  Buckinghamshire ;  in  Devonshire ;  and  in  Dirk 
Hatterick's  Cave  on  the  coast  of  Galloway.  The  Bermuda 
Islands  have  furnished  many  beautiful  varieties  of  this  mineral, 
said  to  occur  in  the  caverns  of  limestone. 

This  is  an  uncommon  mineral  in  the  United  States.  Ac- 
cording to  Prof.  Beck,  the  specimens  from  Scoharie  and  from 
Rossie,  N.  Y.,  which  have  passed  for  arragonite,  belong  to  the 
preceding  species.  But  he  gives  one  locality  in  the  town  of 
Monroe,  N.  Y.,  where  it  occurs  in  imperfect  crystals,  and  in 
mammillary,  botryoidal  and  fibrous  forms.  The  variety  Jlos 
feri  occurs  at  Lockport,  according  to  Shepard.  The  caverns 
in  the  limestone  of  Alabama,  particularly  at  Franklin,  have 
presented  specimens  of  crystallized  arragonite  of  surpassing 
splendor.  The  crystals  are  colorless  and  transparent,  and  in 
form  like  fig.  2,  having  their  acute  angles  replaced,  and  fre- 
quently crossing  each  other,  as  shown  in  fig.  3.  They  are  not 
however  remarkable  for  size.  They  sometimes  assume  a  flesh 
color. 

Arragonite  may  with  facility  be  distinguished  from  calca- 
reous spar  by  exposing  it  to  heat,  before  which  it  at  once  flies 
into  powder,  while  the  calcareous  spar  placed  along  side  of  it 
remains  unchanged,  and  even  retains  its  transparency.  Its 
cleavage  in  a  longitudinal  direction  should  also  be  a  sufficient 
characteristic  —  the  faces  of  cleavage  in  calc  spar,  however 
small  the  individuals,  being  always  inclined.  —  Allan's  Manual. 


DOLOMITE.     BITTER  SPAR. 

Chaux  Carbonatee  Magnesifere  Primitive,  H.     Bitterspath,  W.     Rhomb  or  Dolomite 
Spar,  J.    Macrotypous  Lime  Haloido,  M.  in  part.    Pearl  Spar.    Calcius  Dolomai,  D. 

This  mineral,  from  its  chemical  composition,  may  very  prop- 
erly be  designated  as  a  calcareous  carbonate  of  magnesia. 

Dr.  Thomson  has  analyzed  several  specimens  of  it  both  crys- 
tallized and  granular,  and  finds  its  constitution  to  be  one  atom 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS.  273 

carbonate  of  lime  (6'25),  and  one  atom  carbonate  of  magne- 
sia (5-25).     Formula :  MgC+CalC. 

The  following  analyses  by  Berthier,  Laugier  and  Suckow, 
lead  to  the  same  result. 

Namar.     Bourbonne.  Appenines.      Jena. 

Lime 29-1 29-2  Carbonate  of  lime 55-2 55-36 

Magnesia 21-0 21-2  Carbonate  of  magnesia. 44-7 41'30 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-2 00-0  Oxide  of  iron 0-0 2-00 

Carbonic  acid  and  water. 46-7 44-6  Silica 0-0 0-50 

Foreign  matter 2-0 5-0 

99-9  L.      99-16  S- 

100-0  B.     100-0  B. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-85  —  29.     H.  =  3'5  —  40. 

Bitter  spar  is  usually  found  in  the  form  of  its  primary  crys- 
tal, an  Obtuse  rhomboid,  so  nearly  allied  to  that  of  carbonate 
of  lime  that  it  was  considered  the  same  until  Wollaston  dis- 
covered the  difference  by  means  of  the  reflective  goniometer. 
Its  angles  are  106°  15'  and  73°  45'.  Color  greyish  or  yellow, 
with  a  somewhat  pearly  lustre;  harder  than  calcareous  spar, 
semi-transparent,  and  very  brittle.  It  cleaves  readily  into 
rhomboids  of  the  same  form  as  the  crystals.  B  B,  bitter  spar 
is  not  distinguishable  from  calcareous  spar :  it  however  is 
more  slowly  soluble  in  acids,  and  produces  only  a  very  slight 
effervescence. 


PonP' 106°  15' 

PorP'onP"    .  .     73    45 


The  finest  and  most  transparent  crystals  occur  at  Traver- 
salla  in  Piedmont,  at  St.  Gothard,  and  near  Gap  in  France; 
it  is  also  found  in  the  Tyrol  and  Salzburg ;  and  at  Taberg  in 
Sweden,  with  asbestus,  talc,  and  chlorite. 

In  the  United  States  it  is  abundant  at  Smithfield,  R.  I.,  in 
very  large  crystals  associated  with  talc.  It  also  occurs  in  talc 
at  Roxbury,  Vt.,  in  yellowish  and  nearly  transparent  crystals. 
Crystals  in  the  primary  form  occur  in  a  massive  variety  at 
Ridgefield,  Conn.  In  New  York  there  are  several  localities 
of  the  varieties,  as  pearl  spar  at  Little  Falls  and  Herkimer, 
accompanying  the  quartz  crystals;  at  Lockport  and  Niagara, 
forming  many  of  the  geodes  in  the  limestone;  in  small  curved 
crystals  on  Diamond  Island  on  Lake  George ;  and  in  imperfect 
and  variously  aggregated  crystals,  of  a  bluish  white  color,  in 
Richmond  county,  near  the  Quarantine.  At  Hoboken,  N.  J., 
in  the  veins  of  compact  carbonate  of  magnesia  traversing  ser- 
pentine, beautiful,  nearly  transparent  crystals  of  dolomite  have 


274  ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 

recently  been  discovered.  The  massive  variety  is  abundant  in 
Maine,  Vermont,  Massachusetts,  New  York,  and  Connecticut. 
The  hydraulic  limestones,  occurring  so  extensively  in  New 
York,  are  of  this  character,  and  their  indurating  property, 
after  calcination,  is  supposed  to  be  owing  principally  to  the 
presence  of  magnesia. 

The  following  substances  are  considered  varieties  of  bitter 
spar. 

1.  MIEMITE  occurs  crystallized,  but  more  often  massive.     Internally 
it  is  splendent  and  pearly  ;  its  fracture  is  foliated  and  curved  ;  color  green- 
ish-white or  green;  translucent;  and  brittle.     Sp.  Gr.  2-8.     It  is  found 
imbedded  in  gypsum  at  Miemo*  in  Tuscany. 

2.  PEARL  SPAR.!     Chaux  carbonatee  ferro-manganesifere,  H.     This 
is  the  most  common  variety  of  bitter  spar.     It  occurs  in  obtuse  rhombs, 
with   curvilinear  faces  ;  generally  presents  a   shining  pearly  lustre  ;  is 
translucent,  yields  to  the  knife,  but  is  harder  than  calcareous  spar  ;  color 
white,  grey,  or  yellowish.     Specific  gravity  about  2-5. 

It  occurs  abundantly  in  the  lead  mines  of  the  north  of  England ;  in  those 
of  Derbyshire  ;  in  that  of  Beeralston  in  Devonshire  ;  in  several  mines  in 
Cornwall;  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary;  at  Kapnik  in  Transylvania;  at 
Clausthal  in  the  Hartz ;  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony  ;  and  in  many  other  places 
on  the  continent. 

3.  MASSIVE  DOLOMITE.!     Magnesian  limestone.     It  consists  of  fine 
crystalline  grains,  which  are  lamellar ;  is  generally  white,  occasionally 
with  a  tinge  of  yellow  or  grey  ;  is  translucent  on  the  edges,  and,  when 
struck,  frequently  emits  a  phosphorescent  light,  which  is  visible  in  the 
dark.     It   greatly  resembles   primitive  limestone,  but  is   readily  distin- 
guished by  its  feeble  effervescence  in  acid. 

It  occurs  in  the  Pyrenees,  Saxony,  France,  Sweden,  in  lona  one  of  the 
Hebrides,  and,  though  in  a  more  impure  state,  in  many  counties  of  Eng- 
land —  Somersetshire,  Yorkshire,  Notinghamshire,  &c.  At  Building  Hill 
near  Sunderland  it  forms  globular  earthy-like  concretions ;  and  in  the 
same  vicinity  is  found  in  slaty  masses,  which,  when  split  into  thin  pieces, 
are  very  flexible, —  a  quality  supposed  to  depend  on  the  water  it  contains, 
as  it  is  nearly  lost  when  the  mineral  dries. 

Gurhofian  is  of  a  snow-white  color,  and  very  compact ;  the  fragments, 
which  are  sharp,  are  translucent  on  the  edges;  fracture  flat  conchoidal. 
In  many  respects  it  may  be  mistaken  for  semi-opal.  It  occurs  in  veins 
traversing  serpentine  between  Gurhoff  §  and  Aggsbach  in  Lower  Austria. 

The  mortar  obtained  from  this  species  is  esteemed  for  cement,  being 
less  subject  to  decay,  owing  to  its  absorbing  less  carbonic  acid  from  the 
atmosphere  than  that  of  common  limestone.  But  for  agricultural  purposes 
it  is  of  inferior  value  ;  for  when  laid  on  particular  soils  it  tends  rather  to 
injure  than  to  improve  vegetation,  which  is  wholly  destroyed  when  the 
quantity  is  large  ;  this  effect  is  owing  to  the  magnesia  it  contains.  The 
cathedral  of  Milan,  and  the  Minster  and  city  walls  of  York,  are  built  of 
magnesian  limestone ;  the  white  marble  of  Paros,  and  that  of  lona  in  the 
Hebrides,  belong  to  this  species ;  it  therefore  often  admits,  as  well  as 
limestone,  of  being  cut  and  polished,  and  is  described  as  being  particu- 
larly durable. 


*  Whence  Miemite.  f  From  its  pearly  lustre. 

J  Dolomite,  in  honor  of  the  geologist  Dolomieu.  $  Whence  Gurhofian. 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY    MINERALS.  275 

ANKER1TE. 

Paratomoua  Lime  Haloide,  M.    Wandstein  of  Styrian  Miners.    Calciua  clccolorans,  D. 

Analysis  by  Berthier :  carbonate  of  lime  5T1,  carbonate  of 
magnesia  25'7,  carb.  of  iron  20*0,  carb.  of  manganese  3'0. 

Formula :  8CalC+5MgC+3FC. 

Sp.  Gr.  295  — 3-1.     H.  =  3-5  —  4'0. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid  of  106°  12'.  In  crystalline  masses 
of  a  white  color,  though  sometimes  tinged  yellow  and  brown, 
from  an  admixture  of  iron.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the 
faces  of  the  rhomboid;  lustre  vitreous;  slightly  translucent ; 
streak  white  ;  fracture  uneven ;  and  the  surface  generally  stri- 
ated. B  B,  per  se,  it  becomes  black,  and  acts  on  the  magnet, 
but  does  not  fuse;  with  borax  it  melts  into  a  pearl.  In  nitric 
acid  it  is  soluble  with  a  brisk  effervescence;  and  on  exposure 
to  the  atmosphere  its  surface  becomes  darker.  The  species 
occurs  at  the  Rathhausberg  in  the  Gastein  valley,  Saltzburg; 
and  in  considerable  quantity  at  the  Styrian  mines  of  Eisenerz, 
where  it  is  prized  both  as  an  iron  ore,  and  as  a  flux  in  the  pro- 
cess of  smelting.  It  was  distinguished  by  Mohs,  who  named 
it  in  compliment  to  Prof.  Anker  of  the  Johannasum  in  Gratz. — 
Allan's  Manual. 

PLUMBO-CALCITE. 

Prof.  J.  F.  W.  Johnston.    (Edlnb.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  new  series,  vi.  79.) 

Consists  of  carbonate  of  lime  92*2,  carbonate  of  lead  7*8. — 
Johnstone.  These  proportions  are  supposed  to  vary  in  differ- 
ent specimens.  Sp.  Gr.  2'829.  H.  =  32. 

Form  and  cleavage  the  same  as  the  primary  rhomboid  of 
calcareous  spar ;  massive.  When  heated  the  carbonic  acid  is 
driven  off,  and  the  specimen  assumes  a  reddish  color.  B  B,  it 
yields  with  soda  a  white  enamel,  but  no  reduced  lead  appears. 
But  a  small  fragment  dissolved  in  muriatic  acid  gives  a  white 
precipitate  with  caustic  ammonia,  becoming  black  by  the  addi- 
tion of  hydrosulphuret  of  ammonia,  and  gives,  B  B,  a  globule 
of  metallic  lead.  It  occcurs  among  the  old  workings  at  Wan- 
lockhead  in  Dumfries-shire.  In  this  mineral  the  salts  of  lead 
and  lime  mutually  replace  each  other,  without  altering  the 
form  of  the  crystal,  and  are  therefore  said  to  be  isomorphous 
with  each  other. 

It  has  been  lately  shown  that  certain  arragonites  also  con 
tain  carbonated  oxide  of  lead,  instead  of  strontian,  which  is 
readily  detected  B  B.  In  one  specimen  Bottger  found  3'85 
per  cent.,  and  Kersten  only  2*19  per  cent,  in  another.  Carbo- 
nate of  lead  is  thus  shown  to  be  dimorphous,  occurring  both  as 
a  rhomboid  and  as  a  right  rhombic  prism ;  as  is  the  case  also 
with  carbonate  of  lime. 


276  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


APATITE.* 

Phosphate  of  Lime.  Apatit,  W.  Rhombohedral  Apatite,  J.  Rhombohedral  Fluor  Ha- 
loide,  M.  Asparagus  Stone.  Chaux  Phosphatee,  H.  Moroxite.  Phosphorite.  Subses- 
quiphosphate  of  Lime,  Thomson.  Fluellus  hexagonus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid  and  lime,  with  fluoric  acid 
and  chlorine,  or  mixtures  of  them  both. 

Snarum.  Cap  de  Gates.  Greiner.  Asparagus  Stone. 

Phosphoric  acid,  j  42.90  ............  44.27  ............  44.35  ............  44.33 

Fluoric  acid  ----  \ 

Lime  ............  54-75  ............  55-30  ............  55-57  ............  55-67 

Chlorine  .........  2-10  ............  0-43  ............  0-07  ............  0-00 

Oxide  of  iron....    0-25  ............  0-00  ............  0-00  ............  0-00 

100-00  G.  Rose.      100-00  G.  Rose.      99-99  G.  Rose.      100.00  Seybert.f 

These  analyses  give  very  nearly  one  atom  (4'5)  of  phos- 
phoric acid,  to  one  and  a  half  atom  (5'25)  of  lime,  show- 
ing the  mineral  to  be  a  subsesquiphosphate  of  lime.  There 
is  an  excess  of  lime,  which  is  in  combination  with  fluoric 
acid  and  chlorine,  substances  shown  by  Prof.  G.  Rose  to  be 
always  present  in  this  mineral  as  chloride  and  fluoride  of  cal- 
cium. By  uniting  these,  the  constitution  of  the  mineral,  as 
stated  by  Dr.  Thomson,  is  one  atom  chloride  and  fluoride  of 
calcium,  six  atoms  subsesquiphosphate  of  lime.  Formula  : 
GCal^Ph+CalChljl 

Sp.  Gr.  31  —  3-3.     H.r=5'0. 

Phosphate  of  lime  is  found  massive  (Phosphorite);  and 
crystallized  in  six-sided  prisms,  terminated  by  one  or  more 
planes  (Apatite)  ;  or  the  prism  is  terminated  by  a  six-sided 
pyramid,  and  the  lateral  edges  are  sometimes  replaced.  It 
yields,  though  with  some  difficulty,  to  mechanical  division 
parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  the  Regular  hexahedral  prism, 
which  therefore  is  considered  the  primary  form  ;  fracture  more 
or  less  conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous  lustre;  translucent,  rarely 
transparent  ;  white,  yellowish-white,  wine-yellow,  green,  blue 
or  bluish-green,  and  red,  —  these  colors  sometimes  intermixed 
in  the  same  crystal.  In  a  very  high  temperature,  the  edges  and 
angles  are  rounded  off,  fusing  difficultly  =  4£  without  addition  ; 
with  borax  it  forms  a  clear  globule,  and  in  salt  of  phosphorus 
dissolves  in  great  quantity,  affording  a  transparent  glass,  which, 
when  nearly  saturated,  becomes  opake  on  cooling,  and  pre- 
sents crystalline  faces.  Soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric 


*  Named  by  Werner,  from  anataw,  to  deceive  ;  in  allusion  to  its  being  readily  mis- 
taken for  certain  other  minerals. 

t  This  specimen  was  from  London  Grove,  Chester  County,  Penn.  [Jour.  Acad.  Nat. 
Sciences,  vol.  ii.  p.  139.] 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 


277 


and  muriatic  acids;  and  when  thrown  in  powder  on  live  coal, 
emits  a  yellow  phosphorescent  light.* 

i.  2.  3.  4. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  —  a  six-sided  prism.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which 
the  terminal  edges  are  replaced ;  tending  to  a  six-sided  pyramid,  which 
is  perfect  in  fig.  3,  the  lateral  edges  of  the  prism  being  replaced.  Fig.  4, 
in  this  the  lateral  and  terminal  edges  of  the  prism  are  all  replaced  by 
planes,  and  its  solid  angles  by  small  six-sided  faces. 


M 


M  on  M'  or  M'  on  M"    .  .  120°  0' 

P  on  MM' or  M" 90     0 

M  or  M'  on  d 150     0 

M  on  e  or  M'  on  e!  .  .  .  .  169     2 

P  on  cl 157    0 

c2 134  43 

c3 120  38 

a 124  16 

M  on  cl 112  48 

c2 130  30 

c3 139  48 

M'  on  b  or  b' 149  40 

6  on  a 162  18 

It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that 
the  planes  6  b'  are  rarely  seen  to- 
gether on  the  same  crystal. 

Ehrenfriedersdorf  in  Saxony,  and  Schlackenwald  in  Bohe- 
mia, are  well-known  continental  localities  of  this  mineral. 
The  crystals  from  St.  Gothard  in  Switzerland  are  remarkable 
for  their  whiteness  and  transparency,  and  the  regularity  of 
their  complex  forms ;  those  from  Arendal  in  Norway  (Morox- 
ite)  are  opake,  and  of  a  greenish-blue  color ;  while  the  aspar- 
agus-stone or  spargelstein,  from  the  Zillerthal  in  the  Tyrol,  is 
translucent,  of  a  wine-yellow  hue,  and  imbedded  in  green  talc. 
In  the  British  Museum  there  is  one  very  remarkable  crystal, 
which  is  said  to  be  from  the  vicinity  of  St.  Petersburg,  and 
beautiful  crystals  have  been  discovered  at  Caldbeck-fell  in 
Cumberland ;  in  Cornwall  in  tin  veins  in  the  granite  of  St. 
Michael's  Mount,  with  topaz,  &/c. ;  with  axinite  on  the  cliffs 
of  Botallack  near  the  Land's  End ;  and  near  Bovey  Tracey  in 

*  The  presence  of  fluoric  acid  in  this  mineral  as  evinced  by  its  action  on  glass,  mar 
be  shown  by  placing  a  powdered  crystal  in  a  platinum  crucible,  pouring  upon  it  a  small 
quantity  of  sulphuric  acid,  and  proceeding  an  is  usual  in  the  experiment  with  fluor  spar. 
|  AM.  ED.] 

24 


278  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Devonshire,  in  large  greyish-white  translucent  prisms,  with 
crystallized  tourmaline,  in  a  quarry  of  red  granite. 

The  massive  variety  of  apatite  is  usually  distinguished  un- 
der the  appellation  of  phosphorite.  It  presents  a  granular  tex- 
ture, and  a  yellowish  or  reddish-white  color:  is  nearly  opake; 
and  becomes  phosphorescent  on  the  application  of  heat.  It  is 
found  at  Schlackenwald  in  Bohemia,  and  abundantly  near  La- 
grofan  in  Estremadura  in  Spain,  in  beds  alternating  with  lime- 
stone and  quartz.  In  Nova  Scotia,  at  Partridge  Island,  small 
but  extremely  brilliant  crystals  of  a  pale-yellow  color  were 
found  by  Dr.  Jackson  and  the  editor,  in  veins  of  foliated 
silicious  sinter  traversing  the  trap.  Near  Copiapo,  in  Chili, 
it  is  found  massive  and  of  a  bluish-green  color.  Beads  formed 
of  it  have  also  been  discovered  in  some  of  the  most  ancient 
cemeteries  in  the  same  region.  —  Blake. 

In  the  United  States,  apatite  occurs  abundantly  in  the  white 
limestone  of  St.  Lawrence,  Jefferson,  Lewis  and  Orange  coun- 
ties, N.  Y.,  where  the  crystals  are  associated  with  felspar, 
scapolite,  zircon,  sphene  and  pargasite.  They  possess  a  great 
variety  of  colors,  (as  bluish-green,  sea-green,  mountain-green, 
yellowish-green,  and  sky-blue,)  have  highly  lustrous  planes, 
and  those  from  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  county,  where  the 
smaller  crystals  are  not  inferior  to  those  from  any  known  lo- 
cality, are  most  deserving  of  notice  on  account  of  their  huge 
dimensions,  many  of  them  being  from  six  to  eight  inches  in 
length,  while  in  a  few  instances  they  have  been  met  with  a 
foot  or  more  in  length.  The  more  slender  prismatic  crystals 
are  frequently  bent  in  the  middle,  obviously  whilst  in  a  soft 
state,  either  when  first  formed,  or  by  subsequent  fusion  (see  the 
fig.  p.  277).  As  the  terminations  are  rounded,  the  sharp  angles 
as  it  were  melted  away,  and  they  assume  otherwise  a  fused  ca- 
vernous appearance,  Prof.  Emmons  has,  with  good  reason,  ad- 
adduced  them  as  additional  evidence  of  the  igneous  origin  of 
the  primitive  limestone  in  which  they  are  imbedded.  (See  his 
Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  the  State.}  These  crys- 
tals rarely  present  any  other  modifications  than  those  of  the 
replacement  of  the  terminal  edges  of  the  prism,  pyramidee  of 
Haiiy  ;  but  Prof.  Beck  has  given  the  figure  of  a  crystal  from 
this  locality  in  which  the  edges  both  of  the  prism  and  the  pyr- 
amid are  replaced  by  tangent  planes. — Mineralogy  of  New 
York,  page  241.  Low  compressed  prisms,  of  which  the  ter- 
minal edges  are  replaced  by  a  single  row  of  molecules,  uni- 
annulaire  of  Haiiy,  have  been  found  at  St.  Anthony's  nose, 
near  New  York,  accompanied  by  magnetic  pyrites.  They 
are  sometimes  so  flattened,  as  to  put  on  the  appearance  of  an 


AC1DIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  279 

eight-sided  table  with  bevelled  edges.*  The  vicinity  of  Gou- 
verneur,  N.  Y.,  has  also  furnished  the  same  form  —  fig.  2 — 
M  on  c  129°  13',  P  on  c  140°  47',  c  on  c  143°  7'.  —  Hauy.  In 
Lancaster,  Billerica  and  Stowe,  Mass.,  good  crystals  of  apatite 
have  been  found;  and  at  the  former  place,  connected  with 
spodumene.  At  Franklin,  N.  J.,  greenish-white  hexahedral 
prisms  are  found  with  Jeffersonite.  It  also  occurs  near  Balti- 
more, Md.,  and  near  Wilmington,  Del.  In  Maine,  at  Bruns- 
wick, on  the  banks  of  the  Androskoggin,  disseminated  in  gneiss, 
with  garnets.  At  Suckasunny,  N.  J.,  in  small  prisms,  associ- 
ated with  actynolite,  (byssolite),  and  more  rarely  with  pearly 
heulandite. 

APPENDIX.  Fibrous  Phosphate  of  Lime  or  Eupyrchroite, 
of  Prof.  Emmons.t  This  is  a  very  singular  mineral  and  the 
first  example  of  phosphate  of  lime  occurring  under  a  fibrous 
form.  Indeed,  it  is  supposed  by  Prof.  Emmons  to  be  a  new 
species,  but  according  to  the  analysis  made  by  Prof.  Beck,  it 
contains  ninety-three  per  cent,  of  phosphate  of  lime,  the  re- 
mainder being  oxide  of  iron,  alumina,  silica  and  water,  which 
are  most  probably  mere  accidental  impurities.  With  this 
chemical  composition,  and  in  the  absence  of  any  well  marked 
crystalline  structure,  it  seems  more  proper  to  consider  it  as  a 
variety  of  the  present  species.  The  following  description  of 
its  characters  has  been  drawn  up  by  Prof.  Emmons. 

Color  pale  malachite-green,  passing  also  into  greenish-white, 
and  sometimes  brownish.  Structure  indistinctly  fibrous  in  the 
thin  mammillated  layers,  which  are  arranged  like  those  of 
green  malachite.  Colors  of  the  separate  layers  various.  Dull 
and  opake.  Hardness  =  4.  Specific  gravity  3'03. 

It  is  fusible,  B  B,  with  difficulty,  after  a  long  continuance  of 
the  blast,  and  on  the  surface  only,  into  a  glassy  glaze.  De- 
crepitates ;  with  borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus  it  fuses  into  a 
pale  bottle-green  glass  when  hot  or  warm,  but  transparent 
when  cold.  Heated  to  a  point  just  below  redness  it  phos- 
phoresces with  an  emerald-green  light.  Heated  in  a  glass  tube 
it  gives  off  a  little  vapor.  In  muriatic  acid  it  dissolves  easily 
and  perfectly  with  a  slight  ebullition ;  from  this  solution  oxa- 
late  of  ammonia  throws  down  a  white  precipitate ;  also  the 
carbonates  of  ammonia  and  soda  an  abundant  white  flocculent 
precipitate.  The  muriatic  solution  evaporated  to  dryness  is 
perfectly  redissolved  by  acidulated  water. 

This  remarkable  mineral  occurs  a  mile  south  of  Hammonds- 
ville,  at  Crown  Point,  not  far  from  the  landing.  It  has  a  re- 

*  Dr.  Troost,  Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.,  (Philadelphia),  vol.  ii.  p.  56. 

f  See  his  Second  Annual  Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  New  York,  p.  5252. 


280 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


semblance  to  malachite,  somewhat  in  color  and  structure,  but 
evidently  contains  no  copper.  It  has,  in  fact,  in  its  external 
or  natural  historical  characters,  as  well  as  chemical,  quite  a 
striking  resemblance  to  Wavellite  and  Gibbsite.  It  occurs 
abundantly  in  tuberose  and  mammillated  masses  in  gneiss  and 
limestone. 

Its  name,  eupyrchroite,  has  an  allusion  to  its  beautiful  phos- 
phorescence when  exposed  to  heat. 


HERDERITE* 

Prismatic  Fluor  Haloide,  Haidinger.     Fluellus  rhombicus,  D. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  115°  9y  and  64°  51'. 
Sp.  Gr.  29  —  31.     H.i=50. 


p  on  p  over  M  .  .  .  .  77°  2J? 
p  on  p  contiguous  .  .  144  16 
t  on  t  contiguous  .  .  64  51 


Cleavage  interrupted  parallel  to  M.  Fracture  small  con- 
choidal.  Color  several  shades  of  yellowish-  and  greenish- 
white;  very  translucent;  with  a  vitreous  or  somewhat  resinous 
lustre.  Streak  white;  surface  of  M  smooth,  and  delicately 
striated  parallel  to  its  edges  of  combination  withjo. 

Herderite  much  resembles  asparagus-stone,  but  was  distin- 
guished by  Haidinger.  —  Brewster's  Journal,  ix.  360.  It  oc- 
curs imbedded  in  fluor,  in  the  tin  mines  of  Ehrenfriedersdorf 
in  Saxony ;  and  is  a  very  rare  species. 


FLUOR  SPAR.t 

Fluorine,  Bcudant.    Fluateof  Lime.    Fluss,W.    Chaux  fluatee,  II.    Octahedral  Fluor,  J. 
Octahedral  Fluor  Haloide,  M.     Fluellus  octahedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  one  atom  fluoric  acid,  and  one  atom  lime. 
Formula:  CalFl. 


Derbyshire. 

Lime 72-68 

Fluoric  acid 27-32 


Gersdorf. 

67-75 

32-25 


Cumberland. 

72-14 

27-86 


100-00  Davy. 


100-00  Klaproth.  100-00  Berzelius. 


*  In  compliment  to  Baron  von  Herder,  the  director  of  the  Saxon  mines  at  Freyberg. 
t  From  the  Latin  fiuo,  to  flow  —  in  allusion  to  its  important  use  as  a  flux  to  the  metal- 
lic ores. 


ACID1FEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


281 


Sp.  Gr.  3-0  to  3-3.     H.  =  4-0. 

Fluor  occurs  crystallized,  nodular,  compact,  and  earthy; 
the  first  has  a  perfectly  lamellar  structure,  and  may  be  cleaved 
with  facility  into  the  tetrahedron,  acute  rhomboid,  and  Regular 
octahedron,  the  latter  of  which  has  been  adopted  as  its  primary 
form;  occasionally  however  the  edges  of  a  cube  of  fluor  may 
be  displaced  mechanically,  affording  an  apparent  cleavage  par- 
allel to  the  planes  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron ;  but  this  is 
only  deceptive,  for  the  planes  so  produced  are  irregular,  and 
therefore  unlike  those  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  octahedron, 
and  may  be  termed  planes  of  composition.  It  occurs  in  the 
form  of  the  octahedron  and  its  varieties;  as  the  cube,  dodeca- 
hedron with  rhombic  planes,  &c.  Fluor  is  found  perfectly 
limpid  and  transparent;  also  white,  grey,  and  exhibiting  vari- 
ous shades  of  blue,  green,  red,  yellow,  and  purple :  when 
pounded  and  placed  on  live  coal  it  emits  a  phosphorescent 
light,  blue,  green,  purple,  or  yellow ;  when  thrown  in  mass 
into  the  fire,  it  decrepitates  and  flies.  Is  acted  upon  by  acids, 
and  particularly  by  heated  sulphuric  acid,  which  decomposes 
it,  and  disengages  fluoric  acid  in  vapors.  Alone  on  charcoal 
it  fuses  by  much  heat  into  an  opuke  white  globule;  with  bo- 
rax, and  salt  of  phosphorus  it  forms  a  transparent  glass,  which 
when  saturated  to  a  certain  extent  becomes  opake. 


10. 


11. 


12. 


Fig.  1,  primary  ;  the  regular  octahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  having  all 
its  solid  angles  replaced  by  square  planes,  which  are  enlarged  and  com- 
plete in  fig.  3,  the  cube.  Fig.  4,  the  cube,  of  which  the  edges  and  angles 

24* 


282 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


are  replaced.  Fig.  5,  the  octahedron,  with  its  edges  replaced  by  six-sided 
planes ;  which  in  fig.  6  are  complete  and  of  a  rhombic  shape,  forming  the 
rhombic  dodecahedron.  Fig.  7  the  cube  with  its  edges  bevelled,  or  re- 
placed by  two  planes;  these  planes  are  complete  in  fig.  8,  forming  a  solid 
bounded  by  twenty-four  triangular  planes.  Fig.  9,  the  cube,  having  each 
solid  angle  replaced  by  three  planes,  which  in  rig.  10  are  seen  in  com- 
bination with  planes  replacing  the  edges  of  the  cube.  Fig.  11,  the  cube, 
of  which  each  solid  angle  is  replaced  by  six  planes;  these  are  enlarged 
and  nearly  complete  in  fig.  12 ;  representing  a  crystal  bounded  by  fifty- 
four  planes. 

One  crystal  (from  Devonshire)  in  Mr.  Phillips's  possession  exhibited  all 
the  faces  represented  on  the  annexed  figure  except  bl  3  and  4,  and  c3. 


P  on  P',or  P  on  P" .  .  109°  28'  H. 

Pon  a  a7  or  a!'    ....  125  15  — 

ee'  or  e" 144  44  — 

a  on  a1  or  a" 90  00  — 

e  on  tf  OP  e" 120 

a  or  a'  on  e',  a  or  a" 
on  e,  or  a'  on  a!'  on  e" 

62  on  a '.154  45 

-63  on  a 156  50 


135 


00  — 
00  — 


64  on  64' 92°  507 

cl  on  a 147  00 

c2  on  a 174  40 

c3  on  a 179  40 

dl  on  dl' 166  50 

d2  on  d2' 160  12 

dl  or  dl7  on  a 153  10 

d2  or  d2  on  a  .  ,  .  •  155  44 


No  part  of  the  world  has  hitherto  produced  finer  specimens 
of  this  species  than  the  counties  of  Cumberland,  Derby,  and 
Cornwall.  Those  varieties  from  the  lead  mines  of  Alston 
Moor  and  Derbyshire,  usually  assume  the  form  of  the  cube, 
and  present  the  finest  shades  of  blue  and  green,  varying  in 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  283 

color  as  the  light  by  which  they  are  examined  is  reflected  or 
transmitted  ;  some  beautiful  octahedral  forms  occur  at  Beer- 
alston  in  Devonshire,  while  the  neighboring  county  of  Corn- 
wall has  afforded  an  endless  variety  of  crystallizations.  Dark- 
blue  cubical  crystals  have  been  noticed  in  porphyritic  green- 
stone near  Gourock  in  Renfrewshire,  also  though  sparingly 
in  Aberdeenshire;  but  fluor  is  on  the  whole  a  rare  production 
either  of  Scotland  or  Ireland. 

Crystallized  fluor  is  found  at  Mont  Blanc  and  St.  Gothard  — 
on  the  latter  in  octahedrons  of  a  rose-red  color;  in  Saxony, 
the  Bannat,  and  other  countries,  it  occurs  in  veins  in  primi- 
tive mountains,  exhibiting  various  modifications  and  great  va- 
rieties of  color ;  and  at  Zinnwald  in  Bohemia,  accompanies 
oxide  of  tin,  mica,  apatite,  and  quartz. 

In  the  United  States  a  beautiful  pale  green  fluor  spar  in 
octahedral  crystals,  occurs  on  the  White  mountains,  N.  H.,  in 
the  ruins  of  a  slide  east  of  Saco,  as  described  by  Prof.  Hub- 
bard.  It  is  imbedded  in  masses  of  radiated  quartz,  and  the 
crystals  are  sometimes  an  inch  and  a  fourth  in  diameter.  At 
Eaton  and  Westmoreland,  N.  H.,  it  occurs  in  considerable 
abundance,  accompanying  copper  and  iron  pyrites;  also  at 
Putney,  Vt.,  of  an  emerald-green  color.  The  lead  mine  at 
Southampton,  Mass.,  has  also  furnished  a  beautiful  green  and 
purple  variety.  At  Trumbull,  Conn.,  it  is  associated  with 
topaz,  mica  and  quartz,  and  is  sometimes  crystallized.  Ex- 
posed to  heat  it  has  the  character  of  chlorophane.  Crystals 
of  large  dimensions,  sometimes  a  foot  in  diameter,  have  been 
found  on  the  southern  bank  of  Muscolunge  Lake,  Jefferson 
county,  N.  Y.  They  are  usually  of  a  greenish  color.  At 
Lowville,  Lewis  county,  both  cubical  and  octahedral  crystals 
are  found  in  narrow  veins  in  limestone  with  iron  pyrites  and 
galena;  they  are  of  a  green  color  and  nearly  transparent. 
Very  rarely,  insulated  crystals  of  this  mineral  of  a  yellow  color 
are  met  with  in  the  geodes  of  pearl-spar  and  celestine,  at 
Lockport  and  Niagara,  N.  Y.  According  to  Prof.  Beck, 
crystals  of  a  purple  color,  and  exhibiting  the  form  of  the 
cubo-octaedre  of  Haiiy,  have  been  obtained  at  Rossie,  as  also 
large  and  very  perfect  dodecahedral  crystals  in  the  town  of 
De  Kalb,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.  In  New  Jersey  it  is 
disseminated  in  the  limestone  at  Franklin.  Fine  deep  purple 
colored  cubes  have  been  brought  from  Smith  county,  Tenn. ; 
and  other  varieties  from  Shenandona  county,  Vir.,  and  from 
Shawne  Town,  111. 

Near  Castleton  in  Derbyshire,  fluor  is  found  in  detached  masses,  whose 
structure  is  divergent,  and  their  colors,  as  grey,  yellow,  blue,  brown,  are 


284  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

generally  disposed  in  concentric  bands  ;  of  this  variety,  called  blue  John 
by  the  miner,  beautiful  vases,  obelisks,  and  other  ornaments,  are  made. 

Compact  fluor  is  harder  than  common  fluor,  and  has  sometimes  a  gran- 
ular texture  ;  in  general  it  is  translucent  only  on  the  edges;  when  placed 
on  live  coal,  it  mostly  gives  out  a  green  light,  but  some  specimens  exhibit 
various  shades  of  green,  blue,  violet,  and  red.  It  occurs  at  Stolberg  in 
the  Hart/,  where,  when  first  raised,  it  presents  a  fine  sky-blue  color,  but 
shortly,  on  exposure,  becomes  perfectly  white  ;  also  in  Norway,  Sweden, 
and  Cornwall. 

Earthy  fluor  exhibits  a  friable  texture.  It  is  found  in  Saxony  and 
Nor-way  ;  in  Durham,  with  partially  decomposed  galena  ;  and  in  a  granu- 
lar pulverulent  state,  in  the  Beeralstone  lead  mine,  Devonshire. 

The  name  Chlorophane  has  been  applied  to  these  varieties  which,  when 
exposed  to  heat,  exhibit  (he  phenomenon  of  phosphorescence  in  peculiarly 
bright-green  colors.  One  presenting  an  imperfectly  lamellar  structure, 
and  of  a  pale-violet  color,  from  Nertcschinsk  in  Siberia,  possesses  this 
property  to  a  remarkable  degree  ;  and  in  some  of  the  Cornish  specimens 
it  is  also  easily  detected.  It  does  not  fly  in  the  fire,  but  gives  out  a  phos- 
phorescent light  of  a  most  beautiful  emerald-green,*  which,  if  not  exposed 
to  too  high  a  temperature,  it  will  exhibit  repeatedly. 

The  circumstance  of  its  fluoric  acid  being  disengaged  when  treated  with 
sulphuric  acid,  renders  fluor  spar  a  useful  medium  for  executing  etchings 
on  glass,  which  are  readily  obtained  by  exposing  a  plate  partially  coated 
with  wax  to  the  action  of  this  acid  as  it  is  evolved  in  a  gaseous  state  ;  that 
portion  of  the  glass  covered  by  the  wax  of  course  remains  entire,  while 
whatever  has  been  laid  bare  will  shortly  be  found  to  have  been  acted  upon 
to  a  considerable  depth,  and  thus  figures  of  any  description  may  be  pro- 
duced on  glass  without  much  difficulty. 

ANHYDROUS  SULPHATE  OF  LIME. 

ANHYDRITE. 

Muriacite,  Wurfelspath,  W.    Chaux  Sulphatee  Anliydre,  H.     Anhydrite,  J.     Prismatic 
Gypsum  Haloiile,  M.    Gypsalus  rectangulus,  D. 

When  pure  it  consists  of  one  atom  (5)  sulphuric  acid  and 
one  atom  (3'5)  of  lime.  Formula:  CalS. 

Sulz.  Eisleben.  Vulpino.  Bohemia. 

Sulphuric  acid. . .  .57-0 56-J8 58-00 5(rO 

Lime 42-0 41-48 41-70 39-0 

Water 0-0 0-75 0-07 0-0 

Barytes 0-0 0-00 0-00 3-0 

Silica 0-2 0-00 0-09 0-2 

99-2  Klaproth.      98  51  Rose.  99-87  Stromeyer.   97-2  Beudant. 

Sp.  Gr.  25  —  2-9.     H.  =  3-0  —  35. 

Anhydrite  occurs  crystallized  in  the  form  of  a  Right  rec- 
tangular prism,  of  which  the  lateral  edges  are  sometimes, 
though  rarely,  replaced.  It  readily  yields  to  cleavage  parallel 
with  the  planes  of  the  prism,  but  with  more  difficulty  in  one 
direction  than  in  the  other  two.  It  is  white,  violet,  bluish,  or 
reddish;  is  translucent,  sometimes  transparent;  with  a  splen- 

*  Whence  Chlorophane,  signifying  brilliant  green. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


285 


dent,  pearly  lustre.  It  possesses  double  refraction.  In  the 
matrass  it  yields  no  water,  and  it  does  not  exfoliate  like  gyp- 
sum B  B,  but  becomes  glazed  over  with  a  white  friable  en- 
amel ;  with  borax  it  fuses  with  effervescence  into  a  transpa- 
rent glass,  which  on  cooling  is  yellowish-brown,  and  which,  ii 
the  proportion  of  the  assay  be  considerable,  becomes  brown 
and  opake;  with  fluor  spar  it  forms  a  transparent  globule 
while  hot,  which  alters  into  an  opake-white  enamel  when  cold. 


P  on  M  or  T 90°  0'  H. 

M  on  T 90  0  — 

M  on  d 140  4  — 

T  on  d 129  56  — 


It  is  found  in  the  salt  mines  of  Hall  in  the  Tyrol,  and  Bex 
in  Switzerland;  also  in  cleavable  masses  of  a  brick-red  color 
imbedded  with  gypsum  and  polyhalite,  in  beds  of  rock  salt  at 
Aussee  in  Upper  Austria.  In  the  United  States,  at  Lock- 
port,  Niagara  county,  N.  Y.,  this  mineral  occurs  in  foliated 
nearly  transparent  masses  of  a  sky-blue  color,  in  the  geodes 
of  the  limestone. 

Compact  Anhydrite  or  Vulpinite  occurs  massive,  contorted, 
and  reniform.  It  is  found  in  the  salt  mines  of  Upper  Austria 
and  Salzsburg;  at  Sulz  on  the  Neckar  in  Wirtemberg,  and  at 
Bleiberg  in  Carinthia.  The  contorted  variety  termed  pierre 
des  trippes  (from  its  resemblance  to  the  convolutions  of  the 
intestines)  occurs  in  clay,  in  the  salt  mines  of  Wielitzka  and 
Bochnia  in  Poland  ;  while  the  variety  which  takes  a  fine  pol- 
ish, and  is  known  by  artists  as  the  marmo  bardiglio  di  Ber- 
gamo, occurs  with  limestone  at  Vulpino  in  Italy. 

HYDROUS  SULPHATE  OF  LIME. 

GYPSUM." 

Sulphate  of  Lime.    Solenite.    Gyps,  W.    Ch»ux  Sulphate,  H.    Axifrangihle  Gypsum,  J. 
Prismatoidal  Gypsum  Haloide,  M.     Gypsalus  Rhomboideus,  U. 

This  is  a  hydrous  sulphate  of  lime,  consisting  of  one  atom 
sulphuric  acid,  one  atom  lime,  and  two  atoms  water.  Formula, 
CalSl-)-2Aq.  Analysis  by  Bucholz  :  Sulphuric  acid  46'0,  lime 
33-0,  water  2M). 


*  Gypse  is  said  to  have  been  the  term  given  by  the  ancients  to  calcined  sulphate  of 
lime  j  that  mineral  in  its  natural  state  is  now  termed  gypsum  j  it  contains  water. 


286 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 


Sp.  Gr.  326  to  24.     H.  =  15  —  2'0. 

Of  gypsum  there  are  several  varieties.  It  occurs  crystallized  ; 
fibrous;  having  a  granular  texture ;  compact;  and  earthy. 

Selenite*  occurs  generally  in  flattish  crystals.  The  primary 
form  is  a  Right  oblique-angled  prism,  of  which  the  bases  are 
oblique-angled  parallelograms  of  113°  S1  and  66°  52';  it  cleaves 
with  ease  and  brilliancy,  parallel  only  with  the  terminal  planes 
P  of  the  following  figures,  but  cleavages  parallel  to  the  lateral 
planes  may  be  attained  from  the  finely  divided  laminae ;  lustre 
shining,  sometimes  pearly ;  more  or  less  transparent,  and  so 
soft  as  to  yield  to  the  nail. 


The  preceding  figures  are  given  only  with  a  view  to  elucidate  the 
manner  in  which  the  modifying  planes  abed  of  the  following  figure  are 
situated  on  the  angles  or  edges  of  the  primary. 

P  on  M  or  T  (primary)  90°  00' 


ditto 


M  on  T 
P  on  61 

b2 

cl 

c2 

c3 

a 

d 
e 

61  on  61' 143 

b2  on  b2'   .  • 108 

c3  on  c3' Ill 

a  on  a' 138 

a  on  c3 118 

d  on  a 149 

62  on  c3  .  ,  ,  126 


113 
108 
144 
153 
143 
124 
112 
110 
90 


08 
00 
40 
55 
42 
20 
14 
51 
00 
48 
05 
20 
42 
18 
20 


It  presents  various  shades  of  white,  yellow,  grey,  brown, 
red,  and  violet.  Reduced  to  thin  laminae,  it  is  flexible  but 
not  elastic.  Gives  off  water  in  the  matrass;  and,  B  B,  in  the 
platina  forceps,  exfoliates  and  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  white 
enamel.  With  fluor  spar  it  readily  fuses. 

Selenite  is  most  commonly  met  with  disseminated  in  argilla- 
ceous deposits;  not  often  in  veins.  The  finest  and  most  trans- 
parent crystals  occur  in  the  salt  mines  of  Bex  in  Switzerland, 
at  Hall  in  the  Tyrol,  in  the  sulphur  mines  of  Sicily,  near 
Ocana  in  Spain,  and  in  detached  and  very  symmetrical  individ- 
uals in  clay  at  Shotover  Hill  in  Oxfordshire.  Large  lenticu- 


'  Selenite,  from  the  Greek  ,•  in  allusion  to  the  brilliancy  with  which  it  reflects  the  moon. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS.  287 

lar  crystals,  and  the  scaly  varieties,  are  found  at  Montmartre 
near  Paris.  Broad  foliated  masses  are  common  in  the  gypsum 
of  Nova  Scotia,  and  recently  fine  large  groups  of  crystals  of 
a  brown  color  have  been  found  at  Sussex  Vale,  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  Brunswick.  A  remarkable  specimen  of  the  lat- 
ter is  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  Martin  Gay  of  Boston. 

The  tertiary  formations  of  Virginia  and  Maryland,  abound 
in  large  and  very  beautiful  groups  of  crystallized  selenite, 
particularly  St.  Mary  and  Calvert  counties,  which  have  been 
carefully  explored  by  Messrs.  T.  A.  Conrad  and  F.  Markoe,  Jr. 
Crystallized  and  massive  gypsum  occurs  in  New  York;  the 
former  having  the  primary  figure  replaced  on  its  longer  termi- 
nal edges,  is  finely  exhibited  in  some  of  the  specimens  from 
Lockport;  the  fibrous  variety,  possessing  considerable  lustre, 
is  found  in  Onondaga  county,  and  in  most  of  the  extensive 
plaster  beds  in  the  western  part  of  the  State.  Remarkably 
beautiful  transparent  crystals  having  both  the  longer  and 
shorter  terminal  edges  replaced,  (figs.  3  and  4)  are  imbedded  in 
a  snowy-white  gypsum  at  Poland,  Trumbull  county,  Ohio. 
The  pure  transparent  folia  from  Lockport,  contain  small 
cavities  enclosing  a  colorless  fluid,  which,  from  the  sluggish 
movement  to  and  fro  of  the  small  globule  of  air  contained  in 
it,  resembles  oil  of  vitriol.  These  specimens  penetrated  by 
dog  tooth  spar,  and  celestine,  frequently  possess  great  beau- 
ty, and  form  some  of  the  most  ornamental  treasures  of  our 
cabinets. 

COMPACT  GYPSUM  occurs  only  massive;  its  fracture  is  compact,  or 
slightly  splintery ,  it  is  dull,  or  possesses  a  glimmering  lustre  ;  is  soft  and 
translucent  on  the  edges.  Its  colors  are  much  the  same  as  those  of  selen- 
ite, but  it  is  often  party-colored  ;  either  spotted  or  veined. 

It  occurs  in  England,  at  Ferrybridge  in  Yorkshire,  in  Nottinghamshire, 
and  in  Derbyshire.  Near  Sienna  in  Tuscany  it  is  obtained  extremely 
pure  and  compact;  and  is  employed  by  the  architect  for  columns  and 
other  ornaments,  being  more  easily  worked  than  marble  ;  it  also  admits  of 
being  turned  on  the  lathe  into  cups,  basons,  vases,  and  other  similar  arti- 
cles. In  South  America  in  the  Cordillera  of  Chili,  the  Valle  del  Yeso, 
takes  its  name  from  a  great  bed  of  pure  white  gypsum,  which  is  at  least 
two  thousand  feet  thick,  and  where  it  is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  wine. 
— -  Darwin's  Journal  of  Researches,  p.  389.  The  most  extensive  deposits 
of  gypsum  in  North  America,  are  found  in  the  new  red  sandstone  formation  of 
Nova  Scotia,  whence  the  greater  part  of  all  that  is  employed  in  agriculture 
in  the  United  States,  is  obtained  Gypsum  is  sometimes  found  even  among 
the  scorias  of  volcanoes,  as  at  the  Sandwich  Islands.  In  the  United  States 
extensive  beds  of  compact  gypsum  occur  in  Ohio,  Illinois,  Virginia,  Ten- 
nessee and  Arkansas;  frequently  associated  with  salt  springs. 

FIBROUS  GYPSUM  occurs  in  extremely  delicate  and  easily  separated 
fibres  ;  also  massive,  of  which  the  fibres  are  either  straight  or  curved.  It 
has  a  glistening  or  pearly  lustre,  and  presents  various  shades  of  white, 
grey,  yellow,  and  red;  it  is  generally  translucent.  It  occurs  in  Derby- 


288  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

shire  in  long  slender  fibres,  and  particularly  at  Matlock,  where  it  is  found 
in  mas  es  of  great  brilliancy  and  remarkable  lustre. 

GR./  NULAR  GYPSUM  generally  occurs  massive,  being  composed  of 
an  ag:  regation  of  small  crystalline  laminae.  It  has  a  shining  pearly  lus- 
tre;  i  translucent;  and  very  soft  Its  colors  resemble  those  of  selenite. 
It  occurs  in  beds  in  primitive  and  secondary  rocks.  At  Luneburg  it  is  the 
matrix  of  the  boracite.  Large  quarries  of  a  pure  white  variety  exist  near 
Cavalese  in  the  Southern  Tyrol ;  also  at  Vizille,  near  Grenoble  in  France. 
In  Cheshire  and  Derbyshire  it  forms  beds  in  marl. 

EARTHY  GYPSUM  occurs  in  loose  earthy  particles  or  scales,  which 
are  dull,  or  possess  a  glimmering  lustre,  in  beds,  enclosed  within  the 
strata  of  secondary  formations  of  gypsum,  in  Saxony,  Salzburg,  and 
Norway. 

The  most  decided  characteristic  of  crystallized  gypsum  is  the  flexibility 
of  its  laminae,  into  which  it  may  be  separated  to  almost  any  degree  of 
thinness;  the  massive  varieties  are  at  once  distinguished  from  limestone 
by  their  inferior  hardness,  being  readily  scratched  by  the  nail,  and  yield- 
ing a  white  powder. 

NITRATE    OF    LIME. 

Kalk  Salpeter,  L.     Chaux  Nitratee,  H.     Nitrate  de  Chaux,  Beudant.    Nitrocalcite. 
Picralum  tenellum,  D. 

Consists  of  nitric  acid  57*44,  lime  32,  water  1056;  answer- 
ing very  nearly  to  the  formula:  CalNt+Aq. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid,  or  a  regular  six-sided  prism. 

It  occurs  in  fibrous  efflorescences  often  united  in  the  form 
of  silken  tufts,  or  pulverulent;  is  very  deliquescent,  and  solu- 
ble in  water.  On  burning  coals  it  melts  slowly,  with  slight 
detonation,  and,  as  it  dries,  loses  its  acid;  the  residue  does 
not  afterwards  attract  moisture  from  the  air,  and  is  phosphor- 
escent; taste  bitter  and  disagreeable. 

It  is  found  in  silky  efflorescences  on  old  walls,  in  caverns, 
or  on  calcareous  rocks,  in  the  neighborhood  of  decayed  vege- 
table matter;  and  in  some  mineral  waters.  It  is  said  to 
form  silky  efflorescences  in  some  of  the  limestone  caverns  of 
Kentucky ;  whence  it  is  obtained  for  the  making  of  saltpetre. 

DATHOLITE.* 

Borosilicate  of  Lime.  Borate  of  Lime.  Datholit,  W.  Chaux  Boratee  Siliceuse,  H. 
Chaux  Datolit.  Bt.  Prismatic  Datolite,  J.  Prismatic  Dystorne  Spar,  M.  Esmarkite, 
Hausmann.  Uumboldtite,  Levy.  Vuicanus  dystomus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  boracic  acid,  lime,  and  water. 

Arendal.  Andreasberg.  Andreasberg. 

Boracic  acid 21  -67 21-26 21  -:M 

Silica 36-66 37-36 38-51 

Lime 34-00 35-67 35-59 

Water 5-53 5-71 4-60 

97-83  Vauquelin.        100-03  Stromeyer.         100-04  Du  Menil. 

*  Datholite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  turbid .-  in  allusion  to  the  want  of  transparency 
in  the  mineral. 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 


Boracic  acid.... 
Silica 

Lime 

Water 


Andreasberg. 

20-315 

38-477 

35-640 

..  5-568 


Arendal. 

, 21-377 

, 37-5-20 

35-398 

5-703 


100-00  Rammelsberg.*       100-00  Rammebberg. 

These  last  analyses  by  Rammelsberg  and  Dumenil  nearly 
agree  with  the  results  obtained  by  Stromeyer,  according  to 
which  Dr.  Thomson  has  expressed  the  constitution  of  the  min- 
eral thus:  SCalSH-CalBH-S^Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-9  to  3-3.     H.  =  5'0  —  55. 

Datholite  occurs  massive,  and  crystallized  in  rhombic  prisms 
of  which  the  lateral  edges  and  the  solid  angles  are  commonly 
replaced  by  planes;  color  greyish,  or  greenish-white;  translu- 
cent ;  fracture  imperfectly  conchoidal,  with  a  somewhat  vitre- 
ous lustre.  The  primary  form  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of 
about  103°  40'  and  76°  20',  from  the  measurement  of  its  natu- 
ral planes  by  the  reflective  goniometer.  When  exposed  to  the 
flame  of  a  candle  it  becomes  opake,  and  crumbles  down  be- 
tween the  fingers;  B  B,  it  intumesces  into  a  white  mass,  and 
then  melts  into  a  transparent  or  pale  rose-colored  globule.  It 
dissolves  readily  in,  and  gelatinizes  with,  nitric  acid. 


P  on  M  or  M' 


90°  0(X 


M 


M  on  M7 103  40 

M  or  M'  on/   ....  141  48 

—  on  e,  or  M7  on  e'  .  129  5 

M'  on  i 160  45 

Ponal 112  25 

cl 147  45 

c2 128  15 

d 140  00 

e  or  e' 140  55 

h  or  i 147  50 

dor  cl 157  00 

/or  a2 141  00  e.g. 

It  occurs  at  Arendal  in  Norway ;  at  Andreasberg  in  the 
Hartz;  in  the  island  of  Uton  in  Sweden ;  and  in  the  valley  of 
Glen  Farg  in  Perthshire. 

In  the  United  States  the  trap  rocks  of  Connecticut  and  New 
Jersey,  have  furnished  very  beautiful  crystallizations  of  this 
mineral.  It  is  found  at  Hartford,  Middlefield,  Cheshire,  and 
at  one  or  two  other  places  in  the  former  state ;  sometimes  in 
a  massive  fibrous  form,  (botryolite).  At  Patterson  and  Ber- 
gen, N.  J.,  the  crystals,  though  usually  highly  modified,  have 


f  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1840,  p.  136.    Rammelsberg's  Handworterbuch,  1st  part, 
page  183. 

25 


290  ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 

exhibited  the  primary  planes  almost  entire.  It  is  here  asso- 
ciated with  calc  spar,  apophyllite,  analcime  and  stilbite.  Ac- 
cording to  Prof.  Beck,  small  crystals  presenting  the  primary 
form  only  slightly  modified,  occur  in  gneiss  near  Yonkers,  West 
Chester  county,  N.  Y. 

BOTRYOLITE  occurs  in  mamillary  concretions  formed  of  con- 
centric layers,  having  a  splintery  or  fibrous  texture  ;  it  is  brit- 
tle, translucent  on  the  edges,  and  externally  of  a  pearl-  or 
yellowish-grey  color ;  internally  white,  greyish,  and  red  in 
concentric  circles.  It  also  occurs  in  small  botryoidai*  masses, 
which  are  white  and  have  an  earthy  texture.  B  B,  it  melts 
into  a  white  glass.  Its  locality  is  Arendal  in  Norway,  where  it 
forms  in  a  bed  in  gneiss,  accompanied  by  schorl,  magnetic  iron 
ore,  and  iron  pyrites.  According  to  M.  Rammelsberg,  (Ber- 
zelius'  Rapport  Annual,  p.  130,  1840,)  it  is  generally  mixed 
with  carbonate  of  .lime,  and  when  this  is  removed,  the  analysis 
of  the  mineral  gives  silica  36'90,  boracic  acid  1S'34,  lime  34  27, 
water  10-22.  It  differs  from  crystallized  datholite  in  contain- 
ing one  atom  more  of  water. 

HUMBOLDITE.  The  small,  brilliant  transparent  crystals  of 
this  mineral  from  the  Seisen  Alps  in  the  Tyrol,  have  been 
examined  by  M.  Levy,  and  supposed  not  to  be  derived  from  a 
Right  rhombic  prism,  but  from  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism. 
He  has  hence  considered  it  as  a  new  species  under  the  name 
of  Humboldite.  But  no  analysis  has  been  made  of  these  crys- 
tals, and  the  specific  distinction  supposed  to  exist  by  M.  Levy 
is  not  generally  admitted.! 


BARYTO-FLUATE  OF   LIME. 

Dr.  Thomson,  (Outlines,  Sfc.,  i.  p.  142.) 

This  mineral  occurs  in  Derbyshire,  constituting  a  bed  an 
inch  thick  in  a  slaty  limestone.  In  appearance  it  is  very  simi- 
lar to  grey  compact  limestone.  Its  specific  gravity  is  3  75. 
It  was  analyzed  by  Srnithson,  who  found  it  composed  of  sul- 
phate of  lime  51*5,  fluoride  of  calcium  48!5;  corresponding 
with  one  atom  sulphate  of  barytes  and  three  atoms  fluoride 
of  calcium.!  Formula:  3CalFl+BrS. 

*  Whence  botryolite,  from  the  Greek  ;  in  allusion  to  the  resemblance  in  form  to  grapes. 

f  Mr.  Brooke  (Ency.  Metrop  ,  Art.  Min.  p.  502.)  thinks  that  Levy  was  deceived  by  the 
imperfection  of  the  crystals  examined  by  him,  and  that  both  minerals  agree  in  form  and 
measurement. 

J  Schweigger's  Jahrbuch,  i.  362. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  291 


PHARMACOLITE.* 

Arseniate  of  Lime.    Arsenikbluthe,  VV.    Chaux  Arseniatee,  II.    Pharmacolite,  J.  Hemi- 
prismatic  Gypsum  Haloide,  Haidinger.     Gypsalus  stellalus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  lime,  and  water. 

Wittichen.  Andreasberg. 

Arsenic  acid 50-40 45-fi8 

Lime 25-00 27-28 

Water 24-46 23-86 

100-00  Klaproth.  96-82  John. 

The  pure  crystals  of  this  mineral  analyzed  by  the  late  Dr. 
Turner,  were  composed  of  arseniate  of  lime  ?9'01,  water 
20-99,  or  of  one  atom  of  the  former,  and  two  and  a  half  atoms 
of  the  latter.  Formula :  CalAs+2£Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  64  —  2'8.     H.  =  2'0  —  2-5. 

The  pharmacolite  is  found  in  minute  fibrous  or  acicular 
crystals,  which  commonly  are  aggregated  into  botryoidal  or 
globular  masses,  having  a  glimmering  or  silky  lustre;  more 
rarely  in  modified  crystals,  the  primary  form  of  which  is  sup- 
posed to  be  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  Cleavage  parallel  to  P, 
highly  perfect  and  easily  obtained.  Its  color  is  white  or  grey- 
ish-white ;  but  the  surface  is  often  tinged  of  a  red  or  violet 
color  by  arseniate  of  cobalt.  B  B,  it  is  almost  entirely  volatil- 
ized, with  a  dense  white  arsenical  vapor.  In  nitric  acid  it 
dissolves  readily  without  effervescence. 


/on/ 117°  24' 

o  to  the  edge  between  )    go     ,, 


Pharmacolite  occurs  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz  ;  at  Rie- 
gelsdorf,  and  Glucksbrunn  in  Thuringia ;  at  St.  Marie-aux- 
Mines  in  the  Vosges,  in  minute  silky  white  crystals;  and  at 
Wittichen,  near  Furstenberg  in  Germany,  disseminated  on 
granite,  in  a  vein  containing  cobalt,  barytes,  and  sulphate  of 
lime.  Clear  transparent  crystals  of  pharmacolite,  very  dis- 
tinctly pronounced,  and  fully  a  line  in  diameter,  were  at  one 
period  found  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden,  probably  at  Ba- 
denweiler,  and  of  these  some  fine  specimens  are  preserved  in 
the  palace  at  Carlsrhue. 

*  Pharmacolite,  from  the  Greek  ;  in  allusion  to  its  containing  poison. 


292  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS. 

The  Picro-pharmacolite  of  Stromeyer,  from  Riegelsdorf  in 
Hessia,  contains  about  three  per  cent,  of  magnesia,  but  in 
other  respects  corresponds  with  this  mineral. 


HAIDINGERITE.* 

Diatomous  Gypsum  Haloide,  Haidinger.     Gypsalus  rhombicus,  D. 

It  is  composed  by  the  analysis  of  Turner,  of  arseniate  of 
lime  S5'68,  water  14'32 ;  or  it  is  a  sesquihydrous  arseniate  of 
lime,  containing  one  atom  less  of  water  than  the  last  de- 
scribed species.  Formula:  CalAs+l^-Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-84.     H.  =  2'0  —  25. 

Primary,  a  Right  rhombic  prism ;  color  white  and  transpa- 
rent, with  a  vitreous  lustre,  and  white  streak.  Cleavage  highly 
perfect  and  easily  obtained  parallel  to  d.  Readily  soluble  in 
acid.  Thin  laminae  slightly  flexible. 


M  on  M 100°    0' 

a  on  a  over  the  terminal  edge .  .  126     58 


This  very  rare  mineral  was  distinguished  by  Haidinger  from 
the  pharmacolite  of  Baden,  which  it  accompanies,  and  with 
which  it  used  to  be  confounded.  Its  form  and  lustre  are  dis- 
tinct, and  it  occurs  in  crystals  aggregated  in  botryoidal  form. 


OXALATE  OF  LIME. 

H.  J.  Brooke.     (Land,  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.  xvi.  p.  449,  1840.) 

Mr.  Brooke  on  examining  some  specimens  of  carbonate  of 
lime  supposed  to  be  from  Hungary,  detected  a  few  small  crys- 
tals from  one  tenth  to  one  fourth  of  an  inch  long,  which,  on 
examination  by  Mr.  Landall,  proved  to  be  oxalate  of  lime  with 
one  proportional  of  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-833.     H.  =  rather  than  less  calc-spar. 

It  possesses  a  high  metallic  lustre,  similar  to  that  of  sulphate 
of  lead.  Is  very  brittle;  fracture  being  conchoidal.  Is  color- 
less, and  transparent  to  opake.  Its  primary  form  is  an  Ob- 
lique rhombic  prism  (see  fig.  12,  p.  xi.  of  the  Introduction  to 
this  volume,)  the  secondary  modifications  of  which  are  shown 

*  In  honor  of  its  discoverer,  Wm.  Haidinger,  Esq.    Brewster's  Journal,  iii.  303 ;  and 
PoggendorPs  Annalen,  v.  189. 


ACJDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS. 


293 


on  the  subjoined  figure  as  given  by  Brooke.     Cleavage  par- 
allel to  P,  M  and  to  c. 

P  on  M 103°  14' 

P  on  a 127  25 

P  on  c  .  .  • 90  00 

P  on  b 109  28 

P  on  s 136  48 

P  on/ 143       4 

a  on  s 154  19 

a  on/ 143  18 

a  on  c 142  36 

a  on  b 101  41 

M  on  IVr 100  36 

M  on  u 160  45 

M  on  c 129  42 

M  on  a Ill  37 

M  on  b' 128      4 

Mons 136  48 

Mon/ 142  15* 

Most  of  the  crystals  are  twins,  and  remarkably  symmetrical 
in  their  forms.  All  the  planes  are  bright  and  perfect  except 
M,  which  is  striated  by  its  alternations  with  u\  and/",  which 
is  also  striated  parallel  to  the  edge  bet  ween  f  and  f.  Mr. 
Brooke  observes  that  their  crystals  appear  to  have  been  formed 
contemporaneously  with  those  of  the  calc-spar,  in  which  some 
of  them  are  imbedded ;  a  circumstance  which  excludes  the  sup- 
position of  their  being  of  vegetable  origin.  As  only  one  other 
oxalate,  that  of  iron,  is  known  to  exist  in  the  mineral  state, 
and  as  it  occurs  in  a  bed  of  wood  coal,  and  the  oxalic  acid 
contained  in  it  may  be  presumed  to  have  been  derived  from 
vegetable  matter,  this  oxalate  of  lime  affords  the  first  instance 
of  the  occurrence  of  oxalic  acid  as  a  distinct  mineral  product. 

TUNGSTATE  OF  LIME. 

Pyramidal  Scheelium  Baryte,  M.    Tungsten  f  Schwerslein,  W.     Scheelin  Calcaire,  H. 
Pyramidal  Tungsten,  J.     Scheelite,J  Jfecker.     Scheelius  pyramidalis,  D. 

Combination  of  tungstic  acid  and  lime. 


Sweden.                Huntington,  Con 

n.    Schlackenwald. 

Zinwald. 

Tungatic  acid 

80-4-2  76-05  

78-00  

76-50 

Lime  

19-40  19-36  

19-06  

16-50 

Oxide  of  iron. 

0-00  1-03  

0-00  

1-47 

Silica  

..  0-00  2-54  

2-00  

2-94 

Alumina  

0-00  0-00  

0-00  

1-09 

99-82  Berzelius.       99  98  Bowen 

.$           99-86 

98-5011 

*  For  these  measurements  Mr.  Brooke  acknowledges  himself  indebted  to  Prof.  Miller, 
of  Cambridge. 

f  Tungsten,  German  ;  a  heavy  stone. 

J  In  honor  of  Scheele,  who  first  accurately  investigated  this  mineral,  and  discovered 
tungstic  acid. 

$  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  v.  p.  118. 

U  These  last  two  analyses  are  by  Bucholz  and  Brandos.   Schweigger's  Journal,  xx.  285. 

25* 


294  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

The  results  of  these  several  analyses  approach  very  nearly 
one  atom  tungstic  acid  and  one  atom  lime.     The  constitution 
of  this  mineral  is  therefore  thus  expressed :  CalTn.* 
Sp.  Gr.  6-0  —  6-1.     H.:=4-0  —  45. 

Tungsten  has  a  greyish  and  yellowish-white  color,  and  oc- 
curs both  crystallized  and  amorphous  ;  the  crystals  present  the 
form  of  a  four-sided  pyramid,  approaching  nearly  to  the  octa- 
hedron. Two  of  the  lateral  angles  are  often  replaced  by  the 
faces  of  another  pyramid  considerably  more  acute  (fig.  1.); 
the  angles  formed  by  the  meeting  of  a  plane  of  the  upper  with 
the  adjoining  plane  of  the  lower  pyramid,  being,  according  to 
the  measurements  annexed  to  the  following  figure,  128°  40'. 
It  yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of  both  pyramids 
(figs.  1  and  3),  with  a  somewhat  shining  lustre;  it  is  translu- 
cent generally  only  on  the  edges.  B  B,  it  crackles  and  be- 
comes opake,  but  does  not  melt,  except  that  the  thinnest 
edges  are  converted,  at  a  high  temperature,  into  a  semi- 
transparent  vitrified  mass:  with  borax  it  yields  a  white  glass; 
and  with  salt  of  phosphorus  melts  in  the  oxidating  flame  into 
a  transparent  colorless  globule,  and  in  the  reducing  flame,  into 
a  green  globule,  which  becomes  of  a  fine  blue  color  on  cooling. 
When  pulverized  and  thrown  into  heated  nitric  acid,  it  as- 
sumes a  yellow  color,  but  does  not  dissolve.  Fragments 
dropped  upon  live  coal  exhibit  a  phosphorescent  light. 

This  mineral,  when  massive,  considerably  resembles  carbon- 
ate and  sulphate  of  lead,  and  also  barytes.  It  may  be  distin- 
guished from  the  two  first  by  its  not  effervescing  in  acids  ; 
from  the  last  by  the  yellow  color  which  it  assumes  when 
placed  in  nitric  acid. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary ;  an  acute  four-sided  pyramid.  Fig.  2  represents 
the  usual  form  in  which  this  substance  occurs  ;  its  larger  faces  arise  from 
the  deep  replacement  of  the  pyramidal  edges  of  fig.  1,  by  planes  which 
are  parallel  therewith ;  those  of  the  primary  crystal  being  thus  reduced  to 
small  triangles.  The  replacing  planes  of  fig.  2  are  complete  in  fig.  3, 
forming  a  pyramid  which  is  less  acute  than  the  primary. 

*  CalTn,  or  CaW,  according  to  the  chemical  formula  of  Berzelius,  require  19-36  of 
lime,  and  80-64  of  tungstic  acid,  numbers  which  are  almost  exactly  supplied  by  Berze- 
luu'  own  analysis  of  a  very  pure  specimen,  as  given  in  the  first  column.  [AM.  ED.] 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  295 

P  on  P' 128°  40' 

P  on  P 100  40 

b     137  30  B. 

62 150  34 

c2  or  c2' 136  28 

or  F'  on/'    ...  140  20 

P  on  k  or  P  on  k  ...  152  10 

cl  on  cl  over  a  ....     95  00  B. 

c2  on  c2' 129  40 

c2  or  c2'  on  62'  .  .  .  .  153  30 

c2  on/ 160  50 

/on  k  or  k' 152  55 

The  above  figure  (with  the  exception  of  the  upper  planes,  which  are 
given  on  the  authority  of  Bournon)  was  taken  from  a  crystal  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  Sovverby. 

This  mineral  occurs  both  crystalline  and  amorphous,  par- 
ticularly in  the  repositories  of  tin  ore  at  Schlackenwald  and 
Zinnwald  in  Bohemia ;  the  crystals  from  these  localities  are 
occasionally  of  large  dimensions;  the  most  symmetrical,  how- 
ever, are  found  associated  with  apatite,  molybdena,  and  wol- 
fram, in  quartz,  at  Caldbeckfell  in  Cumberland.  Sweden, 
Dauphine,  and  Cornwall,  are  other  localities  of  this  species. 

The  only  localities  of  this  species  in  the  United  States,  are 
Munroe,  Conn.,  where  it  occurs  massive  and  in  irregular  crys- 
tals in  quartz  associated  with  wolfram  and  native  bismuth; 
and  Trumbull,  in  the  same  State,  near  the  topaz  locality. 

CARBONATE   OF   MAGNESIA 

Magnesite,  Jameson.    Bandisserite.    Ra/ounmffskin.    Magnesialus  fibrosus,  D. 

Styria.  Salem.  India.  India. 

Magnesia 48  0 47-88 46-00 48-03 

Carbonic  acid 49.0 51-82 51-00 51-35 

Water 3.0 0-00 0-50 0-00 

Insoluble  matter...  0.0 0-00 1-50 0-00 

100-0  Klaproth.     99-70  Stromeyer.  99-10  Henry.         99-38  Thomson. 

It  is  composed  of  one  atom  carbonic  acid  and  one  atom 
magnesia,  or  by  weight  of  5238  acid,  47*62  base;  numbers 
which  nearly  accord  with  the  mean  of  the  above  analyses  of 
the  mineral,  there  being  a  slight  deficiency  of  the  acid.  But 
the  late  analysis  of  a  specimen  by  Rammelsberg,  gives  these 
proportions  almost  exactly,  viz.  carbonic  acid  52  21,  magne- 
sia 47-79.*  Specific  gravity  2'8. 

Magnesite  occurs  massive,  amorphous,  and  reniform;  one 
variety,  from  Salem  in  the  Carnatic,  presents  occasionally 
slight  indications  of  crystallization.  The  fracture  is  splintery 

*  Handwbrterbuch  des  chemischen  Theils  der  Mineralogie,  ii.  p.  397. 


296  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

or  flat  conchoidal ;  it  is  nearly  opake,  dull,  and  yields  to  the 
nail  externally,  but  internally  is  slightly  harder  than  calcare- 
ous spar ;  is  somewhat  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  adheres  to 
the  tongue.  It  is  of  a  grey  or  yellowish  color,  with  spots  and 
dendritic  delineations  of  blackish-brown. 

It  occurs  in  serpentine,  with  bronzite,  at  Gulsen  in  Upper 
Styria;  at  Hrubschitz  in  Moravia;  at  Baldissero  and  Castel- 
lamonte  in  Italy;  at  Vallecas  in  Spain;  at  Baumgarten  in 
Silesia.  It  occurs  also  in  Scotland,  in  the  Shetland  Islands, 
and  near  Madras.  In  the  United  States  specimens  of  great 
purity  are  obtained  in  large  quantities  in  the  serpentine  at 
the  Bare  Hills,  near  Baltimore,  and  in  the  same  rock  at  Hobo- 
ken,  N.J. 

Earthy  Carbonate  of  Magnesia.  Meerschaum,  W.  Ecume 
de  Mer,  Br.  Meerschaum  is  of  a  white  or  yellowish  color; 
opake  and  dull  ;  it  has  an  earthy  fracture,  yields  easily  to  the 
nail,  and  adheres  to  the  tongue;  sometimes  is  so  light  as  to 
swim  on  water,  and  occasionally  is  very  porous.  It  consists 
of  45*42  magnesia,  47  carbonic  acid,  4'5  silica,  2  water,  0'5 
alumina,  with  traces  of  manganese  and  lime. —  Tromsdorff. 

It  occurs  in  the  isles  of  Samos  and  Negropont  in  the  Archi- 
pelago, in  mass,  or  disseminated,  or  in  beds  ;  and  at  Kiltschik 
in  Natolia.  It  is  soft  when  first  dug,  and  in  that  state  is  made 
into  pipes,  but  hardens  on  exposure  to  the  air.  It  is  also  met 
with  in  Carinthia,  Moravia,  and  Spain ;  and  is  mentioned  as 
occurring  in  veins  in  the  serpentine  of  Cornwall. 

In  the  Turkish  dominions  Meerschaum  is  employed  as  ful- 
ler's earth ;  and  it  is  well  known  as  the  material  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  Turkish  pipes. 


BREUNNERITE  * 

Breunnerite,  A.     Carbonate   of  Magnesia  and  Iron.     Brachytypous  Lime  flaloide,  M. 
Spath  Magnesian,  Necker.     Magnesialus  rhombohedrus,  D.     Giobertite,  Beudant. 

Consists  of  carbonate  of  magnesia,  with  carbonate  of  iron 
and  manganese. 

Tyrol.  Zillerthal.  Fassathal.  PfkschthaL. 

Carb.  of  magnesia.  80-05 84-79 82-99 82-99 

Carb.  of  iron 13-15 13-8-2 16-97 15-59 

Carb.ofmangan..    0-00 0-69 0-78 1-19 

99-20  Brooke.        99-30  Strom.        100-64  Strom.          99-69  Magnus. 

By  Necker  and  Beudant  this  species  is  united  with  the  last, 
but  the  iron  seems  to  be  an  essential  ingredient,  and  entitles 
it  to  the  character  of  a  distinct  species. 

*  In  honor  of  Count  Breunner  of  Austria. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  297 

Sp.  Gr.  30  —  3-2.      H.  =  4-0  —  4-5. 

Primary  form  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  107°  30',  according 
to  Brooke.  Occurs  in  single,  yellowish  or  brown,  translu- 
cent crystals;  lustre  vitreous,  sometimes  inclining  to  pearly  ; 
cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  rhomb;  fracture 
flat  conchoidal.  Soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid. 
The  best  known  localities  of  this  mineral  are  the  Rothen- 
Kopf  and  Greiner  Mountains  in  the  Zillerthal,  Tyrol,  where 
it  occurs  imbedded  in  chlorite  slate,  and  associated  with  bit- 
ter spar,  from  which,  however,  it  may  be  distinguished  by  its 
color,  —  the  breunnerite  being  brown  or  yellow,  whilst  the 
other  is  white  and  translucent.  Under  similar  circumstances 
it  is  met  with  imbedded  in  green  foliated  talc  on  the  island  of 
Unst  in  Shetland. — Allan's  Manual. 

The  rhombohedral  crystals  imbedded  in  the  steatite  at 
Marlboro',  Vt,  at  Middlefield,  Mass,  and  Smithfield,  R.  I., 
appear  to  belong  to  this  species.  It  occurs  also  similarly  asso- 
ciated in  other  parts  of  the  country. 

CONITE. 

Conite,  Friesleben,  J. 

Sp.  Gr.  3'0.     Scratches  glass. 

Amorphous,  massive,  and  in  crusts.  Color  flesh-red,  exter- 
nally coated  with  iron  ochre.  Devoid  of  lustre.  Opake.  Brit- 
tle. Fracture  sometimes  fine  grained  or  imperfectly  conchoi- 
dal. Consists  of  Carbonate  of  magnesia  67'5,  carbonate  of 
lime  28*0,  oxide  of  iron  3'5,  water  rO.  —  John. 

It  occurs  in  Iceland,  on  the  Meissner  in  Hessia,  and  in 
Saxony.  It  has  been  usually  described  as  a  variety  of  dolo- 
mite, but  as  it  possesses  a  greater  degree  of  hardness,  and  dif- 
fers considerably  in  its  composition  from  that  mineral,  it  may 
prove  to  be  a  new  species. 


SULPHATE   OF    MAGNESIA. 

Epaomile,Beudant,     Naturlicher  Bittersalz,  W.     Majrnesie  Su1phat6e,  H.     Pel  d'Epsom 
Natif,  Br.     Prismatic  Epsom  Salt,  M.  J.     Picralum  rhombicum,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid,  magnesia,  arid  water. 

Catalonia. 

Sulphuric  acid 32-57 32-53 

Water 51-43 51-43 

Magnesia 16-00 16-04 

100-00  Berzelius.  100-00  Gay-Lussac. 

Formula:  MgSl+7Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-66  to  1-75. 
Primary  form  a  Rhombic  prism  of  90°  30'  and  89°  30'.     It 


298  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTH5T    MINERALS. 

occurs  in  crystalline  fibres,  rarely  pulverulent;  color  white  or 
grey,  transparent  or  opake ;  very  brittle ;  its  taste  bitter  and 
saline.  Soluble  in  less  than  double  its  weight  of  cold  water. 

This  salt  forms  the  principal  ingredient  of  several  mineral 
waters,  and  is  a  product  of  the  decomposition  of  certain  rocks, 
upon  the  surface  of  which  it  appears  in  efflorescences.  In  the 
former  state  it  is  obtained  at  Epsom  in  Surrey,  —  hence  its 
name  ;  and  in  the  latter  it  occurs  in  the  old  coal  wastes  or 
alum  mines  of  Hurlet  near  Paisley;  in  the  quicksilver  mines 
of  Idria ;  on  gypsum  in  the  quarries  of  Montmartre  near  Paris  ; 
and  on  the  surface  of  the  soil  in  many  parts  of  Spain,  and  in 
Peru ;  where  according  to  Mr.  Blake,  it  forms  a  large  bed 
near  Arequipa,  and  is  often  in  crystals  and  in  silky  fibres, 
possessing  great  beauty.  Also  in  Chili  it  exists  in  the  waters 
of  several  springs  particularly  near  Santiago.  It  occasionally 
exhibits  a  fine  fibrous  texture. 

In  Sevier  county,  Tenn.,  according  to  Dr.  Troost,  this  salt 
occurs  as  an  efflorescence,  or  in  fibrous  crystalline  masses  in 
the  cavities  of  slate  rocks.  In  Oregon,  Mr.  Parker  observed 
immense  quantities  of  this  salt  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  where  it  forms  an  efflorescence  to  such  an 
extent  that  the  fields  appear  white  like  snow. 

NITRATE   OF   MAGNESIA. 

Nitro-Magnesite,  Sheperd.    Magnesie  Nitratee,  Necker.    Picralum  deliquescens,  D. 

Contains  nitric  acid  72'0,  magnesia  28*0.  —  Wenzel. 

Color  white ;  is  usually  met  with  in  a  deliquescent  state, 
mixed  with  nitre  and  nitrate  of  lime,  on  old  walls  and  in  lime- 
stone caves. 

WAGNERITE. 

Hemi-prismatic  Fluor  Haloide,  Haiding-er.  Magnesie  Phosphatee  of  the  French.  Wnj»- 
nerit,  Fuchs.  Pleuroklas,  Breithaupt*  Phosphorsaurer  Talk,  Leonhard.  Fluellus 
ohliquus,  D. 

It  is  composed,  according  to  the  analysis  by  Fuchs,  as  fol- 
lows. It  is  not  certain  which  are  to  be  regarded  as  the  essen- 
tial constituents.  Supposing  only  the  phosphoric  acid  and 
magnesia  to  be  essential,  its  constitution  is  one  atom  of  the 
former,  to  two  atoms  of  the  latter. 

Phosphoric  acid 41-73 

Magnesia 4R-6B 

Oxide  of  iron 5-00 

Oxide  of  manganese 0-50 

Fluoric  acid 6-50 


100-39  Fucha. 


Sp.  Gr.  311.     H.  — 50  — 5-5. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  95°  25'  and  84C 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS.  299 

35',  whose  base  is  inclined  to  its  planes  at  an  angle  of  109° 
20'.  In  crystals  extremely  complicated.  Color  yellow  of  dif- 
ferent shades,  often  inclining  to  grey.  Translucent.  Streak 
white.  Lustre  vitreous.  Most  of  the  planes  of  the  prism  are 
deeply  striated.  Fracture  uneven  and  splintery.  B  B,  per  se, 
it  fuses  with  difficulty  into  a  dark  greenish-grey  glass;  with 
borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus,  however,  it  is  readily  and  en- 
tirely dissolved.  From  its  powder  digested  in  the  nitric  or 
sulphuric  acids,  fluoric  acid  fumes  are  given  off. 

It  occurs  in  the  valley  of  Holgraben,  near  Werfen  in  Saltz- 
burg,  in  irregular  veins  of  quartz,  traversing  clay-slate;  but  it 
is  an  extremely  rare  mineral. 

BORACITE. 

Borate  of  Magnesia.     Boracit,  W.     Magnesie   Boratee,  H.    Tetrahedral  Boracite,  M. 
Hexahedral  Boracite,  J.     Biborate  of  Magnesia,  Thomson.     Boracius  hemihedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  boracic  acid  and  magnesia,  occasionally 
mixed  with  lime  and  a  little  silica. 

Luneburg.  Segeberg.  Schildstein. 

Boracic  acid 69-70 63-07 64-14 

Magnesia 30-30 36-03 31-11 

Silica 0-00 0-00 0-50 

Oxide  ofiron 0-00 0-00 1-50 


100-00  Arfwedson.          99-10  Pfaff.  67-25  Dumenil. 

Transparent  crystals.  Opake  crystals. 

Boracic  acid 69-252 68-876 

Magnesia 30-748 31-124 

100-000  Rammelsberg.*     100-000  Rammelsberg. 

The  numbers  furnished  by  the  analyses  of  Arfwedson  and 
Rammelsberg  approach  very  nearly  to  those  required  by  the  for- 
mula MgB2,  or  70'588  of  boracic  acid,  and  29*412  of  magne- 
sia. It  is  therefore  a  biborate,  or  consists  of  two  atoms  (6) 
acid,  and  one  atom  (2-5)  of  base,  as  above  expressed. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-56  —  30.  H.  =  7'0. 

It  occurs  only  crystallized  in  the  general  form  of  the  cube, 
of  which  the  edges  are  replaced,  and  the  diagonally  opposed 
solid  angles  dissimilarly  modified  ;  the  cube  is  considered  by 
Haiiy  its  primary  form,  but  it  exhibits  an  imperfect  cleavage 
parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  octahedron ;  fracture  uneven,  or 
imperfectly  conchoidal,  with  a  glistening  lustre;  more  or  less 
translucent;  is  hard  enough  to  give  sparks  with  the  steel,  and 
is  of  a  yellowish-,  greyish-,  or  greenish-white.  The  opake 
white  crystals  are  not  so  hard,  and  contain  a  proportion  of 
carbonate  of  lime.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  fuses  and  intumesces. 
It  is  difficult  to  obtain  the  globule  transparent.  On  cooling, 

*  Poggendorf's  Annalen,  xlix.  45  j  or  Rammelsberg's  Handwb'rterbuch,  i.  119. 


300 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS. 


it  is  bristled  over  with  needle  crystals.  With  borax  it  fuses 
into  a  transparent  glass  tinged  with  iron.  With  biphosphate 
of  soda  it  fuses  into  a  transparent  glass,  capable  of  becoming 
opake  by  flaming.  With  carbonate  of  soda  it  fuses.  If  only 
the  quantity  necessary  to  procure  a  transparent  glass  be  used, 
the  assay  on  cooling  forms  crystals  with  broad  facets  as  per- 
fect as  those  of  phosphate  of  lead.*  It  is  remarkable  that  the 
diagonally  opposed  solid  angles,  on  the  application  of  heat, 
become,  the  one  positive  electric,  the  other  negative. 


P  on  P    .  .  .     90°  00'  H. 

g     ...  125     15 

P  or  P  on  e  .  135     00 
b  .  ,       .  144    44 


Until  recently  it  has  been  found  only  in  gypsum  at  the 
Kalkberg  near  Luneburg,  and  at  Segeberg  near  Kiel  in  Hoi- 
stein,  in  small  but  very  perfect  isolated  crystals.  In  the  south- 
ern part  of  Peru,  near  Tarapaca,  it  is  crystallized,  imbedded 
in  gypsum,  and  in  rolled  masses  scattered  through  the  plain.  — 
Blake.  It  has  not  been  met  with  in  the  United  States. 

HYDRO-BORACITE. 

Gypsalus  fusilis,  D.    Hess,  (Poggendorfs  Annalen,  xxx.  49.) 

Composition  according  to  two  analyses  by  Von  Hess,  as 
follows : 


Boracic  acid 

Lime 

Magnesia 

Water 


49-922. 

13-298. 

10-430. 

. .  .26-330. 


100-000 


49-22 

, 13-74 

, 10-71 

, 26-33 

100-00 


Dr.  Thomson  makes  it  a  hydrous  calcareo-biborate  of  mag- 
nesia, thus  atomically  expressed  :  CalB2+MgB2+5^Aq. 

Occurs  in  small  needle  crystals  which  seem  to  be  flat  six-sided 
prisms,  which  are  elongated  or  consist  in  part  of  tangled  fibres; 
contains  spots  on  cavities  filled  with  ferruginous  alumina. 
Color  snow-white  ;  translucent ;  in  spots  red  and  brown  with 
oxide  of  iron.  In  platina  tongs  swells  up,  becomes  white  and 


*  Berzelius  on  the  Blowpipe,  p.  236. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  301 

fuses  to  a  clear  yellowish-white  vitreous  globule,  the  flame  be- 
ing colored  green.  In  the  alembic  it  decrepitates,  becomes 
snow-white  and  opake,  gives  much  water,  by  which  litmus 
paper  is  reddened  a  little.  On  charcoal,  becomes  snow-white, 
and  fuses  with  intumescence  into  a  yellowish  glass,  which,  as 
long  as  it  is  hot,  is  of  a  wine-yellow  color,  but  on  cooling,  be- 
comes light.  With  borax  or  salt  of  phosphorus  it  dissolves, 
and  gives  a  colorless  vitreous  globule.  With  a  little  soda  it 
fuses  immediately,  with  strong  intumescence,  into  a  transpa- 
rent yellowish  globule;  with  excess  of  soda  becomes  opake 
and  milk-white;  with  more  soda  spreads  on  the  charcoal,  and 
becomes,  on  cooling,  white  and  crystalline.  Hydro-boracite 
was  named  by  V.  Hess,  on  account  of  the  large  quantity  of 
water  united  with  the  other  constituents.  It  was  taken  by 
Gebhard  for  gypsum.  It  is  slightly  soluble  in  water,  and 
readily  in  acids,  the  saturated  solution  yielding  crystallized 
boracic  acid  on  cooling.  It  was  first  noticed  by  Von  Worth 
in  a  collection  of  Caucasian  minerals. 


CARBONATE  OF  BARYTES.* 

Witherite,f  W.    Baryte  Carbonatee,  H.    Diprismatic  Hal  Baryte,  M.    Rhomboidal  Ba- 
ryte,  J.    Barolite.    Baralus  fusilis,  D. 

Composed  as  follows : 

Alston  Moor.  Enaland.  Styria. 

Carbonic  acid 21-4 22.5 22-0 

Baryta 78-6 .77-1 78-0 

100-0  Withering.  99-6  Beudant.  100-0  Klaporth. 

It  is  thus  shown  to  be  a  pure  carbonate  of  barytes,  consist- 
ing of  one  atom  acid,  and  one  atom  barytes.  Formula;  BrC. 
Sp.  Gr.  43.  H.r=30  — 35. 

It  occurs  massive,  stalactitic  and  crystallized ;  the  struc- 
ture of  the  massive  is  fibrous;  the  crystals  in  their  general 
form  resemble  the  common  variety  of  quartz,  namely,  a  six- 
sided  prism  terminated  by  six-sided  pyramids ;  but  by  the  assis- 
tance of  the  reflective  goniometer,  it  is  found  that  the  meas- 
urements are  not  those  of  a  regular  six-sided  prism  ;  being  on 
the  lateral  planes  (M  on  M')  only  118°  30';  hence  these  crys- 
tals may  be  considered  as  macles,  analogous  to  the  artificial 

*  Barytes,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  heavy  —  in  allusion  to  the  great  specific  gravity  of 
the  earth. 

t  Witherite,  after  Dr.  Withering,  its  discoverer. 

26 


302 


ACIDIFEROUS     EARTHY     MINERALS. 


crystals  of  sulphate  of  potash,  their  primary  form  being  a  Right 
rhombic  prism.  Occasionally  a  re-entering  angle  is  observa- 
ble on  the  alternate  planes  of  the  prism,  as  in  the  following 
figure,  in  which  case  the  crystal  is  a  made  in  a  double  sense. 
Internally  translucent,  with  a  glistening  lustre;  externally  the 
small  crystals  are  shining,  the  larger  opake ;  generally  white, 
sometimes  greyish  or  greenish.  Exposed  in  the  platina  for- 
ceps to  the  blowpipe,  it  melts  readily  and  with  a  brilliant  light 
into  a  white  enamel :  it  is  soluble  slowly  and  with  feeble  effer- 
vescence in  dilute  muriatic  or  nitric  acid. 


M 


The  first  figure  represents  the  primary  form,  a  right  rhombic  prism  of 
which,  in  the  second  figure,  the  lateral  edges  are  replaced  (the  plane  Mr, 
totally  disappearing)  by  the  planes  dl,  2,  and  3,  and  the  dotted  lines  in- 
clude one,  of  several  similar  portions,  contributing  to  form  the  macled 
crystal  on  the  right  of  it. 

Mon  M'     118°  30' 

dl  or  dl' 145    30 

d2  or  d2' 126    16 

d3or  dS' 110    30 

M'  on  M"  (re-entering  angle)       175    30 

It  was  first  noticed  by  Dr.  Withering,  at  Anglesark  in  Lan- 
cashire, in  a  vein,  with  sulphuret  of  lead  and  some  of  the  ores 
of  zinc,  in  globular  concretions  having  a  radiated  structure. 
It  occurs  abundantly  in  the  lead  veins  of  the  north  of  England, 
generally  in  botryoidal  and  reniform  concretions,  but  of  late 
years  also  in  large  transparent  crystals.  It  has  likewise  been 
found  in  Styria,  in  Salzburg,  Sicily,  and  the  Altai  Mountains 
in  Siberia,  but  nowhere  so  abundantly  as  in  England.  This 
mineral  is  said  to  have  been  found  many  years  since  near  Lex- 
ington, Ken.,  but  at  present  we  have  no  knowledge  of  its  ex- 
istence in  the  United  States. 


BARYTO-CALCITE. 

Baryto-calcite,  Brooke.       (Ann.  of  Phil.,  xliv.  1140      Hemi-prismatic  Hal-baryte,   M. 
Calcareo-carbonate  of  Barytes,  Dr.  Thomson.     Baralus  obliquus,  D. 

•Composition,   according  to  the  analyses  of  Children   and 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


303 


Alston  Moor. 

Carb.  of  barytes 65-9 62-20 

Carb.  of  lime 33-6 31-65 

Sulph.  ofbarytes 00-0 0-30 

Peroxide  of  iron 00-0 0-85 

Water 00  0 3-45 

99-5  Children.  98-45  Richardson. 

Reduced  to  the  atomic  constitution,  the  mean  of  these  num- 
bers affords  5*23  atoms  carbonate  of  barytes,  5-J9  atoms  car- 
bonate of  lime ;  or  the  mineral  is  a  compound  of  one  atom  of 
each  of  these  constituents.     Formula :  CalC+BrC. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-6  — 3-7.     H.  =  4'0. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism,  M  on  M  106°  54', 
P  on  M  102°  54'. 


M  on  M  over  the  face  h 106°  54'  — Brooke. 

b  on  & 95    15 

h  on  the  edge  between  b  and  b     119    00 

P  on  the  same  edge 135    00 


Cleavage  perfect  and  easily  obtained  parallel  to  the  faces  M 
and  P.  Occurs  both  crystallized  and  massive  ;  and  of  a  white, 
yellow,  or  greyish  color.  Transparent  or  translucent,  with 
a  vitreous  or  resinous  lustre,  and  white  streak.  B  B,per  se, 
it  does  not  fuse ;  but  with  borax,  in  the  oxidating  flame,  affords 
a  diaphanous  globule  of  a  light  amethystine  tinge,  which  be- 
comes colorless  in  the  reducing  flame,  to  which  it  communi- 
cates a  yellowish-green  color.  It  effervesces  briskly  in  nitric 
or  muriatic  acid. 

Alston  Moor,  in  Cumberland,  is  the  only  known  locality  of 
baryto-calcite.  In  the  lead  mines  there,  it  occurs  in  consider- 
able quantity,  and  occasionally  in  crystals  which  exceed  an 
inch  in  length ;  but  the  larger  crystals  often  suffer  decomposi- 
tion, and  are  converted  into  a  white  mealy-like  mass  resem- 
bling barytes. 


304  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

BROMLITE. 

Bromlite.    Dr.  Thomson.    (Land,  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.,  xi.  48,  1837.)     Bicalcareo-car- 
bonate  of  Barytes,  of  the  second  analysis.    New  Baryto-calcite  of  Prof.  Johnston. 

We  have  three  analyses  of  this  mineral,  one  by  Prof.  J. 
F.  W.  Johnston,  and  two  by  Dr.  Thomson,  but  they  give  very 
different  results,  as  here  shown  : 

Fallowfield.  Bromley  Hill. 

Carbonate  of  barytes 62-156 49-31 60-63 

Carbonate  of  lime 30-290 50-69 30-19 

Carbonate  of  strontian 6-641 01)0 0-00 

Carbonate  of  manganese  ....  0-000 0-00 9-18 

99-078  Johnston.    100-00  Thomson.    100-00  Thomson. 

According  to  the  first  analysis,  the  mineral  seems  to  agree 
nearly  in  composition  with  baryto-calcite,  and  Prof.  Johnston, 
in  an  ingenious  article  founded  on  his  own  analysis,*  supposes 
the  baryto-calcite  to  be  a  dimorphous  mineral,  while  the  carbo- 
nate of  strontian  exists  in  it  as  an  isomorphous  constituent. 
Dr.  Thomson's  first  analysis  gives  exactly  two  atoms  carbonate 
of  lime  to  one  atom  of  carbonate  of  barytes,  whence  its  name 
bicalcareo-carbonate  of  barytes.  But  by  a  subsequent  and 
more  careful  analysis,  he  has  obtained  the  results  above  stated, 
and  he  supposes  the  manganese  to  have  been  previously  over- 
looked both  by  Prof.  Johnston  and  himself.f  It  thus  appears  to 
be  a  triple  salt.  Formula  :  4BrC+4CalC+MnC. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-718.  H.  =  2-25. 

Color  snow-white ;  translucent,  lustre  vitreous,  fracture  in 
general  granular  and  uneven ;  in  one  instance  it  presented  the 
appearance  of  a  foliated  structure,  and  gave  a  rhomboidal 
cleavage.  —  Thomson.  Some  specimens  are  of  a  pale-cream 
color  and  pearly  lustre,  others  of  a  beautiful  pink  tinge ;  they 
are  harder  than  the  baryto-calcite  of  Brooke,  with  specific 
gravity  3'76. —  Johnston.  Characters  B  B,  not  given.  Pri- 
mary form,  as  determined  by  Profs.  Johnston  and  Miller,  a 
Right  rhombic  prism.  But  it  is  usually  found  in  dodecahe- 
drons, or  six-sided  pyramids,  applied  base  to  base.  It  occurs 
at  Fallowfield,  near  Hexham,  in  Northumberland,  where  it  was 
distinguished  by  Prof.  Johnston  :  also  in  the  lead  mines  near 
Alston  Moor,  and  at  Bromley  Hill,  near  Alston. 


SULPHATE  OF    BARYTES. 

Heavy  Spar.    Schwerspath,  W.     Baryte  Sulphatee  Crystallisee,  H.    Lamellar  Heavy 
Spar,  J.    Prismatic  Hal  Baryte,  M.     Barytine,  Beudant.    Baralus  ponderosus,  D. 

Consists,  when  pure,  of  one   atom  sulphuric  acid   and  one 
atom  of  barytes,  but  it  is  usually  mixed  with  impurities. 

*  Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.,  vi.  1.,  1835]  Ibid.,  3d  series,  x.  373,  1837. 
t  Ibid  ,  3d  series,  xi.  48, 1837. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS. 


305 


Frieberg.  Stienmark.  Klausthal.         Schoharie,  N.  Y. 

Sulphate  of  barytes  . .  .97-50 90-00 86-00 90-37 

Sulphate  of  strontian..  0-80 0-00 6-75 O'OO 

Silica 0-00 10-00 5-75 9-63 

Water 0-70 0-00 0-37 0-00 


99-00  Klaproth.  100-00  Klaproth.  98-87  Jordan.    100-00  Macneven. 

A  very  pure  specimen  analysed  by  Stronmeyer,  gave  sul- 
phate of  barytes  99'37,  with  a  small  portion  of  water  and  oxide 
of  iron.  Formula:  Br.S. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-41  to  4  67.     H.  —  3'0  —  3-5. 

It  occurs  both  massive  and  crystallized,  with  a  lamellar 
structure,  which  in  the  massive  is  sometimes  curved  ;  the 
crystals  are  divisible  into  the  form  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism, 
which  therefore  is  the  primary  crystal ;  its  angles  by  the  reflec- 
tive goniometer,  from  fractured  surfaces,  being  101°  42'  and 
78°  18':  the  lustre  of  the  fragments  is  shining.  It  occurs 
transparent  and  opake;  white,  yellow,  red,  grey  and  blue ;  it 
possesses  double  refraction  when  held  in  a  particular  direction. 
It  decrepitates  briskly,  and  is  difficultly  fusible,  but  eventually 
melts  into  a  hard  white  enamel,  which  is  not  affected  by  acid. 
B  B,  communicates  to  the  flame  a  pale  yellowish  green  color. 

1.  2.  3.  6.  7. 

Primary. 


4.  5. 

the  primary — a  right  prism  with  rhombic  bases. 


Fig.  2,  the 
of  which  the  obtuse  edges  are  replaced  by  planes  parallel  with 


Fig.  1, 
same  ;  o 

those  edges.  Fig.  3,  the  same  :  of  which  each  obtuse  solid  angle  is  re- 
placed by  a  triangular  plane.  In  fig.  4,  each  acute  edge  of  the  prism  is 
replaced  by  a  quadrangular  plane.  In  fig.  5,  all  the  acute  solid  angles  are 
replaced  by  triangular  planes,  which,  in  fig.  6,  are  so  greatly  increased  as 
to  give  the  crystal  a  prismatic  form  :  in  this  figure  the  triangular  planes 
of  fig.  3  are  also  visible.  In  fig.  7,  the  triangular  planes  of  fig.  5  are  so 
greatly  increased  as  entirely  to  replace  the  primary  terminal  plane,  and 
to  reduce  the  primary  lateral  planes  to  small  triangles.  Hauy  has  given 
figures  of  upwards  of  70  different  modifications  of  the  primary  form  of  this 
mineral. 


26* 


306 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


Cl  

127  12 

d2  or  d2'  .  . 
d3  or  d3f  .  . 

.  .  124  00  c. 
.  .  110  30 
.  .  143  00 

el  or  el'  .  .  . 

.  .  125  00 

.  .  115  30 

--{••••••: 

.  •  90  00 
.  90  00 

P  on  ctl 173°00'e.g.    M  or  M'  on  i 160°00' 

a2 161  00  e.g. on  h 128  55 

a3 .  141  10     on  d3 141  00 

on  d2 154  00 

on  tZ4 126  00 

on/ 140  50 

on  g 166  00 

/on  g  or  g> 153  00  e.g. 

a4 148  10 

a3 •  .  128  50 

Tioni 153  00 e.g. 

cl  on  d2 155  00  c.  g. 

Barytes  is  a  very  widely  diffused  species,  and  is  also  one 
which  presents  great  variety  of  crystalline  form.  In  the  size 
and  beauty  of  its  specimens,  the  most  noted  locality  is  Dufton 
in  Cumberland,  where  perfect  crystals  exceeding  half  a  cwt. 
have  occasionally  been  met  with.  Many  elegant  forms,  though 
on  a  smaller  scale,  occur  at  Przibram  and  Mies  in  Bohemia. 
Crystals  of  large  dimensions,  and  exhibiting  splendid  colors, 
are  met  with  at  Felsobanya  and  Cremnitz  in  Hungary  ;  while 
at  Roya  and  Raure  in  Auvergne  the  form  represented  by  fig.  7 
is  of  general  occurrence.  The  deposits  of  this  species  in  Ame- 
rica, particularly  the  uncrystallized  varieties,  are  very  numerous. 
In  the  United  States  there  are  several  localities  which  have 
furnished  interesting  crystallized  specimens  of  this  mineral, 
comprising  many  of  the  forms  figured  and  described  under  dis- 
tinctive names  by  Haiiy.  These  are  principally  in  New  York  in 
the  same  limestone  which  contains  the  strontianite,  with  which 
it  is  intimately  associated,  and  has  sometimes  been  confounded, 
owing  to  the  similarity  in  the  form  of  the  crystals.  For  figures 
and  description  of  these,  the  student  is  referred  to  the  Mineral- 
ogy of  New  York,  by  Prof.  Beck.  The  same  forms  occur 
also  at  Cheshire,  Conn.,  in  sandstone  associated  with  carbo- 
nate and  sulphuret  of  copper.  At  Hatfield,  Mass.,  according 
to  Prof.  Hitchcock,  it  forms  a  vein  from  one  to  four  feet 
thick,  traversing  sienite,  and  contains  galena,  blende  and  cop- 
per pyrites.  A  delicate  fibrous  variety  of  this  mineral  occurs 
abundantly  at  Pillar's  Point,  Jefferson  county,  N.  Y.,  of  a 
reddisji-brown  and  yellowish  color.  The  compact,  foliated 
and  earthy  varieties  accompany  the  lead  ores  at  Southampton, 
Mass.,  Perkiomen,  Penn.,  and  throughout  the  extensive  lead 
mines  of  the  Southern  and  Western  States. 

Calstronbaryte.*  Prof.  Shepardf  has  given  this  name  to  a 
mineral  found  with  heavy  spar  and  strontianite  in  Schoharie 
county,  N.  Y.,  and  from  which  he  obtained  65  55  sulphate  of 


*  Signifjing  the  three  bases  which  enter  into  the  composition  of  the  mineral. 
t  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxxv.  161. 


ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY    MINERALS.  307 

barytes,  or  22*30  carbonate  of  strontian,  12'15  carbonate  of 
lime.  These  numbers  give  very  nearly  two  atoms  of  sulphate 
of  barytes,  one  atom  carbonate  of  strontian,  and  one  atom 
carbonate  of  lime,  thus  apparently  forming  a  new  definite 
combination  of  these  constituents.  It  is  thus  described  by 
Prof.  Shepard:  Sp.  Gr.  4'20  to  4'22.  H.  =  335.  Color 
white  inclining  to  grey,  rarely  exhibiting  a  tinge  of  reddish- 
brown.  Lustre  vitreous  to  resinous ;  translucent ;  streak 
white ;  brittle.  Occurs  massive,  in  broad,  straight,  lamellar 
masses.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  M  on  M  = 
102°  30'  to  103°,  thus  differing  from  heavy  spar.  Cleavage, 
M  on  T  perfect,  the  latter  more  easily  obtained  than  the  for- 
mer. Its  secondary  crystals  have  not  been  described.  From 
the  partial  examination  of  another  specimen  from  this  locality 
by  Prof.  Beck,  in  which  he  found  the  proportions  of  the  salts 
which  compose  it  to  vary  considerably  from  those  above  stated, 
he  is  disposed  to  regard  the  substance  as  a  mechanical  mixture, 
not  entitled  to  a  specific  distinction. 

The  following  have  been  described  as  sub-species  of  heavy 
spar :  — 

Columnar  Heavy  Spar,  J.  Stangenspath,  W.  Which  occurs  in  rhom- 
bic prisms,  generally  ill  defined,  and  aggregated  laterally  into  columns. 
It  is  white  or  greenish,  with  a  shining  pearly  lustre,  and  translucent ; 
structure  lamellar.  It  occurs  near  Freyberg  in  Saxony. 

Bolognian  Stone.  Radiated  Barytes.  Baryte  sulfatee  radiee,  H. 
Occurs  in  roundish  masses,  composed  apparently  of  minute  fibrous  crys- 
tals radiating  from  the  centre.  Internally  it  is  shining  or  glistening,  and 
of  a  grey  or  yellowish-grey  color  ;  it  is  translucent  on  the  edges,  and  the 
fragments  are  wedge-shaped  and  soft.  It  is  remarkably  phosphorescent 
when  heated,  and  retains  that  property  for  some  time  even  after  cooling. 
It  occurs  imbedded  in  marl  at  Monte  Paterno,  near  Bologna.* 

Cawk.\  Occurs  massive,  with  a  coarse  earthy  fracture,  and  is  opake, 
rarely  translucent  on  the  edges.  It  is  white,  grey,  yellow,  or  reddish, 
and  is  glimmering  or  dull,  soft,  and  brittle.  Specific  gravity  4-81.  It 
occurs  in  Bohemia,  Saxony,  the  Hartz,  and  particularly  in  Staffordshire, 
and  the  lead  mines  of  Derbyshire. 

HEPATITE.!  Baryte  sulfatee  fetide,  H.  Applies  to  such  varieties  as 
on  being  rubbed  or  heated  emit  a  fetid,  sulphurous,  or  hepetic  odor,  and 
are  generally  of  a  yellow  or  brown  color.  It  consists  of  85  2  sulphate  of 
baryta,  6  sulphate  of  lime,  1  alumina,  5  oxide  of  iron,  and  0-5  carbon.  — 
Klaproth.  It  occurs  at  Andrarum,  and  Kongsberg  in  Norway  ;  at  Lub- 
lin in  Galicia. 

Barytes  is  one  of  the  most  common  accompaniments  of  metallic  mine- 
rals in  veins,  and,  when  associated  with  ores  of  iron,  possesses  a  deleteri- 
ous influence  on  the  process  of  smelting.  The  pure  white  varieties  are 
ground  and  used  as  a  pigment,  either  alone  or  mixed  with  white  lead  ;  but 
is  otherwise  of  no  great  value. 


*  Whence  Bolognian  Stone. 

f  The  name  of  Gawk  is  said  to  have  been  given  to  this  substance  from  its  resemblance 
to  chalk. 
JFrom  the  Greek,  signifying  of  a  liver  color. 


308  ACIDIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS. 

STRONTIANITE. 

Carbonate  of  Strontian.     Strontianite.*    Strontian,  W.    Strontian  Carbonatee,  H.    Peri- 
tomous  Hal  Baryte,  M.     Peritomous  Baryte,  J.    Barytes  rubefaciens,  D. 

Combination  of  one  atom  carbonic  acid  and  one  atom  Strontian. 

Braunsdorf.  Strontian. 

Carbonic  acid 29-94 30-31 

Strontia 67-51 65-60 

Lime 1-28 3-47 

Manganese 0-09 0-06 

Water 0-07 0-07 

98-89  Stromeyer.  99-41  Stromeyer. 

The  purest  specimens  from  Strontian,  according  to  Dr. 
Thomson,  contain  one  atom  carbonate  of  lime  ;  which  he  re- 
gards as  essential,  and  thus  gives  this  formula :  lOStrC+CalC. 
Sp.  Gr.  36  to  38.  H.  =  3-5. 

It  occurs  massive,  fibrous,  stellated,  and  regularly  crystallized 
in  the  form  of  a  hexahedral  prism  modified  on  the  edges,  or 
terminated  by  a  pyramid.  The  primary  crystal  is  a  Right 
rhombic  prism  of  117°  32'  and  62°  28',  by  measurements  on 
planes  produced  by  cleavage,  to  which  the  crystals  readily  yield 
parallel  to  the  lateral  faces  of  the  prism.  The  structure  of  the 
massive  is  fibrous,  sometimes  divergent,  with  a  shining  pearly 
lustre ;  it  is  translucent,  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and  is  brittle. 
Color  grey,  green,  or  brown.  It  is  infusible  B  B,  except  on 
the  surface,  but  becomes  white  and  opake,  and  tinges  the  flame 
of  a  dark  purplish-red.  It  is  soluble  with  effervescence  in  mu- 
riatic or  nitric  acid  ;  and  paper  dipped  into  the  solution,  and 
then  dried,  burns  with  a  red  flame. 


M  on  M'  .  117°  32' 

h    .  .  121  30 

ef  on  el' .  .  108  12 

el  on  e2  or  \  ,  . .  „» 

el'oneV  $  144  20 

h  on  cl  .  .  126  5 

c2  .  .  143  20 

cl  on  c2 .  .  160  35 

This  mineral  was  described  and  its  properties  first  deter- 
mined by  Dr.  Hope  ;  it  was  discovered  at  Strontian  in  Argyle- 
shire,  in  veins  traversing  gneiss,  and  accompanied  by  galena, 
barytes,  calc-spar,  and  pyrites,  in  massive,  stellated,  fibrous, 
and  diverging  groups,  but  rarely  presenting  more  than  mere 
traces  of  crystallization.  The  finest  asparagus-green  as  well 

*From  ita  having  been  first  found  at  Strontian  in  Scotland. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  309 

as  dark-brown  fibrous  varieties,  are  from  this  locality.  In 
Yorkshire,  it  occurs  in  acute  snow-white  pyramids;  and  at 
Braunsdorf,  in  Saxony,  in  brilliant  white  and  brown  hexagonal 
prisms.  The  most  splendid  crystals  of  strontiariite,  however, 
have  been  found  at  Leogang  in  Saltzburg;  but  they  are  very 
rare.  Very  lately  considerable  veins  of  this  interesting,  but 
comparatively  rare  mineral,  have  been  found  near  to  Hamne 
in  Westphalia,  traversing  rocks  of  the  chalk  series.  It  occurs 
in  masses  composed  of  granular  distinct  concretions,  and  in 
crystallized  varieties.  Color  white.  It  yielded  Prof.  Becks 
94-70  carbonate  of  strontian,  5 '22  carbonate  of  lime.* 

In  the  United  States,  it  has  been  found  at  one  or  two  places 
in  New  York,  as  at  Muscalonge  Lake,  and  Chaumont  Bay; 
but  the  locality  which  has  claimed  especial  attention,  is  in 
Schoharie  county,  the  crystals  from  which,  under  their  simple 
and  compound  forms,  have  been  fully  described  by  Prof. 
Shepard,  in  the  Amcr.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxvii.  3b'9.  It  oc- 
curs also  at  this  place  in  a  massive  form,  of  a  pure  snow-white 
color,  and  compact  enough  to  receive  a  high  polish.  It  was 
formerly  mistaken  for  white  marble. 

EMMONSITE.  Dr.  Thomson  has  given  this  name,  in  honor 
of  Prof.  EmmoiiSjf  to  a  substance  from  the  last  named  locality, 
and  which  he  found  to  consist  of  carbonate  of  strontian,  82  69, 
carbonate  of  lime  12'50,  peroxide  of  iron  I'OO,  zeolite  3*79  ; 
or  of  nine  atoms  carbonate  of  strontian,  and  two  atoms  carbo- 
nate of  lime.  Specific  gravity  2  946.  H.  =  275. 

Color  snow-white;  structure  foliated,  with  an  imperfect 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  face  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  It  re- 
sembles gypsum,  is  translucent  on  the  edges  and  easily  reduced 
to  powder.  It  is  somewhat  doubtful  whether  the  carbonate  of 
lime  is  any  thing  more  than  a  mechanical  constituent  of  this 
mineral,  which  is  here  introduced  only  as  a  variety  of  the 
present  species.  Other  analyses  will  show  whether  the  propor- 
tions above  noted  are  constant. 


BARYSTRONTIANITE. 

Stromnite.    ( Traill,  Edinb.  Phil.  Trans.,  ix.  81.) 

Contains  carbonate  of  strontian  68'6,  sulphate  of  barytes 
27-5,  carbonate  of  lime  26,  oxide  of  iron  (H,  loss  1'2.  — 
Traill. 

Formula :  4StrC+BrSl+iCalC. 

*  Jameson's  Edin.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxix.  417. 
t  Am.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxi.  171. 


310  ACIDIEFROUS    EAKTHY    MINERALS. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-7.     H.  —  35. 

Occurs  massive,  of  a  greyish-white  color  externally,  but  ap- 
proaching to  yellowish-white  internally  on  the  fresh  fracture," 
lustre  weakly  shining  and  pearly  ;  translucent  on  the  edges; 
brittle  and  soft.  It  effervesces  with  acids,  but  does  not  melt 
BB. 

The  mineral  was  distinguished  and  described  by  Dr.  Traill, 
who  found  it  in  veins  with  galena  and  barytes  in  a  kind  of  clay 
slate  at  Stromness*  in  Orkney.  It  appears  to  be  very  rare. 
According  to  Profs.  Beck  and  Emmons,  a  mineral  agreeing 
with  it  occurs  in  Oneidaand  Schoharie  counties,  N.  Y. 


BARYTO-SULPHATE    OF   STRONTIAN. 

Radiated  celestine,  (Dr.   Thomson,  Outlines,  S[c.,i.  111. 

Consists,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson's  analysis,  of 

Sulphate  of  barytes 35-195 

Sulphate  of  strontian 63-204 

Sulphate  of  iron 1-241 

Water 0-720 

100-360 

Regarding  the  sulphate  of  iron  as  accidental,  the  mineral  is 
composed  of  three  atoms  sulphate  of  barytes,  and  seven  atoms 
sulphate  of  strontian.     Formula:  7StrS-f 3BrSl. 
Sp.  Gr.  3921.     H.=  275. 

The  color  is  white,  with  a  very  slight  shade  of  blue.  The 
texture  is  laminated,  and  the  laminae,  which  are  obviously  im- 
perfect crystals,  diverge  as  if  from  a  central  point,  so  as  to 
form  a  kind  of  pencil.  Brittle;  very  friable.  B  B,  in  the  pla- 
tinum forceps,  becomes  of  a  dazzling  white  ;  but  does  not 
easily  fuse.  Melts  readily  with  carbonate  of  soda  into  a 
transparent  colorless  bead,  which  becomes  white  and  opake 
on  cooling.  With  borax  it  fuses  very  readily  into  a  white- 
opake  globule. 

This  species  is  found  in  considerable  quantity  in  Drum- 
mond  island,  in  Lake  Erie,  and  also  at  Kingston,  in  Upper 
Canada. 

CELESTINE. 

Sulphate  of  Strontian.    Zolestine.    Celestin,  W.    Prismatoidal  Hal  Baryte,  M.    Pris- 
matoidal  Barytes,  J.     Strontiane  Sulphatee,  H.     Baralus  prismaticus,  D. 

Combination  of  one  atom  sulphuric  acid  and  one  atom 
strontian.  But  even  the  purest  varieties  are  sometimes  mixed 

*  Whence  Stromnite  ;  Barystrontianite,  from  its  containing  both  baryta  and  strontia. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY  MINERALS. 


with  small  portions  of  foreign  matter  ;  as  shown  in  the  follow- 
ing analyses.     Formula :  StrSl. 


Lake  Erie.  Lake  Erie. 

Sulphuric  acid... .«  64 44-00 

Strontian 56-36 54-25 

Alumina 0-00 0-75 

Silica 0-00 0-50 

Oxide  of  iron 0-09 0-53 


Bristol. 
Fulphate  of  strontian.  .98-35 

Sulphate  of  lime 1  07 

.Moisture    0-20 

Foreign  matter 0-37 


99-99  Thomson. 


100-00  Beudant.      103-00  Bowen. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-6  —  4-0.     H.  =3-0  —  35. 

This  mineral  is  white,  grey,  yellow,  or  reddish  ;  also  of  a 
delicate  blue  color;*  it  occurs  massive,  fibrous,  stellated,  and 
crystallized;  the  primary  form  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of 
104°  and  76°,  by  measurements  with  the  reflective  goniome- 
ter, from  the  planes  produced  by  cleavage;  the  transparent 
crystals  are  pretty  readily  divisible  into  that  form.  It  possesses 
a  shining  lustre;  is  translucent,  transpnrent,  or  opake;  and  is 
brittle.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  arid  melts  into  a  white-opake 
friable  enamel.  If  a  fragment  of  this  mineral  be  held  for 
some  time  in  the  reducing  flame,  and  then  moistened  with  a 
drop  of  muriatic  acid,  and  held  to  the  blue  part  of  a  candle 
flame,  it  will  color  the  flame  beautifully  purple.  —  Kobell. 


Mon  M' 
P  on  M  o 
P  on  cl 
c2 
h 

r" 

M 

£ 

104° 
90 
174 
128 
90 

00' 
00 
32 
14 

00 

al 
a2 
a3 

M  on  b 
/ 
c2  on  c2' 

157 
140 
127 
90 
154 
142 
105 

54 
32 

48 
00 
2 
5 
20 

-— 


-.•  :-•-..' 


Sometimes  approaching  to  sky  blue,  whence  Celestine. 


312  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY   MINERALS. 

The  sulphur  mines  of  Sicily  have  long  been  celebrated  for 
their  magnificent  groups  of  this  substance;  it  there  occurs  in 
prismatic  crystals,  often  beautifully  transparent,  aggregated, 
and  either  disposed  on,  or  accompanied  by,  sulphur  and  gyp- 
sum; while  numerous  interesting  forms  on  a  smaller  scale, 
occur  at  Bex  in  Switzerland,  at  Conil  in  Spain,  and  in  the 
Vicentine.  It  is  met  with  in  straight  fibrous  concretions  of  a 
blue  color,  imbedded  in  clay,  at  Dornberg,  near  Jena,  and  in 
radiated  scopiform  groups,  opake  and  of  a  bluish  tinge,  in 
red  clay,  at  Aust  Ferry,  near  Bristol ;  crystalline  and  massive 
in  magnesian-limestone,  near  Knaresborough  in  Yorkshire; 
radiated  and  fibrous  at  Norton,  in  Hanover  (a  variety  which, 
according  to  Turner,  contains  twenty  per  cent,  of  sulphate  of 
baryta)  ;  fibrous  arid  of  a  sky-blue  color  at  Tornberg,  Saxony ; 
and  in  earthy  nodules,  cracked  and  hollow,  at  Monte  Martre 
near  Paris. 

In  the  United  States,  a  very  celebrated  locality  of  sulphate 
of  strontian,  originally  brought  into  notice  by  Prof.  Douglas 
and  Maj.  Del  afield,  is  at  Strontian  island,  on  the  south-western 
shore  of  Lake  Erie.  It  forms  a  vein  in  secondary  limestone, 
and  is  both  massive,  and  in  crystals  of  great  size  and  perfec- 
tion, varying  in  color,  as  described  by  Major  Delafield,  from 
snow-white  to  dark-blue  and  greenish-blue,  in  lustre,  from  dull 
to  resplendent,  and  in  transparency,  from  the  perfectly  trans- 
parent to  opake.  The  crystals  present  the  Right  rhombic 
prism  truncated  on  its  obtuse  solid  angles,  and  on  its  terminal 
edges  by  single  planes,  and  they  are  usually  very  much  com- 
pressed, as  shown  in  fig.  13.  These  replacements  are  usually 
carried  to  an  extent  which  has  entirely  obliterated  the  lateral 
primary  planes,  thus  forming  the  trapeziune  of  Haiiy,  fig.  4. 
At  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  accompanying  galena 
and  calcareous  spar,  they  are  in  the  form  of  low  hexahedral 
tables,  (fig.  5),  or  compressed  in  the  opposite  direction  from 
those  represented  by  figs.  3  and  4.  These  are  of  a  very 
beautiful  sky-blue  color,  but  their  surfaces  are  rounded  and 
roughened  by  striae.  The  crystals  from  this  locality  sometimes 
exhibit  the  primary  form  entire,  or  but  very  slightly  replaced 
on  the  obtuse  lateral  edges,  and  solid  angles  by  single  planes. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Lockport,  N.  Y.,  this  mineral  is  found  in 
considerable  masses,  composed  of  radiating  prismatic  crystals, 
sometimes  crossing  in  cavities  where  they  possess  distinct 
forms,  analogous,  excepting  that  they  are  much  more  elonga- 
ted, to  fig.  4.  A  fibrous  variety  exactly  resembling  that  from 
Tornberg,  Saxony,  is  associated  with  gypsum,  in  Herkimer 
county,  N.  Y.  The  same  variety  occurs  at  Franktown,  Hunt- 
ington  county,  Penn.  This  mineral  occurs  also  in  great  abun- 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS.  313 

dance  near  the  Frankstone  Gap  of  the  Alleghany  Mountains, 
in  Huntingdon  county,  Penn.  It  resembles  precisely  the  vari- 
ety from  Dornberg,  near  Jena  in  Saxony.  The  locality 
extends,  it  is  said,  for  fourteen  miles.  It  is  sometimes  crystal- 
lized.—  J.  A-  Clay.  Fine  crystallized  celestine,  according 
to  Dr.  Troost,  occurs  in  the  limestone  along  the  Cumberland 
river,  Tenn.  

PHOSPHATE  OF  YTTRIA. 

Bendius,  (K.  Vet.  Jlcad.  Handl,  1824.)  Phosphorsaure  Yttererde,  L.  Xenotime,  Bcu- 
dant.  Phospbyttria,  Berzdius.  Tankelite.  Yttna  Phosphatee,  Neckcr.  Spanialus 
peritomus,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  phosphoric  acid  and  a 
little  fluoric  acid  33'49,  yttria  62*58,  diphosphate  of  iron  3  93. 
It  is  a  subsesquiphosphate  of  yttria.      Formula  :  Y^P. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-14  —  4-55.     H.  =  4-5  — 5-0. 

Primary  form,  a  Right  square  prism. 
Secondary  form  like  the  adjoining  fig- 
ure in  which  it  usually  occurs.  M  on 
the  faces  of  the  pyramids  about  135°. 
Color  yellowish-brown;  with  a  res- 
inous lustre ;  and  pale  brown  streak. 
Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M  ;  frac- 
ture uneven  and  splintery;  nearly 
opake.  B  B,  it  does  not  in  the  ma- 
trass yield  water.  On  charcoal  per  me, 
it  is  infusible ;  with  borax  it  affords  a  colorless  bead,  which 
becomes  milky  on  cooling;  with  salt  of  phosphorus  it  is  diffi- 
cultly soluble  into  a  colorless  glass ;  and  with  boracic  acid 
and  iron  wire,  yields  phosphuret  of  iron.  Insoluble  in  acids. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  crystalline  masses  imbedded  in 
granite  at  Lindenaes  in  Norway,  where  it  was  first  noticed  by 
Mr.  Tank  of  Friederickshall. 

CARBONATE  OF  YTTRIA. 

Berzelius'  Jahres-Bericht,  1838,  p.  207. 

MM.  Svanberg  and  Tenger  have  communicated  to  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  Sweden,  an  account  of  a  new  mineral 
found  by  them  at  Ytterby,  and  which  proved  to  be  Carbonate 
of  Yttria.  It  occurs  in  very  minute  quantities  in  the  cracks  of 
the  gadolinite,  and  occasionally  also  attached  to  another 
gangue  in  fragments  scarcely  large  enough  for  convenient 
examination.  Its  color  is  white,  and  it  presents  an  appearance 
of  radiated  crystallization.  No  further  description  of  it  has 
been  given  up  to  the  date  of  Rammelsberg' s  Handworterbuch 
(Sup.)  1843. 

27 


314 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


PYROCHLORE.* 

Wohler,  (Brewster's  Journal,  vi.  358.)    Microlite,  Shepard.    Eutilus  dystomus,  D. 

Combination  of  columbic  acid  and  lime  essentially,  with  va- 
rious metallic  oxides. 


Frederickswarn,  Norway.  Miask,  Siberia.        Brevig,  Norway. 

Titanic  acid 62-75  Columbic  acid 67-376 67-021 

Lime 12-85  Oxides  of  thorium  ) 

and  cerium \ 

Lime 

Yttria 

Oxide  of  uranium.., 


Oxide  of  manganese    2-75 

Oxide  of  iron 2-16 

Oxide  of  uranium  ...  5-18 

Oxide  of  cerium 6-80 

Oxide  of  tin 0-61 

Water 4-20 


5-159 


.10-984 9-871 

,  0-808 4-601 

0-000 4-681 


Protoxide  of  iron....   1-285 1-3-29 


Oxide  of  manganese.  0-146 1-G«8 

Sodium 3-930 trace 

97-30  Wbhler.     Fluorine 3-233 trace 

Water 1-116 7-059 


Chesterfield,         Frederickswarn, 
Mass.  Norway. 

Columbic  acid 75-70 53-10 

Lime 14-84 19-45 

Tungstic    acid,   yttria)    7-3 0-00 

&  protox.of  uranium  \    '      0-00 

Titanic  acid 0-00 20-20 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-00 2-35 

Ox.  of  uranium,  man-  ?    0-00  )  1-VCl 

ganese  and  tin 5    0-00  \ 

Moisture 2-04 0-80 


102-030  Wbhler.  97-792  Wbhler.  f 

Chesterfield, 
Mass. 

Columbic  acid 79-60 

Lime 10-87 

Oxide  of  iron 0-99 

Oxide  of  uranium  and  )    2.oi 

manganese \ 

Oxide  of  lead 1-60 

Oxide  of  tin fl-70 

Moisture 0-40 

96-37  Hayes. 


100-00  Shepard.J      97-10  Hayes. 

The  results  of  these  analyses  show  this  mineral  to  be  ex- 
tremely complex  in  its  chemical  constitution,  and  point  out  a 
great  variation  in  the  proportion  of  the  constituents  which  are 
supposed  to  be  essential.  It  is  essentially  a  columbate  of  lime. 
Berzelius§  has  given  a  formula  answering  to  the  second  anal- 
ysis by  Wohler,  but  the  third  differs  from  it  in  containing,  be- 
sides oxide  of  uranium,  a  much  greater  quantity  of  water,  as  well 
as  by  the  absence  of  fluoride  of  sodium,  which  he  had  regarded 
as  an  essential  constituent  of  the  mineral.  For  this  he  was 
unable  to  calculate  a  convenient  formula  adapted  to  the  results 
obtained.  The  American  mineral  as  now  analyzed  by  Mr. 
Hayes,  differs  still  more  in  the  proportions  of  its  acid  and  lime, 
and  besides  it  contains  oxide  of  lead.  But  it  approaches  very 
nearly  to  one  atom  columbie  acid,  and  one  atom  lime  —  or  Cal 
Cl  —  which  may  ultimately  prove  to  be  the  true  composition 
of  the  purest  crystals  of  this  mineral.  Sp.  Gr.  4'25.  H.z=5'0.|| 

*  Named  by  Berzelius  from  its  property  of  becoming  yellowish-green,  BB;  from 
r.vo,  fire,  and  /Aopo?,  green. 


as  orgn  ay  stae      y  er,      oug    awre      a 

acid  containing  titanic  acid,  as  Wbhler  himself  afterwards  ascertained,  and  as  the  analy- 

sis of  the  same  mineral  by  Mr.  Hayes  has  now  confirmed.     [AM.  ED.] 

J  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxxii.  p.  341.  §  Rapport  Annuel,  1840,  p.  137. 

II  Shepard  gives  the  hardness  of  the  Chesterfield  variety  at  5-25,  and  its  specific  grav- 
ty  5-562.     Mr.  Hayes  makes  the  latter  5-405. 


AC1DIFEROUS   EARTHY   MINERALS.  315 

Color  deep  red-brown  to  black.  The  American  specimens 
pale  honey-yellow,  or  straw-yellow,  and  brick-red.  Lustre  re- 
sinous to  vitreous.  Translucent  to  opake,  some  crystals  semi- 
transparent.  Cleavage  imperfect  in  the  European  specimens ; 
more  distinct  in  the  American,  parallel  with  the  planes  of  the 
Regular  octahedron,  which  is  therefore  the  primary  form.  This 
form  is  also  indicated  by  minute  strise  on  some  of  the  Ameri- 
can specimens.  Fracture  conchoidal.  It  occurs  in  the  primary 
form  either  perfect,  or  modified  on  the  edges  by  single  planes, 
or  on  the  solid  angles  by  four  planes  resting  on  the  faces  of  the 
crystals.  B  B,  variety  from  Frederickswan,  yields  water  in  the 
matrass,  and  becomes  greenish-yellow ;  per  se,  on  charcoal,  it 
fuses  with  great  difficulty  into  a  blackish-brown  scoria ;  with 
borax  it  effervesces  and  completely  dissolves  into  a  transparent 
globule,  which  appears  reddish-yellow  in  the  oxidating  flame,  but 
becomes  opake  on  flaming,  while  in  the  reducing  flame  it  is  deep 
red,  but  changes  into  a  bluish-grey  enamel  on  flaming ;  with  salt 
of  phosphorus  it  entirely  dissolves,  the  globule  being  yellow  in 
the  oxidating  flame,  and  on  cooling  usually  green ;  while  in  the 
reducing  flame  it  darkens  into  violet;  with  soda  gives  the  reac- 
tion of  manganese.  It  gives  also,  as  does  the  variety  from  Bre- 
vig,  the  reaction  of  uranium.  The  American  specimens  exhibit 
very  nearly  the  same  distinctive  characters  —  differing  slightly, 
as  might  be  supposed,  from  the  presence  of  different  or  lesser 
accidental  bodies. 

Pyrochlore  was  first  discovered  by  Otto  Von  Tank,  im- 
bedded in  syenite  at  Frederickswan  and  Brevig  in  Norway. 
It  has  since  been  brought  from  Miask  in  Siberia,  and  from 
Greenland,  but  it  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  very  rare  mineral. 

In  the  United  States  it  was  first  discovered  by  Prof.  Shep- 
ard  at  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  imbedded  in  the  albite  which  con- 
tains the  rubellite  and  green  tourmaline,  and  was  described 
by  him  as  a  new  species  under  the  name  of  microlite.*  Its 
identity  with  pyrochlore  was  first  indicated  by  Mr.  Teschema- 
cher,  and  has  now  been  fully  established  by  a  very  careful 
analysis,  and  a  comparison  of  its  pyrognostic  characters,  in- 
stituted by  Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes. 

YTTROTANTALLITE.t 

Yttrotantal,  Karsten.     Tantale    Oxyee  Yttrifere,  H.     Yttrotantalite,  J.     Columbus 
Berzelh,D, 

Of  the  yttrotantalite,  Berzelius  has  described  three  varie- 

*  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxviii.  p.  361.    Mineralogy,  ii.  p.  46. 

•(•  From  its  consisting  chiefly  of  yttria  and  tantalum;  but  its  more  appropriate  name 
would  now  be  yttro-columbite. 


316  ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

ties,  all  differing  considerably  in  composition.  Dr.  Thom- 
son describes  them  as  sub-species;  the  first  as  a  tetracolum- 
bate;  the  second  as  a  discolumbate;  and  the  third  as  a  tris- 
columbate  of  yttria.  But  it  seems  to  be  an  impure  mineral, 
and  never  having  been  observed  crystallized,  Berzelius  has 
regarded  it  as  a  mechanical  mixture  of  tantalum,  yttria,  ura- 
nium, lime,  and  occasionally,  of  tungstic  acid.  They  all  con- 
sist essentially  of  columbate  of  yttria. 

Dark.  Black.  Yellow. 

Columbia  acid  . .  .31-815 57-00 59-50 60-124 

Yttria 38-515 20-25 24-9!) 29-780 

Lime 3-260 C-25 3-29 0-500 

Tungstic  acid 2-592 8--5 I  -25 1-044 

Oxide  of  iron  ....  0-555 3-50 2-75 1-155 

Oxide  of  uranium.   1-J11 0-50 3-23 6-622 

97-848  Berzelius.     95-75  Berzelius.    99-89  Berzelius.    99-225 

The  dark  yttrotantalite  occurs  in  amorphous  masses,  has 
a  lustre  intermediate  between  vitreous  and  resinous,  and  when 
in  thin  fragments,  appears  translucent  and  slightly  yellow. 
Specific  gravity  not  exceeding  5'0. 

The  yellow  yttrotantalite  forms  laminaB  in  the  fissures  of 
felspar.  Its  color  is  yellowish-brown,  it  has  a  white  streak, 
and  is  opake.  Specific  gravity  5'8  to  5'9. 

In  the  black  variety,  extremely  indistinct  traces  of  crystal- 
lization have  been  observed.  It  is  black  and  opake,  with  an 
imperfect  metallic  lustre,  and  grey  streak.  Specific  gravity 
5-3  to  5-5. 

None  of  these  varieties  are  acted  upon  by  acids,  nor  are  fu- 
sible, per  sc,  B  B,  although  they  decrepitate  and  acquire  a 
lighter  color;  but  they  exhibit  very  different  results  when 
fused  with  re-agents. 

They  are  all  found  in  Sweden  —  at  Ytterby,  in  red  felspar ; 
and  at  Broddbo  and  Finbo  near  Fahlun,  imbedded  in  quartz 
and  albite,  and  associated  with  garnet,  mica,  and  pyrophysa- 
lite.  They  are  among  the  numerous  rare  substances  which 
have  been  brought  to  the  notice  of  mineralogists,  by  the  sagac- 
ity and  careful  researches  of  Berzelius. 


FERGUSONITE.* 

Haidinger,  (Edinb.  Roy.  Soc.  Trans.,  x.  part  ii.  p.  271.)    Columbus  hemiquadratus,  D. 

Combination  of  columbic   acid,  yttria,   zirconia,   and  the 
oxides  of  cerium,  tin,  uranium,  and  iron. 

*  In  compliment  to  Robert  Ferguson,  Esq.,  of  Raith   M.  P. 


ACIDIFEROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 


317 


Columbic  acid 47-75 

Yttria 41-91 

Zirconia 3-03 

Protoxide  of  cerium 4-68 

Oxide  of  tin 1-00 

Oxide  of  uranium 0-95 

Peroxide  of  iron 0  34 

99-65  Hartwall. 

The  atoms  of  bases  are  about  five  times  as  numerous  as  those 
of  the  columbic  acid,  but  it  is  probable  that  some  of  these 
constituents  are  only  accidental.  Formula,  by  Dr.  Thomson, 
4£Y5Cl+(Cr,  Zr,  Ur,  F)5C1. 

Sp.  Gr.  58  —  5-9.     H.  —  5-5  —  60. 

In  pyramidal  crystals  of  a  brownish-black  color,  which  are 
opake  except  when  in  thin  splinters,  and  are  externally  dull. 
Primary  form  a  Right  square  prism,  of  which  the  following 
figure  represents  the  actually  occurring  crystals. 


s  on  s 


z  on  z' 


100°  28' 
128  27 
159  02 


Fracture  perfect  conchoidal,  with  a  brilliant  vitreous  lustre  ; 
streak  very  pale  brown ;  traces  of  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
faces  s.  B  B,  per  se,  it  is  infusible,  but  loses  its  color  and  be- 
comes pale  greenish-yellow ;  is  difficultly  soluble  with  borax 
into  a  yellow  glass ;  with  soda  is  decomposed  without  melting, 
and  leaves  a  reddish  scoria.  It  may  be  entirely  dissolved  in 
salt  of  phosphorus,  but  some  particles  remain  a  long  time  un- 
altered. The  pale-greenish  globule  becomes  opake  by  flaming, 
or  on  cooling,  when  very  much  saturated.  Previous  to  com- 
plete solution  in  the  latter,  the  glass  assumes  in  the  reducing 
flame  a  slightly  rose-red  tinge. 

This  rare  species  was  found  by  Sir  Charles  Giesecke,  dis- 
seminated in  quartz,  at  Kikertaursak,  near  Cape  Farewell,  in 
Greenland.  It  was  first  distinguished  as  a  new  species,  and 
described  by  Mr.  Haidinger. 


27* 


318  ACIDIFBROUS    EARTHY    MINERALS. 

HAYESINE.* 

'  Borocalcite.t     Hydro  boratc  of  Lime. 

For  our  accurate  knowledge  of  this  new  mineral,  we  are  in- 
debted to  A.  A.  Hayes,  who  ascertained  that  the  pure  speci- 
mens consisted  wholly  of  borate  of  lime,  united  with  water; 
and  we  are  indebted  to  him  for  the  following  description  of  its 
characters,  as  well  as  for  determining  its  composition.  Dried 
at  150  F.,  it  contains  in  100  parts  : 

Boracicacid 46-111 15-370 3 

Lime 18-889 5-394 1 

Water 35-000 31-lil 6 

lOO'OO 

If  we  regard  the  atomic  weight  of  boracic  acid  as  3,  the 
mineral  evidently  consists  of  three  atoms  boracic  acid  to  one 
atom  of  lime;  or  it  is  a  hydrated  ter-borate  of  lime.  Formu- 
la :  CalB3+6Aq.  But  taking  Berzelius'  atomic  numbers,  the 
formula,  as  given  by  Mr.  Hayes,  is  CaB2+6H. 

It  occurs  in  globular  masses  of  a  fibrous  structure,  having 
externally  a  brown  color  ;  when  broken  these  masses  appear  to 
be  formed  of  snow-white  delicate  fibres,  interwoven,  curved 
and  knotted ;  the  lustre  being  satin-like,  and  the  fibres  so  soft 
as  to  crush  readily  between  the  fingers.  Placed  in  warm 
water  it  expands,  and  forms  a  consistent  paste,  and  exhibits 
numerous  tufts  of  radiating  fibres.  It  dissolves  in  dilute  ni- 
tric acid,  and  the  solution  poured  into  a  large  quantity  of  am- 
monia, produces  a  precipitate  which  soon  re-dissolves  in  the 
alkaline  fluid.  In  moist  air  it  attracts  moisture  and  exhales  a 
peculiar  odor.  B  B,  it  intumesces  and  gives  off  water;  con- 
tracting, it  becomes  white  and  opake.  More  highly  heated,  it 
melts,  and  with  continued  bubbling,  gives  a  clear  white  glass. 
With  its  bulk  of  soda,  it-gives  a  glass  which  is  clear  and  col- 
orless while  hot,  but  becomes  opake  and  crystalline  on  cool- 
ing. It  encloses  fragments  of  argillaceous  slate  with  brilliant 
and  perfect  crystals  of  Glauberite,  which  are  sometimes  pene- 
trated by  the  fibres  of  the  borate. 

This  is  the  first  known  occurrence  of  this  rare  salt  in  the 
mineral  kingdom.  It  is  found  associated  with  various  other 
saline  substances,  in  the  Province  of  Tarapaca,  Peru,  and  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Blake,  to  whom  we 
are  indebted  for  much  new  and  valuable  information  in  rela- 
tion to  the  rich  mineral  districts  of  Chili  and  Peru. 


*  Named  in  honor  of  the  analyst. 

|  Borocalcite,  alluding  to  the  composition  of  the  mineral. 


CLASS   V. 

ACIDIFEROUS    ALKALINE   MINERALS 


UNDER  this  head  are  included  such  minerals  as  consist 
chiefly  of  an  alkali  united  with  an  acid;  but  several  of  them 
are  very  impure  in  their  native  state. 


NITRATE   OF    POTASH. 

Nitre,  Naturlischer  Salpeter,  W.    Potasse  Nitratee,  H.     Prismatic  Nitre,  J.    Prismatic 
Nitre  Suit,  M.    Nitrum  rhombicum,  D. 

Consists  of  potash  46'46,  nitric  acid  53-54 ;  or  one  atom  of 
potash,  and  one  of  acid.      Formula  :  KNt. 
Sp.  Gr.  l-9  —  2'O. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about  60°  and 
120°.  Occurs  in  crusts,  and  in  capillary  crystals,  of  which 
the  forms  are  not  discernible  ;  it  is  whitish  or  yellow  ;  is  trans- 
lucent or  transparent ;  brittle ;  saline,  and  cooling  to  the  taste  ; 
it  deflagrates  when  placed  on  a  hot  coal,  and  detonates  with 
combustible  substances. 

It  occurs  on  or  near  the  surface  of  the  earth,  on  old  walls, 
&c.  In  Hungary,  Persia,  Arabia,  Egypt,  and  in  many  of  the 
plains  of  Spain,  it  is  found  in  considerable  quantities.  It  is 
also  common  in  India,  especially  on  a  large  plain  near  Agra 
in  Bengal.  The  mountainous  regions  of  Kentucky,  which  are 
calcareous  and  full  of  caverns,  afford  it  to  the  inhabitants  of 
North  America.  In  South  America,  the  plains  bordering  the 
sea,  near  Lima,  are  covered  with  it.  It  is  not  however  pro- 
duced naturally  to  an  extent  sufficient  for  its  multiplied  uses ; 
and  is  therefore  principally  procured  artificially  from  the  de- 
composition of  animal  and  vegetable  substances. 

Nitre  is  employed  in  medicine,  the  arts,  and  in  metallurgy 
for  assisting  the  processes  of  oxidating  and  smelting ;  but  its 


320  ACIDIFEROUS    ALKALINE    MINERALS. 

principal,  if  not  its  chief  use,  is  in  the  manufacture  of  gunpow- 
der, for  which  that  imported  from  Egypt  is  most  esteemed,  as 
it  contains  the  least  calcareous  matter.  Gunpowder  consists  of 
seventy-six  parts  of  nitre,  nine  of  sulphur,  and  fifteen  of  light 
charcoal.  This  salt  has  been  found  in  several  of  the  large 
caves  which  occur  in  the  limestone  in  the  Southern  and  West- 
ern States,  particularly  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky. 


SULPHATE    OF     POTASH. 

Prismatoidal  Glauber  Salt,  M.    Aphthitalite,  Shep.    Potasse  Sulphate,  H. 

Sp.  Gr.  1731.     H.  =  25  — 3-0. 

Massive ;  mammillary,  apparently  formed  in  successive  layers. 
Color  white  or  yellow,  with  certain  bluish  or  greenish  stains. 
Lustre  vitreous  ;  translucent;  taste  saline  and  bitter  ;  cleavage 
and  fracture  indistinct.  Consists  of  sulphate  of  potash,  with 
a  trace  of  sulphate  and  muriate  of  copper. 

The  artificial  crystals  present  Right  rhombic  prisms,  having 
their  acute  angles  replaced,  so  as  to  form  dihedral  summits; 
they  consist  of  sulphuric  acids  45  93,  and  potash  54*07 ;  they 
decrepitate  when  heated,  and  fuse  at  an  increased  temperature. 


edge  x  on  that  opposite  120°  29' 

P  on  P 132    32 

don  d  .  .  112      8 


The  natural  salt  has  been  met  with  in  a  state  of  sublima- 
tion surrounding  the  fumaroles  of  volcanoes,  and  particularly 
at  Vesuvius. 

CARBONATE  OF  SODA. 

Natron,*  Beudant.    Naturlisches  Mineralalkali,  W.    Soude  Carbonatee,  H.     Prismatic 
Natron,  J.    Prismatic  Natron  Salt,  M.    Natron  efflorescens,  D. 

Combination  of  the  following  substances,  according  to  the 
analyses  by  Beudant  here  recorded. 

Hungary.  Egypt.  Vesuvius. 

Soda 50-2 13-8 ...46-7 

Carbonic  acid 35-1 30-9 32-3 

Water 14-7 13-5 14-0 

Sulphate  of  soda 0-0 7-3 0-0 

Chloride  of  sodium 0-0 31 "  2-7 

Earthy  matter 0-0 1-4 \\\\  5. 

100-0  100-0  ~l(JH) 

*  Natron ;  from  the  desert  of  Natron,  where  it  is  said  to  have  been  anciently  collected. 


ACID1FEROUS   ALKALINE    MINERALS.  321 

Formula  by  Beudant :  NC2+Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-5.     H.  =  1-0  — 1-5. 

It  is  found  crystallized,  massive,  fibrous,  and  sometimes  ra- 
diated, in  crusts,  and  efflorescent.  Primary  form,  according 
to  Haiiy  and  Beudant,  an  octahedron  with  a  rhombic  base ; 
but  the  form  produced  by  dissolving  and  re-crystallizing  arti- 
ficially, is  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  ;  P  on  M  or  M'  108°  43', 
M  on  M  76°  12'.  When  fresh,  the  massive  is  compact  or 
granular,  of  a  glistening  lustre,  and  translucent,  but  on  expo- 
sure it  becomes  opake.  Color  grey  or  yellowish-white  ;  taste 
urinous  and  saline.  It  effervesces  with  acids,  is  very  soluble 
in  water,  and  melts  readily  B  B.  It  communicates  a  yellow 
tint  to  the  flame  of  alcohol,  by  which  it  can  be  distinguished 
from  carbonate  of  potash.  It  effloresces  in  the  air. 

The  natural  crystals  of  this  species  are  rarely  found  distinct. 
Being  a  salt  which  loses  its  water  on  exposure  to  a  dry  atmos- 
phere, it  occurs  most  frequently  in  the  state  of  efflorescent  pow- 
der on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  at  the  sides  of  lake,  or  in  natu- 
ral caverns.  In  the  plain  of  Debretzin  in  Hungary,  it  appears 
during  the  heat  of  summer  in  saline  efflorescences  like  heaps 
of  snow  ;  also  in  Bohemia,  and  Italy.  It  is  likewise  met  with 
either  dissolved  in  the  water  of  certain  hot  springs,  as  those  of 
Carlsbad  in  Bohemia  and  Rykum  in  Iceland,  or  in  some  lakes, 
as  the  soda  lakes  of  Egypt.  In  South  America,  according  to 
Mr.  Blake,  it  is  found  near  Pica  in  Peru,  and  at  several  places 
on  the  eastern  border  of  that  portion  of  the  Desert  of  Atacama 
which  lies  in  Bolivar. 

The  natron  both  of  Egypt  and  Hungary  is  imported  in  pul- 
verulent masses  of  a  dirty-grey  color.  Its  chief  employment 
is  in  the  manufacture  of  soap,  but  it  enters  also  into  the  com- 
position of  glass,  and  is  used  in  dyeing,  bleaching,  &,c. 

TRONA. 

Urao,  Beudant.    Trona,  Haidinger.     (Edinburgh  Jour,  of  Science,  ii.  325.)     Prismatic 
Natron,  J.    Hemi-prismatic  Natron  Salt,  M.    Natron  permanens,  D. 

Combination  of  soda,  carbonic  acid,  and  water. 

Crystallized.  p^ous.  Columbia. 

Barbary. 

Soda 37-43 38-62 41-22 

Carbonic  acid.... 39-27 40-13 39-00 

Water 23-28 21-24 18-20 

Foreign  matter  ..  0-00 0-00 0-! 

99-93  Beudant.       99-99  Boussingault.  109-00  Rivero. 

The  above  numbers  correspond  with  the  formula,  NC^+SAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-112.     H.z=25  —  275. 
Primary  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  132°  30'  and  47°  30'. 


322  ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINE    MINERALS. 


n  on  n 132°  30' 

M  on  T 103     15 

TionT 103    45 


Cleavage  perfect  and  easily  obtained  parallel  to  M.  Surface 
of  n  and  M  smooth,  of  T  generally  striated  horizontally.  Sel- 
dom in  distinct  crystals.  Color  white,  inclining  to  yellowish- 
grey  when  impure.  Transparent  when  in  minute  crystals, 
translucent  in  large  masses;  streak  white  ;  taste  pungent  and 
alkaline;  fracture  uneven;  rather  brittle.  Soluble  in  water, 
though  less  so  than  natron.  This  substance  is  distinguished 
from  the  preceding  not  only  in  crystalline  form,  but  in  superior 
specific  gravity  and  hardness  ;  in  being  more  difficultly  soluble 
in  water,  and  in  its  taste  being  less  intensely  alkaline;  neither 
does  it  deliquesce  as  natron  does,  and  it  may  be  preserved  for 
any  length  of  time  unchanged  in  a  dry  atmosphere. 

It  occurs  in  the  province  of  Sukena  in  Egypt,  forming  a  thin 
stratum  in  muriate  of  soda  ;  also  in  Barbary,  and  in  Maracaibo 
and  Columbia  in  South  America.  Trona  is  its  African,  Urao 
its  American  name. 

In  the  valleys  of  the  Bolivian  Andes,  it  was  found  by  Mr. 
Blake  in  the  waters  of  the  small  lakes,  and  encrusting  the  soil. 
At  Payta,  in  the  southern  part  of  Peru,  it  forms  beds  of  con- 
siderable extent,  as  also  in  the  Province  of  Buenos  Ayres  at 
Caracal,  and  resembles  that  from  Africa.  In  Peru  it  is  known 
by  the  Indian  name  of  Colpa. 

SULPHATE  OF  SODA. 

Glauber  Salt.    Naturlfeches  Gkubersalz,  W.    Soude  Sulphatee,  H.    Prismatic  Glauber 
bait,  M.  J.    Exantholose,  Beudant.    Picralum  Glauberium,  D. 

Vesuvius.  Hildesheim. 

Contains  Soda 35-0 3:5-4 

Sulphuric  acid. .  ..44-8 42-5 

Water 20-2 18-8 

Earthy  matter....  0-0 5-3 

100-0  Beudant      100-0  Beudant. 

Formula  by  Beudant :  NSl3+2Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-47. 
Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  99°  36'  and  80°  24'. 

Sulphate  of  soda  is  found  in  efflorescences  of  a  yellow  or 
greyish-white  color,  or  in  an  earthy  form,  but  is  more  com- 
monly dissolved  in  certain  mineral  waters;  translucent  or 


ACIDIFEROUS    ALKALINE   MINERALS.  323 

opake;  lustre  vitreous  on  the  fresh  fracture,  dull  on  the  sur- 
face ;  extremely  efflorescent,  and  falling  spontaneously  into 
powder.  It  is  cooling,  bitter  and  saline  to  the  taste,  and  is 
usually  met  with  in  the  neighborhood  of  rock-salt  or  brine 
springs.  B  B,  in  the  matrass  it  melts  in  its  water  of  compo- 
sition. 

Sulphate  of  soda  is  found  in  the  salt  mines  of  Upper  Austria, 
Hungary,  and  Switzerland;  near  Madrid  in  efflorescences  at 
the  bottom  of  a  ravine ;  at  Grenoble  in  France ;  in  the  work- 
ings of  old  mines,  and  sometimes  on  old  walls,  in  the  same 
manner  as  nitre.  It  is  an  ingredient  of  the  hot  springs  of 
Carlsbad,  Eger,  and  Sedlitz  in,  Bohemia.  Mixed  with  com- 
mon salt,  sand,  and  gypsum,  sulphate  of  soda  forms  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  desert  of  Atacama  in  the  western  part  of  Boli- 
var ;  and  in  the  northern  part  of  Peru,  with  nitrate  of  soda  and 
common  salt,  it  forms  beds  several  feet  in  thickness,  which 
cover  a  surface  of  several  hundred  square  miles. — Blake. 
When  purified  of  the  iron  with  which  it  is  usually  tinged  in 
the  native  state,  or  when  prepared  artificially,  it  is  used  in 
medicine  under  the  name  of  Glauber's  Salt. 

THENARDITE. 

Jfecker.    Picralum  Thenardianum,  D. 

Anhydrous  sulphate  of  soda,  mixed  with  a  minute  proportion 
of  the  sub-carbonate  of  soda.  Sulphate  of  soda  99'78,  sub-car- 
bonate of  soda  0'22. — Casaseca.  Specific  gravity  2'73.  Pri- 
mary form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about  125°  and  55°.  Oc- 
curs in  rhombic  octahedrons,  simple,  or  modified  on  the  summit, 
which  are  grouped  one  upon  another.  Cleavage  parallel  to  the 
faces  of  the  prism  ;  most  distinct  parallel  to  its  base.  Color 
white  or  reddish  ;  transparent  or  translucent.  Superficially 
efflorescent.  B  B,  in  the  matrass,  yields  no  water.  Soluble  in 
water.  This  substance  occurs  in  crystalline  coatings  at  the 
bottom  of  certain  lakes,  at  a  place  called  Les  Salines  Espartines, 
five  leagues  from  Madrid,  and  two  and  a  half  from  Aranjuez ; 
where  it  is  collected  for  the  fabrication  of  artificial  sub-carbo- 
nate of  soda.  This  mineral  has  also  been  discovered  by  Mr. 
Blake  in  Peru,  near  Tarapaca,  and  in  Bolivar,  forming  veins 
in  the  sandstone  and  gypsum,  and  often  crystallized  in  small 
rhombic  prisms. 

NITRATE  OF  SODA. 

Zootinsalz,  Breithaupt.    Soude  Nitratee,  Meeker.    Nitrum  rhombohedron,  D. 

It  usually  occurs  mixed  with  other  salts,  as  shown  by  the 
analyses  of  the  specimens  from  Peru,  as  given  on  the  next  page. 


324  AC1DIFEROUS   ALKALINE    MINERALS. 

Consists  of  Soda 45-03 37-2 

Nitric  acid 54-97 62-8 

100-00  100-0  Gmelin. 

The  last  analysis  gives  almost  exactly  one  atom  acid  and 
one  atom  borax.  Formula:  NNt. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-1.     H.  =  1'5  — 2-0. 

Primary  form  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  about  106°  and  74°  ; 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  primary.  This  salt  appears 
occasionally  as  an  efflorescence,  sometimes  crystallized,  more 
often  intermixed  with  clay  and  sand  ;  to  the  taste  it  is  cool  and 
bitter;  it  is  deliquescent;  and  when  exposed  on  heated  char- 
coal it  melts  and  deflagrates.  It  is  described  by  Mr.  Blake 
as  occurring  in  extensive  beds  resting  on  marl  containing  frag- 
ments of  shells,  on  the  western  border  of  the  Pampa  of  Tame- 
rugal,  province  of  Tarapaca,  in  Peru.  The  average  depth  of 
the  beds  is  four  feet.  The  mass  is  not  a  pure  nitrate  of  soda, 
but  consists  of  variable  proportions  of  sulphate  of  soda  and 
common  salt,  with  iodate  of  soda  and  chloro-iodate  of  soda, 
as  appears  by  the  analyses  of  Messrs.  Hayes  and  Blake.  The 
mixed  salt  is  termed  caliche.  It  possesses  a  granular  struc- 
ture, some  specimens  resembling  pure  refined  sugar,  while 
others  are  reddish-brown,  common  yellow,  and  grey.  These 
mixed  salts  gave  the  following  results : 

Peru.  Peru.  Peru.  Peru. 

Nitrate  of  soda 64-98 64-00 70-20 94-291 

Sulphate  of  soda 3-00 225 5-65 Sulphate  of  potash 0-239 

Sulphate  of  magnesia..  0-00 2-75 0-00 Nitrate  of  potash 0-426 

Chloride  of  sodium 28-69 29-31) 20  70 1  -990 

lodic  salts 0-63 0-00 2-20 Nitrate  of  magnesia... .  0-858 

Sheila  and  Marl 2-60 0-50 1-05 Water 1-993 

Sand 0-203 


99-90*          98-80f         99-80};  100-000$ 

In  1837,  150,000  quintals  of  refined  nitrate  of  soda  were 
shipped  from  the  port  of  Yquique. 

Large  cavities  in  the  beds  are  often  met  with  which  contain 
large  and  regular  crystals  of  nearly  pure  nitrate  of  soda. 

BORATE  OF  SODA. 

Boraxsaures  Natron,  L.    Soude  Dora  tee,  H.    Prismatic  Borax  Salt.  M.    Biborate  of  Soda. 
Borax.    Tincai.    Borax  obliquns,  D. 

Contains,  by  Klaproth's  analysis,  soda  14-5,  boracic  acid 
37-0,  water  47'0.  Formula:  NB2 

Sp.  Gr.  1-74.     H.r=2-0  —  2-5. 


*  By  M£  "ayes'  average  specimen  taken  from  numerous  beds.-  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science, 

XXMX.  p.  O/O. 

+  %  Mu  BwkeiJ  ,P?rtiOIL  ofa.white  compact  mass  from  Almonte. 

j  Also  by  Mr.  Blake.     Specimen  of  a  brown  yellow  color  from  Molina. 

$  Analysis  by  Horstetter.—  Rammelsberg's  Handwbrterbuch.—  Supplement  p  103. 


ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINE   MINERALS. 


325 


Tincal  occurs  in  prismatic  crystals,  variously  terminated, 
and  yielding  to  mechanical  division  parallel  to  the  lateral  planes 
of  the  primary  form — an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  86°  30'  and 
93°  30' — and  both  its  diagonals.  The  crystals  are  whitish,  oc- 
casionally possess  a  tinge  of  blue  or  green,  and  vary  from 
translucent  or  nearly  transparent,  to  opake.  Taste  feebly  al- 
kaline ;  soft  and  brittle.  B  B,  it  intumesces  violently  and  then 
fuses  into  a  transparent  globule. 


TJL 


M  on  M  . 
P  on  M  or 
M  or  M'  01 

M'  on  k  . 

]V 

i 

I' 
h 

86° 
101 
133 
136 
138 

30' 
30 
20 
45 
12 

Ponh  . 

gl 
--*2 

e  . 
e  on  g2  . 

106 
139 
115 
114 
141 

30 
15 

30 
28 
52 

Tincal  is  chiefly  brought  from  Thibet,  where  it  is  found  on 
the  surface  of  the  soil  in  the  vicinity  and  at  the  bottom  of  cer- 
tain lakes.  It  is  mentioned  likewise  from  the  province  of  Po- 
tosi  in  Peru.  The  borax  in  its  crude  state  is  called  tincal,  and 
is  brought  to  Europe  in  the  form  of  a  brownish-grey  impure 
salt,  or  in  detached  crystals  resembling  the  above  figure. 

It  is  employed  as  a  flux  in  several  metallurgical  processes, 
and  in  the  manufacture  of  solder. 


CHLORIDE  OF  SODIUM. 

Hexahedral  Rock  Salt,  M.  J.    Steinsalz,  Leonhard.    Sal  Alare>  Beudant,    Sel  Gemme, 
JVecker.    Chloride  of  Sodium.     Sal  cubicum,  D. 

Rock-salt  is  anhydrous,  or  contains  no  water  of  crystalliza- 
tion, and  when  pure,  consists  of  chlorine  59'5,  and  sodium  40-5, 
or  one  atom  of  each  element.  It  was  formerly  regarded  as  a 
compound  of  muriatic  acid  and  soda.  The  Cheshire  rock-salt 
contains,  by  Henry's  analyses,  nearly  two  per  ct.  of  impurities  ; 
viz.  sulphate  of  lime,  chloride  of  calcium,  and  chloride  of 
magnesium,  Sp.  Gr.  2'3.  H.  ±=2-0.  It  occurs  in  beds  or 
masses;  sometimes  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  cube,  which  , 
is  that  of  its  primary  crystal,  and  into  which,  when  pure,  it  may 
readily  be  cleaved ;  lustre  vitreous  ;  translucent  or  transparent ; 
when  pure,  colorless  or  white;  but  when  with  any  foreign 
admixture,  reddish-brown,  brick-red,  violet-blue,  and  green. 
28 


326  AC1DEFEROUS   ALKALINE    MINERALS. 

It  yields  with  facility  to  the  knife ;  and  when  scratched  with 
the  nail  receives  an  impression,  but  yields  no  powder.  It  at- 
tracts moisture,  but  remains  unaltered  in  a  dry  atmosphere. 
It  has  sometimes,  though  rarely,  a  fibrous  texture. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 90°  00'  II. 

P,  P',  or  P",  on  a  ....  125     15  — 
a  on  a 109     28- 


Chloride  of  sodium  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  substances 
in  nature.  Not  only  is  it  found  in  large  beds  and  masses,  but 
also  in  the  waters  of  certain  springs  and  lakes,  and  in  those  of 
every  sea.  It  forms  about  one-thirtieth  part  of  the  waters  of 
the  ocean. 

Rock-salt  is  commonly  disposed  in  thick  beds,  either  super- 
ficially, as  in  Africa,  or  at  a  very  great  depth,  as  in  Poland ; 
sometimes  also  at  a  high  level,  as  in  the  Cordilleras  of  America, 
and  in  Savoy,  where  it  occurs  at  an  elevation  equal  to  that  of 
perpetual  snow. 

Its  principal  European  deposits  are  the  salt-mines  of  Wie- 
liczka  in  Poland,  where  perfect  cubes  are  frequently  met  with  ; 
the  Saltzkammergut  in  Upper  Austria,  Hallein  in  Saltzburg, 
and  Hall  in  the  Tyrol,  in  which  it  is  accompanied  with,  and 
imbedded  in  clay,  gypsum,  and  other  extraneous  matter  ;  and 
Northwich  in  Cheshire,  where  it  occasionally  presents  pure, 
transparent,  and  highly  cleavable  specimens.  All  these  depo- 
sits afford  extensive  supplies  for  culinary  and  other  economic 
purposes,  though  generally  in  a  state  so  far  from  pure  as  to 
render  the  process  of  solution  and  subsequent  evaporation  in- 
dispensable. 

In  Peru,  Bolivar  and  Chili,  this  salt  often  appears  in  thin 
crusts  on  the  surface  mixed  with  other  salts,  and  also  in  exten- 
sive beds.  On  the  Pampa  of  Tamarugal  in  the  southern  part 
of  Peru,  round  masses  of  rock-salt,  five  or  six  feet  in  diameter, 
lie  piled  one  above  another  to  the  depth  of  several  feet,  present- 
ing a  rough,  white  and  dazzling  surface  extending  for  several 
leagues.  They  are  used  by  the  inhabitants  in  constructing 
their  houses.  In  some  places  it  is  of  a  deep  red  colour,  but  in 
the  vicinity  of  Pisco  it  is  sufficiently  pure  for  the  ordinary  pur- 
poses to  which  it  is  applied.  Fine  crystallized  specimens,  re- 
markable for  transparency,  were  found  in  the  Bolivian  Andes. 
— Blake.  According  to  Dana  very  beautiful  crystals  of  cubic 
salt  are  found  at  the  Ewa  Salt  Lake,  Oahu.  In  the  United 


ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINE    MINERALS.  327 

States  the  numerous  salt  springs  are  supposed  to  have  their 
origin  from  the  solution  of  rock-salt,  but  we  have  had  no  well 
authenticated  account  of  its  occurrence  in  any  other  form  until 
very  recently.  In  the  American  Journal  of  Science,  vol.  xli, 
the  Editors  have  announced  the  discovery  of  this  valuable  sub- 
stance in  Washington  county,  Virginia,  where  it  is  found  in 
the  midst  of  salt  springs,  and  is  accompanied  by  gypsum.  "  It 
is  highly  crystalline  in  its  structure,  and  excepting  its  red 
colour,  derived  from  iron,  and  occasionally  fragments  of  rock 
mixed  with  it,  appears  to  be  very  pure.  Some  of  the  specimens 
are  perfectly  white."  In  the  Journal  of  the  Exploring  Tour 
of  the  Rev.  Samuel  Parker  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains,  we 
are  assured  of  its  occurrence  in  the  saliferous  sandstone  bor- 
dering on  Salmon  River,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Great  Salt 
Lake,  whose  waters  are  so  strongly  saturated  that  crystals  form 
upon  the  shore.* 

NATIVE  DECREPITATING  ROCK-SALT. t  It  is  well  known  that 
ordinary  rock-salt  does  not  decrepitate  by  exposure  to  heat, 
which  seems  to  indicate  that  it  was  not  deposited  from  an  aque- 
ous solution,  because  all  the  marine  salt  obtained  in  this  way 
possesses  the  property  of  decrepitating.  There  exists  however 
in  the  mines  of  Wieliczka,  a  rock-salt  which  decrepitates, 
and  which  has  been  examined  by  Dumas,  H.  Rose,  and  by 
Berzelius,  and  proved  to  contain  cavities  filled  with  compressed 
gases.  When  the  salt  is  dissolved  in  water,  as  the  covering 
over  these  vesicles  become  thinner  and  thinner,  they  at  last  burst, 
and  the  gasses  escape  with  violence.  This  fact  was  first  ob- 
served by  M.  Dumas.  M.  Rose  ascertained  that  the  quantity 
of  these  gases  disengaged,  varied  in  different  specimens,  and  on 
analysis,  he  found  in  100  volumes,  24  volumes  of  pure  hydro- 
gen, 17  of  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  59  of  carburetted  hydrogen. 
Berzelius  supposes  that  it  contains  besides,  carbonic  acid 
which  remains  dissolved  in  the  water.  This  salt  is  not  describ- 
ed as  differing  in  any  other  respect  from  common  mineral  salt. 
M.  Rose  is  inclined  to  refer  the  decrepitation  of  several  other 
minerals  to  the  same  cause. 


SULPHATE  OF  AMMONIA. 

Mascagnin,  Karsten.    Ammoniaque  Sulphate,  H.    Picralum  volcanicum,  D. 

Contains  ammonia22'80,  sulphuric  acid  53*29,  water  23-91. 

— Gmelin.       Chemical  formula  by  Berzelius,  NH6+S+2Aq. 

Sulphate  of  ammonia  has  an  acrid,  bitter  taste.     Its  color  is 

*  Journal,  second  edition,  p.  114.          t  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1840,  p.  139. 


328  ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINE   MINERALS. 

greyish  or  yellow,  and  it  generally  occurs  stalactitic,  pulveru- 
lent, or  in  mealy  efflorescences  ;  translucent  or  opake;  attracts 
moisture  from  the  atmosphere,  and  is  entirely  volatile  at  a  high 
temperature.  It  is  found  in  the  fissures  of  the  earth,  and 
among  the  lavas  of  Etna  and  Vesuvius  ;  in  the  Solfatara  ;  and 
in  the  lagune  near  Sienna  in  Tuscany. 

MURIATE  OF  AMMONIA. 

Sal  Ammoniac.     Naturlicher  Salmiak,  W.     Ammoniaque  Muriatce,  H.      Octahedral 
Ammoniac  Salt,  M.  J.     Picralum  octahedrum,  D. 

When  pure,  it  consists  of  ammonia  32-06,  muriatic  acid 
51*16,  water  16'78;  or  by  the  Formula  as  given  by  Berzelius, 
NH6M2+Aq.  Two  varieties  yielded  to  Klaproth, 

Vesuvius.  Bucharia. 

Muriate  of  ammonia 99-5 97-5 

Sulphate  of  ammonia 0-5 2'5 

1000  100-0 

Sp.  Gr.  1-45  to  1-5.     H.  =  1'5  —  2  0. 

Primary  form  the  Regular  octahedron.  It  occurs  massive; 
with  a  fibrous  texture  ;  plumose;  in  crusts  ;  and  in  octahedral 
crystals  of  a  minute  size.  Color,  when  pure,  white,  grey,  or 
yellow  ;  generally  pungent  and  saline  to  the  taste ;  transparent 
or  opake;  externally  dull  or  glistening;  internally  shining  and 
vitreous.  This  salt  is  readily  soluble  in  water,  but  does  not 
attract  moisture  on  exposure  to  the  air.  It  is  completely  vola- 
tile at  a  high  temperature,  rising  in  white  fumes ;  and  emits, 
when  triturated  with  lime,  a  pungent  ammoniacal  odor. 

It  is  principally  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  volcanoes, 
sublimed  among  other  volatile  substances,  in  the  cracks  and 
fissures  of  lava.  It  thus  occurs  at  Etna  and  Vesuvius,  in  the 
island  of  Volcano,  and  at  the  Solfatara  near  Naples.  Small 
quantities  have  been  noticed  in  the  vicinity  of  ignited  coal 
seams,  as  at  St.  Etienne  in  France,  in  Scotland,  and  Newcastle. 
A  variety  presenting  a  greyish-white  color,  and  conchoid al 
fracture,  is  mentioned  as  occurring  with  sulphur,  in  rocks  of 
indurated  clay  or  clay-slate  in  Bucharia.  Though  extensively 
employed  in  dyeing  and  in  medicine,  this  salt  is  of  trifling  im- 
portance as  found  in  nature,  from  its  scarcity. 


CLASS   VI. 


ACIDIFEROUS    ALK ALINO-E ARTHY 
MINERALS. 


THE  mineral  substances  included  under  this  head  are  few  in 
number. 

POTASH-ALUM. 

Naturlischer  Alaun,  W.     Alumine  Sulfatee  Alkaline,  H.    Octahedral  Alum,  J.    Octahe- 
dral Alum  Salt,  M.    Alaun,  L.    Alumen  officinale,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphate  of  alumina,  sulphate  of  potash,  and 
water ;  and  contains  alumina  10*82,  potash  9'94,  sulphuric  acid 
33-77,  water  45'47—  Gmelin.  Formula  :  3AlSJ+KSl+25Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  1  75.  H.  =  l-5. 

Primary  form  the  octahedron,  though  it  chiefly  occurs  in 
fibrous  masses,  or  as  an  efflorescence  on  argillaceous  minerals, 
as  alum-slate,  alum-stone,  &c.  Color  white  or  greyish ;  lustre 
vitreous,  transparent  or  translucent;  to  the  taste  sweetish, 
styptic,  and  acidulous.  When  artificially  prepared,  it  crystal- 
lizes in  the  octahedron,  and  in  some  of  its  varieties.  It  is 
soluble  in  about  twenty  times  its  weight  of  cold,  and  little  more 
than  its  own  weight  of  boiling  water.  On  exposure  to  heat  it 
melts  in  its  water  of  crystallization,  froths  up  in  a  remarkable 
manner,  and  is  converted  into  a  spongiform  mass  of  anhydrous 
alum. 

It  is  found  on  the  alum-slate  rocks  near  Christiana  in  Nor- 
way :  in  strata  of  brown  coal  in  Bohemia ;  on  the  lavas  of 
Stromboli,  Nevis,  and  other  volcanoes ;  in  bituminous  shale  and 
slate-clay  at  Hurlet  near  Paisley  :  and  near  Whitby  in  Yorkshire. 

Alum  in  white  nearly  pulverulent  masses,  and  also  crystal- 
28* 


330  ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS. 

lized  sometimes  with  sulphur,  occurs  at  Lua  Pele,  Hawaii. 
In  the  United  States  it  has  numerous  localities  as  efflorescences, 
on  the  surfaces  of  rocks. 

It  is  used  in  dyeing,  in  medicine,  in  the  manufacture  of 
paper  and  leather,  and  for  the  prevention  of  putrefaction. 


ALUM-STONE. 

Alunite,  JVec&er.     Alaunstein,  W.      Rhombohedral  Alum   Haloide,   M.     Rhomboidal 
Alumstone,  J.    Aluminus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid,  alumina,  potash,  and  water. 

Crystallized,  Tolfa.        Montione. 

Sulphuric  acid 35-49 35-6 

Alumina 39-05 40-0 

Potash 10-00 13-8 

Water 14-83 10-6 

99-97  Cordier.      100-0  Descotils. 

Formula  as  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson  from  the  first  analysis  : 
3Al3Sl+KSl+8Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  27  — 275.     H.  —  5'0. 

The  color  of  this  mineral  is  usually  greyish-white,  occasion- 
ally red;  and  it  occurs  both  massive  and  crystallized,  the 
crystals  generally  occupying  the  cavities  of  the  mass  ;  they  are 
minute,  shining,  and  sometimes  brownish  externally ;  their 
form  is  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  92°  50'  and  87°  ID7;  but  the 
rhomboid  is  variously  modified,  one  or  more  of  the  solid  angles 
being  generally  replaced.  Cleavage  distinct  perpendicular  to 
the  axis.  The  massive  is  translucent  and  easily  frangible, 
being  frequently  mixed  mechanically  with  silica,  and  appearing 
cellular  and  porous.  It  decrepitates  under  the  blowpipe,  but 
does  not  fuse  per  se.  With  borax  it  forms  a  transparent  color- 
less globule,  but  is  not  affected  by  soda ;  when  pounded  it  is 
soluble  in  sulphuric  acid. 


P  on  P' 92°  50' 

P  or  P'  on  P"  .  .  87     10 


It  occurs  well  crystallized  in  a  secondary  rock  at  Tolfa,  near 
Civita  Vecchia,  in  the  Roman  States  ;  decomposed  and  friable 
at  the  Isle  of  Nevis,  and  in  the  crater  of  Volcano;  and  so 
compact  and  hard  at  Beregh  in  Hungary,  as  to  be  there  em- 
ployed in  the  formation  of  millstones. 


AC1DIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  331 

POLYHALLITE.* 

Stromeyer,  (Untersuchungen,  i.  144.)    Bloedite,  John.     Gzealum  columnare,  D. 

Sulphate  of  lime 44-74 

Sulphate  of  magnesia 20-03 

Sulphate  of  potash 27-70 

Chloride  of  sodium 0-19 

Oxide  of  iron 0-33 

Water 5-95 

98-44  Stromeyer. 

Formula :  2CalSl+MgSl+KSH-2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-77.     H.=:2-5— •  3-0. 

In  masses,  which  are  either  compact,  or  present  a  fibrous 
texture,  the  fibres  being  parallel  and  mostly  curved.  Of  a 
brick-  or  flesh-red  color,  and  somewhat  translucent ;  brittle ; 
has  a  resinous  or  pearly  lustre;  taste  bitter  and  astringent, 
but  very  faint.  It  is  slightly  acted  upon  by  exposure  to  a 
moist  atmosphere,  but  its  solubility  in  water  is  very  inconsider- 
able. In  the  flame  of  a  candle  it  immediately  forms  an  opake 
brownish-colored  mass;  and  melts  instantaneously  under  the 
blowpipe. 


The  adjacent  faces  )  , ,  - 

o  too  about         ) l 


It  is  found  at  Ischel  and  Aussee,  in  Upper  Austria,  in  beds 
of  rock-salt,  and  at  Hall  in  the  Tyrol.  The  mineral  noticed 
by  Leonhard  under  the  name  of  Bloedit  (after  the  Dresden 
mineralogist  Bloede)  as  occurring  at  Ischel  with  the  polyhallite, 
and  described  as  being  soft,  of  a  close  fibrous  texture,  of  a 
color  between  flesh-  and  brick-red,  as  transparent  and  brilliant, 
but  losing  both  these  characters  by  exposure,  —  is  probably 
only  an  impure  variety  of  this  species. — Allan's  Manual. 


CRYOLITE.t 

Kryolith   W.    Alumine  Fluatee  Alkaline,  H.    Prismatic  Cryone  Haloide,  M.    Prismatic 
Cryolite,  J.    Soda  Fluate  of  Alumina.     Cryalus  fusilis,  D. 

Combination  of  fluoric  acid,  soda,  and  alumina. 

*From  the  Greek  no/lag,  cd$,  signifying  a  stone  of  many  salts ;  in  allusion  to  its 
composition. 
|  Cryolite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  fusibility,  —  to  its  melting,  B  B,  like  ice. 


332  ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

Alumina 24-0 24-40 

Soda 36-0 31-35 

Fluoric  acid.  ..40-0 44-25 

100-00  Vauquclin.  100-00  Bcrzclius. 

Composition,  as  given  by  Beudant,  conforming  to  the  chemi- 
cal formula  of  Berzelius:  2A1F13+3NF12. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-96.     H.  =  25  —  3-0. 

It  occurs  massive ;  white,  but,  when  associated  with  iron, 
yellow  or  brown ;  structure  perfectly  lamellar,  parallel  to  all 
the  planes  of  a  Right  rectangular  prism  ;  translucent,  but  by 
immersion  in  water  it  becomes  transparent,  and  admits  more 
readily  of  cleavage  when  retained  in  that  fluid  for  some  time. 
It  is  very  fusible,  dissolving  even  in  the  flame  of  a  taper.  B  B, 
on  charcoal,  it  melts  into  a  transparent  globule  while  hot,  but 
which  becomes  opake  on  cooling. 

The  only  known  locality  of  this  mineral  is  Arksut-fiord  in 
West  Greenland,  where  it  occurs  in  veins  in  gneiss,  accompa- 
nied with  carbonate  of  iron,  pyrites,  galena,  quartz,  and  felspar. 

GLAUBERITE.* 

Glauberite,  Bt.   H.  J.     Hemi-Prismatic  Brythino  Salt,  M.    Brogniartin,  L.     Ga-alum 
obliquum,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid,  lime,  and  soda,  without  water. 

Villa  Rubia. 

Sulphate  of  lime 49-0 

Sulphate  of  soda ,51-0 

100-0  Brogniart 

Formula:  CalSl+NSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  75  —  2  85.     H.  =  25  —  3*0. 

It  occurs  massive  ;  also  crystallized  in  the  form  of  oblique 
and  extremely  flat  rhombic  prisms,  the  crystals  being  for  the 
most  part  constituted  only  of  the  planes  P,  e,  and  e'  of  the  fol- 
lowing figure ;  but  they  yield  readily  to  mechanical  division, 
parallel  to  the  faces  P,  M,  and  M',  the  primary  form  being  an 
Oblique  rhombic  prism,  whose  terminal  planes  incline  from  one 
acute  edge  of  the  prism  to  the  other,  and  whose  lateral  angles 
are  alternately  83°  20'  and  96°  40'.  Color  pale  yellow  or  grey  ; 
translucent,  rarely  transparent;  taste  slightly  saline ;  lustre 
vitreous;  fracture  conchoidal :  when  immersed  in  water,  it 
becomes  opake  and  is  partly  soluble.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  and 
then  melts  into  a  white  enamel. 

*From  its  containing  a  very  large  proportion  of  Glauber's  salt,  or  sulphate  of  soda. 


ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY   MINERALS.  333 

M  on  M' 83°  20' 

P  on  M  or  M' 104  15 

e  or  e' 137  09 

/ 112  20 

M  or  M'  on/  .  .  • 131  35 

M  on  e  or  M'  on  e' 147  40 

e  on  e' 116  20 

e  or  e'  on/ 132  37 

It  is  found  at  Villa  Rubia,  ten  leagues  south  of  Madrid,  in 
Spain,  imbedded  in  rock-salt ;  also  at  Aussee  in  Upper  Austria. 
It  has  recently  been  found  by  Mr.  Blake  in  the  desert  of  Ata- 
cam  in  South  America,  in  minute  rhombic  prisms,  associated 
with  chloride  of  sodium.  Its  optical  properties,  according  to 
Sir  David  Brewster,  are  very  peculiar  —  having  one  axis  of 
double  refraction  for  violet,  arid  two  axes  for  red  light. 

REUSSITE. 

Soda  Sulphate  of  Magnesia.     Thomson. 

Sulphate  of  soda  66'04,  sulphate  of  magnesia  31 '35,  muriate 
of  magnesia  2*19,  sulphate  of  lime  0-42 —  Reuss. 

Occurs  in  mealy  efflorescences,  flat  six-sided  prisms,  and 
acicular  crystals.  Color  white,  shining  ;  fracture  conchoidal. 
Taste  saline  and  bitter  ;  soluble  in  water. 

This  substance  forms  superficial  efflorescences  in  the. vicinity 
of  Sedlitz  and  Seidschutz  in  Bohemia. 


SODA-ALUM, 

Thomson.    (Outlines,  &c.,  p.  306.) 

Contains,  by  Dr.  Thomson's  analyses,  sulphuric  acid  38'5, 
alumina  12'0,   soda  7'5,  water  42'0,  with  a  little  silica,  lime, 
iron,  and  manganese.     Formula  :  3A1S1+NS1+ 20Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-88.      H.  about  3-0. 

Occurs  in  white  fibrous  masses,  the  outer  fibres  opake  from 
decomposition,  internally  transparent,  and  exhibiting  a  glossy 
or  silky  aspect.  Resembles  alum  in  taste,  but  is  more  soluble 
in  water.  Exposed  to  heat  it  exhibits  the  same  phenomena  as 
common  alum.  It  bears  some  resemblance  to  fibrous  gypsum, 
but  is  harder,  not  being  scratched  by  the  nail. 

Is  found  in  irregular  nodules  resembling  fibrous  gypsum,  im- 
bedded in  soft  blue  slate,  at  St.  Juan  in  South  America ;  and 
Beudant  mentions  it  as  also  occurring  in  the  solfataras  of  Milo 
in  the  Archipelago. 


334  ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS. 

GAYLUSSITE.* 

Cordier.    Boussingaull.    (Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.  xxxi.  270.) 

Combination  of  carbonic  acid,  soda,  lime,  and  water. 

Carbonate  of  soda  .........  33-9G 

Carbonate  of  lime  .........  31-39 

Water  ...................  32-20 

Alumina  .................   1-00 

Carbonicacid  .............  1-45 

100-OOf 

These  products  divided  by  the  atomic  weights,  give  one 
atom  carbonate  of  soda,  one  atom  carbonate  of  lime,  six  atoms 
water.  Formula:  CalC+CalN+GAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-92—195.     H.  2-0  —  3-0. 

Occurs  in  detached  lengthened  prisms,  and  aggregated  crys- 
tals disseminated  in  clay;  the  less  perfect  of  them  might  be 
mistaken  for  selenite,  the  more  perfect  and  smooth  have  rather 
the  aspect  of  calcareous  spar.  Primary,  an  Oblique  rhombic 
prism  of  109°  30'  and  70°  30',  according  to  Beudant  ;  of  111° 
10'  and  68°  50',  according  to  Leonhard.  Surfaces  striated  ; 
limpid  and  colorless,  or  of  a  dirty  white;  transparent,  with 
marked  double  refraction  ;  or  translucent  ;  fracture  conchoi- 
dal,  with  a  vitreous  lustre  ;  very  brittle;  easily  reduced  to  a 
grey  powder,  and  soluble  with  brisk  effervescence  in  nitric  acid. 
When  reduced  to  powder,  is,  to  a  trifling  extent,  soluble  in 
water.  In  the  matrass  it  decrepitates  slightly,  gives  off  water, 
and  becomes  opake,  decrepitation  continuing  until  it  has  ac- 
quired a  red  heat.  B  B,  it  fuses  rapidly  into  an  opake  globule, 
which  has  a  distinctly  alkaline  taste. 

This  mineral  is  found  abundantly  at  Lagunilla  near  Merida, 
in  Maracaibo,  disseminated  at  the  bottom  of  a  lake  in  a  bed  of 
clay,  covering  trona,  which  the  natives  term  urao,  in  contradis- 
tinction to  the  gaylussite,  the  latter,  from  its  generally  elongated 
form,  being  denominated  clavos  or  nails.—  Allan's  Manual 


NATIVE  CARBONATE  OF  LIME  AND  SODA. 

Barruel.    (Ann.  of  Phil.  May,  1830.) 

Contains  Carbonate  of  lime  ............  70-0 

Carbonate  of  soda  .......  14-0 

Water....-  ..................  9.7 

Peroxide  of  iron  ..............  i-o 

Matrix  ......................  5.9 

99-7 

Sp.  Gr.  2-92.     H.  =  3'0  —  3-5. 

*In  honor  of  the  celebrated  French  chemist  Gay-Lussac. 

fFor  another  analyses  of  Gaylussite,  see  Ann.  de  Chi  et  de  Phys.  Avril,  1843. 


ACIDIFEROUS   ALKALINO-EARTHY    MINERALS.  335 

Primary  form  a  rhomb,  not  differing  materially  from  that  of 
calc-spar.  Cleavage  in  three  directions  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
the  primary.  Lustre  vitreous  ;  structure  laminated ;  fragments 
perfectly  transparent ;  possesses  double  refraction.  B  B,  it  de- 
crepitates a  little,  becomes  brown,  and  eventually  is  reduced 
to  lime.  Entirely  soluble,  and  with  effervescence,  in  nitric  acid. 

Locality  unknown. 

AMMONIA-ALUM. 

Ammonalum,  Necker  and  Beudant. 

Contains,  by  the  analyses  of  Gruner,  sulphuric  acid  33*682, 
alumina  10-750,  ammonia  3-619,  water  51-000.  Another 
specimen  from  Selenginsh,  in  the  government  of  Irkutsk, 
analyzed  by  M.  Komonen,*  sulphuric  acid  30-335,  Iime4'793, 
alumina  7'451,  oxide  of  iron  1-114,  ammonia  2'893,  water  and 
insoluble  matter  53-414. 

Consists  principally  of  sulphate  of  alumina  and  ammonia, 
but  the  proportions  vary  considerably  in  the  specimens  that 
have  been  analyzed. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-56.      H.  =  12. 

Lustre  resinous  and  shining ;  structure  fibrous ;  cross  frac- 
ture conchoidal ;  translucent  to  transparent ;  has  the  appear- 
ance of  alum,  is  soluble  in  water.  Its  color  is  greyish-white. 
It  occurs  in  fibrous  masses,  but  by  solution  and  evaporation 
yields  regular  octahedral  crystals. 

White  ;  taste  bitter.  B  B,  in  the  matrass  it  yields  water, 
intumesces,  and  forms  a  sublimation  of  the  sulphate  of  ammo- 
nia, which  is  soluble  in  water.  The  dried  mass  becomes  blue 
with  solution  of  cobalt. 

Occurs  in  the  lignite  of  Tschermig  in  Bohemia. 

*  Trans.  Imp.  Min.  Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  1842,  p.  58. 


CLASS    VII. 


NATIVE    METALS    AND    METALLIF- 
EROUS    MINERALS. 


THIS  class  includes  such  metals  as  are  found  nearly  pure  in 
the  native  state ;  or  variously  combined  with  other  substances, 
forming  metalliferous  ores ;  as,  with  other  metals,  with  sul- 
phur, with  oxygen ;  also  in  the  state  of  oxides,  minerallized 
by  acids.  We  begin  with  the  oldest  and  most  universally  dif- 
fused of  the  metals  —  iron. 


NATIVE  IRON. 

Gediegen  Eisen,  W.    Fer  Natif,  H.    Octahedral  Iron,  M.       Ferrum  octahedrum,  D. 
Agram.  Siberia.  Mexico.  Atacama. 

1  ron 96-5 98-5 96-75 93-40 

Nickel 3-5 1-5 3-25 6-62 

Cobalt 0-0 0-0 0-00 0-53 

100-0  Klaproth.       100-0  100-00  100-55  Turner. 

Meteoric.  Meteoric. 

Coke  County,  Tenn.  Red  River. 

Iron 93-80 90-02 

Nickel 4-66 9-67 

Silica,  Carbon  and  Phosphorus  .  0-10 0-00 

Oxygen,  Sulphur,  &c 1-44 0-00 

lOO'OO  Shepard.  99-69  Shepard. 

Meteoric.  Meteoric. 

Claidborne.  Coke  County,  Tenn. 

Iron 66-560 87-0 

Nickel 24-708 12-0 

Chrome  and  Manganese 3-240    Carbon 0-5 

Sulphur 4-000 0-5 

Chlorine • 1-480 0-0 

100-008  Jackson.  100-0  Troost. 

In  these  specimens,  while  the  iron  seems  to  maintain  nearly 
the  same  per  centage,  the  nickel  and  all  the  other  constituents 
are  very  inconstant  in  their  proportions. 


NATIVE    METALS,    &C.  337 

Cramer  describes  a  mass  found  in  the  mines  of  Hackenburgh 
weighing  four  pounds.  In  the  United  States,  there  are  two  or 
three  well  authenticated  instances  of  the  occurrence  of  native 
iron,  of  terrestrial  origin  ;  at  Canaan,  Conn.,  where  it  formed 
a  vein  about  two  inches  thick,  attached  to  a  mass  of  mica-slate  ; 
and  in  Guilford  county,  N.  C.,  where  a  mass  of  twenty-eight 
pounds  weight  was  obtained,  from  which  an  octahedral  crystal 
weighing  seven  ounces  was  detached.  This  crystal  is  now  in 
the  Yale  College  cabinet. 

Sp.  Gr.  7-44  —  7-8.     H.  =  4-5. 

Primary  form  the  Regular  octahedron.  Color  pale  steel-grey  ; 
lustre  metallic  ;  acts  powerfully  on  the  magnet ;  is  soluble  in 
all  the  acids. 

Native  iron  has  been  noticed  under  three  different  forms. 

1.  At  Kamsdorf  in  Saxony,  disseminated  through  a  mass  of 
brown  oxide  of  iron  mingled  with  spathose  iron  and  sulphate 
of  barytes;  in  this  Klaproth  found  about  6  per  cent,  of  lead, 
and  1'5  of  copper.     It  is  not  however  considered  a  natural 
production  ;    but,  like  the  native  steel  from  La  Bouiche  in 
France,  appears  to  be  of  secondary  formation. 

2.  Native  volcanic  iron.     Fer  natif  volcanique,  H.     Was 
discovered  in  a  ravine  formed  by  torrents  across  the  lava  and 
scoriaB  of  the  mountain  of  Graveneire,  in  Auvergne. 

3.  Native  meteoric  iron.      Fer  natif  meteorique,  H.      This 
occurs  in  irregular  isolated  masses,  sometimes  of  very  consid- 
erable size,   in   different  parts  of   the  globe :    but  the  only 
piece  described  as  having  been  seen  to  fall  from  the  atmosphere 
is  that  of  Hraschina,  near  Agram  in  Croatia.     The  mass  found 
in  Siberia,  by  Professor  Pallas,  exhibited  a  vesicular  structure, 
and  contained  crystals  and  grains  of  chrysolite  ;  that  discovered 
by  Don  Rubin  de  Celis,  in  the  district  of  Chaco-Gualamba  in 
South  America,  weighed  about  fifteen  tons.     Specimens  also 
occur  in  Africa,  as  in  the  Senegal  river,  and  near  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.     The  mass  lately  noticed  in  the  Atacama  desert 
of  Peru,  has  a  vesicular  appearance,  and  contains  straw-yellow 
colored  olivine. 

The  Pallas  meteoric  iron  is  a  mass  weighing  twelve  hundred 
and  seventy  Russian  pounds.  It  is  now  in  the  Imperial  Cabinet. 

In  the  United  States,  an  extraordinary  mass  of  meteoric  iron 
was  discovered  many  years  since  on  the  Red  River,  Louisiana. 
It  was  removed  at  great  expense,  and  was  purchased  by  the 
late  Col.  George  Gibbs,  by  the  liberality  of  whose  family  it  has 
passed  into  the  cabinet  of  Yale  College.  Its  weight  is  upwards 
of  sixteen  hundred  pounds.  A  portion  of  it  presents  sections  of 
octahedral  crystals.  In  1833,  a  mass  of  native  iron  was  dis- 
29 


338  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

covered  at  Claiborne,  Ala.,  which  has  been  regarded  with  great 
interest,  inasmuch  as  its  analysis  by  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  first 
led  to  the  discovery  of  chlorine  as  a  constituent  of  meteorites 
combined  with  the  iron  and  nickel.*  Since  this  discovery, 
chlorine  has  also  been  detected  in  several  other  meteorites. 

The  original  weight  of  the  mass  of  meteoric  iron  found  in 
Coke  courTty,  Tenn.,  of  which  we  have  given  the  analysis  by 
Dr.  Troost  and  Prof.  Shepard,  was  about  two  thousand  pounds. 
It  differs  in  its  mechanical  combination  from  any  meteoric 
mass,  as  it  contains  fragments  of  carbonate  of  iron,  sulphuret 
of  iron  and  hydrous  oxide  of  iron.t 

CUBIC  IRON  PYRITES.t 

YELLOW    IRON    PYRITES. 

Schwefelkies,  W.  Fer  Sulphure,  II.  Bt.  Hexahedral  Iron  Pyrites,  M.  J.  Pyrite  Mar- 
tiale,  Br.  Mundic.  Marcesite.  Eisenkies,  L.  Bisulphuret  oflron,  Thomson.  Py- 
rites cubicus,  D. 

Sulphuret  of  iron,  like  carbonate  of  lime,  occurs  under 
two  incompatible  crystalline  forms,  each  presenting  the  same 
atomic  constitution,  as  determined  by  accurate  chemical  anal- 
yses. It  therefore  belongs  to  the  class  of  dimorphous  sub- 
stances. The  two  species  were  supposed  to  be  chemically 
distinct,  until  their  composition  was  shown  to  be  identical  by 
Berzelius.  It  is  a  combination  of  iron  and  sulphur  in  the  fol- 
lowing proportions. 

Iron 47-85 46-08 

Sulphur 52  15 5H.92 

100-00  Hatchett.  100-00  Berzelius. 

These  analyses  give  almost  exactly  two  atoms  of  sulphur  to 
one  of  iron;  the  mineral  is  therefore  a  bisulphuret,  and  its 
composition  is  thus  expressed  by  the  formula  :  FS12. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-75  —  5'0.     H.  =  6'0  —  6*5. 

Color  brass-yellow,  sometimes  approaching  to  bronze-yellow, 
occasionally  to  steel-grey  ;  often  brown,  owing  to  decomposi- 
tion ;  lustre  metallic;  streak  brownish- or  greenish-black.  It 
occurs  disseminated  in  rocks,  veins,  and  beds,  investing  other 
minerals,  and  sometimes  enclosed  in  them  ;  also  amorphous, 
mammillated,  globular,  cellular,  stalactitical,  pseudomorphous, 

*  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxxiv.  p.  332.  We  have  thus  another  substance  added  to 
the  eighteen  elementary  bodies,  which,  according  to  Berzelius,  have  hitherto  been  de- 
tected in  meteorites. 

t  Dr.  Troost's  Fifth  Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Tennessee,  p.  23.— Shepard. 
Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xliii.  p.  357. 

J  Pyrites  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  giving  sparks  when  struck.  The  term  is 
also  supposed  to  have  been  applied  by  the  ancients  to  substances  which  had  the  property 
of  resisting  the  action  of  fire,  as  well  as  of  giving  sparks.— Moore's  Ancient  Mineralogy. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 


339 


capillary,  and  crystallized  in  the  Cube  and  octahedron,  and 
in  forms  common  to  them  both  as  primary  crystals.  But  the 
cube  is  usually  considered  to  be  the  primary  form.  It  yields 
to  cleavage  parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  the  cube  and  reg- 
ular octahedron,  affording  surfaces  sufficiently  brilliant  for 
the  use  of  the  reflective  goniometer,  but  with  the  greatest  ease 
and  brilliancy  parallel  to  those  of  the  cube;  its  fracture  is 
granular  or  uneven,  sometimes  approaching  to  conchoidal ;  it 
is  brittle,  but  does  not  yield  to  the  knife,  which  serves  at  once 
to  distinguish  it  from  copper  pyrites,  which  it  readily  scratch- 
es. In  the  flame  of  a  candle  it  becomes  red;  the  sulphur  be- 
ing driven  off,  and  an  oxide  of  iron,  which  is  magnetic,  re- 
maining. After  a  lengthened  exposure  to  the  reducing  flame 
of  the  blowpipe,  it  forms  an  uneven  and  crystalline  black  mass. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary ;  fig.  2,  the  same  having  its  solid  angles  replaced  by 
equilateral  triangular  planes,  passing  into  the  octahedron;  fig.  3,  more 
deeply  replaced  ;  fig.  4,  regular  octahedron;  fig.  5,  the  octahedron  with 
each  solid  angle  replaced  by  two  planes ;  these  are  increased  in  fig.  6, 
and  complete  in  fig.  7,  forming  the  pentagonal  dodecahedron,  and  con- 
nected with  the  planes  of  the  cube  in  fig.  8.* 


II. 


*  For  numerous  modifications  of  this  species,  the  student  is  referred  to  Hauy,  TraitS, 
seconde  edLtom.  iv.  p.  38),  and  particularly  to  Levy's  «  Deicrmtion  d'une  collection 
de  Mineraux,  formee  par  Henri  Heuland,"  torn.  iii.  p.  127,  in  which  he  has  given  the 
locality  of  each  specimen,  and  described  the  various  other  crystallized  substances  that 
happen  to  be  associated  with  it.  [AM.  ED.] 


340 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 
12. 


The  above  figure  and  the  following;  measurements  are  given  on  the 
authority  of  Hauy. 

P  on  P'  or  P"  90°  00'  00" 

P  P'  or  P"  on  a,  P  or  P'  on  a',  or  P'  or  P"  on  a" 125  15  52 

P  or  P'  on  e,  P'  or  P"  on  e<  or  P  or  P"  on  e" 135  00  00 

P  on  tl,  P'  on  il',or  P"  on  tl" 150  47  40 

P  on  t'4,  P'  on  i4',  or  P"  on  t'4" 143  18  03 

P  on  kl',  P'  on  kl't  or  P"  on  kl" 146  18  38 

P'  on  k2  or  &2',  P"  on  k2"  or  kV",  or  P  on  k2"" 153  26  5 

a  on  a'  or  a" 109  28  16 

a  on  e,  e',  or  e" 144  44  8 

t5,  i5',  or  t'5"  157  47  33 

t3,  t3',  or  t3" 164  12  24 

k2,  k2',  or  k2" 140  46  7 

t5  on  i5',  t5'  on  t'5",  t5"  on  t'5'" 146  26  33 

t4  on  i4',  t'4'  on  i4",  t'4"  on  i4 141  47  12 

t4  on  tl,  t'4'  on  tl',  or  t'4"  on  il" 139  18  13 

t4  on  k2,  i4  on  k2"",  or  t'4"  on  k2» 162  48  34 

k2  on  c',  k2"  on  c",  or  k2""  on  c 169  19  46 

k  on  k2',  k2»,  or  k2»" 126  52  11 

Iron  pyrites  is  universally  diffused,  and  is  found  in  most 
description  of  rock.  Cubes  of  gigantic  dimensions  have  oc- 
curred in  some  of  the  Cornish  mines ;  very  perfect  octahe- 
drons, also  of  large  size,  are  found  at  Persberg  in  Sweden ; 
and  crystals,  forming  pentagonal  dodecahedrons  (fig.  7)  of 
three  or  four  inches  in  diameter,  in  Elba.  Various  other  mod- 
ified crystals  are  found  at  Schnuberg  in  Saxony  in  the  valley  of 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  341 

Planen,  near  Dresden,  and  on  the  island  of  Corsica.  In  Nova 
Scotia,  at  Cape  St.  Mary's,  small,  but  very  brilliant  octahe- 
drons occur  in  clay-slate.  At  Bay  Chaleur,  on  the  Gulf  of  St. 
Lawrence,  cubic  crystals  are  presented  with  their  edges  re- 
placed by  tangent  planes,  (e  figs.  10  and  12),  thus  tending  to 
rhombic  dodecahedrons.  They  are  accompanied  by  a  botry- 
oidal  variety  of  the  same  mineral,  presenting  the  appearance 
of  having  been  fused.  Beautiful  octahedral  crystals,  as  well 
as  the  triglyphe  of  Haiiy,  have  been  brought  from  Peru  and 
Brazil.  Alston  Moor,  Derbyshire,  and  the  mining  districts 
of  Cornwall,  afford  it  in  great  profusion,  and  under  various 
forms,  sometimes  crystallized,  frequently  coating  fluor  spar, 
galena,  and  other  minerals;  and  very  brilliant  crystals,  re- 
markable for  the  variety  of  their  facets,  occur  at  Traversella 
in  Piedmont. 

In  the  United  States  iron  pyrites  is  common  to  the  rocks 
of  all  epochs,  and  of  the  common  form,  simple  cubes,  the 
localities  are  well  known  to  every  student.  We  shall  mention 
only  the  principal  localities  of  the  modified  crystals.  At  Ros- 
sie,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  examples  of  fig.  8,  in  which 
the  edges  of  the  cube  are  replaced  by  single  planes,  inclin- 
ing at  unequal  angles  on  the  primary  planes,  are  not  uncom- 
mon at  the  lead  mines.  These  form  the  cubo-dodecaedre  of 
Haiiy.  Others  exhibit  portions  of  the  planes  (a)  which  have 
replaced  the  solid  angles  of  the  cube,  as  well  as  those  shown  by 
t,  which  incline  on  the  edges  (see  fig.  9).  Others  again  have 
simply  all  the  solid  angles  of  the  cube  replaced  by  tangent  planes 
(fig.  3)  forming  the  cubo-octaedre  of  Haiiy,  or  the  edges  replaced 
by  exceedingly  narrow  tangent  planes  (e  of  the  large  fig.)  or  cor- 
responding with  fig.  10.  The  triglyphe  of  Haiiy,  according  to 
Prof.  Beck,  also  occurs  at  this  locality,  and  exhibits  very  distinct- 
ly the  striae  which  indicate  the  threefold  cleavage,  and  which  are 
shown  on  fig.  1 1 .  Nearly  all  of  the  crystals  from  this  locality  pre- 
sent exceedingly  brilliant  mirror-like  planes,  and  do  not  seem 
liable  to  tarnish.  Regular  octahedrons  were  observed  by  Prof. 
Beck  at  Champion,  in  Jefferson  county,  and  with  galena  at 
Martinsburgh,  Lewis  county;  also  examples  of  figures6  and  7, 
at  Johnsburgh  and  Chester,  in  Warren  county,  accompanied 
by  tourmaline  and  rutile,  and  possessing  equal  brilliancy  of 
those  from  Rossie.  Very  handsome  crystals  have  been  found 
in  the  limestone  at  Shoreham,  Vt.,  in  amygdaloid  at  Eastport, 
Me.,  and  in  argillite,  at  Charlestown,  Mass. 

Hepatic  Pyrites.  Fer  sulfure  epicene.  It  occurs  in  most  of  the  forms 
assumed  by  common  iron  pyrites.  Externally  it  presents  a  liver-brown 

29* 


342  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

color  (hence  its  name) ;  internally  is  steel-grey,  with  more  or  less  lustre. 
Its  colors  appear  to  arise  from  the  progress  of  decomposition,  which  often 
proceeds  so  far  as  to  divest  the  substance  of  internal  metallic  lustre,  with- 
out altering  its  form.  It  occurs  in  veins  in  primitive  rocks. 

Arsenical  Iron  Pyrites.  Fer  sulfure  arsenicale,  H.  Is  of  a  paler 
yellow  color  than  common  iron  pyrites,  passing,  according  to  the  proportion 
of  arsenic  it  contains,  into  steel-grey.  When  struck  with  the  hammer, 
and  also  BB,  it  yields  arsenical  as  well  as  sulphurous  vapors.  Some- 
times  it  is  magnetic.  It  occurs  with  common  pyrites,  and  arsenical  cobalt, 
in  Sweden  and  in  Cornwall. 

Auriferous  Iron  Pyrites.  Fer  sulphure  aurifere,  H.  Occurs  in  grains 
of  a  deep  yellow  color;  also  crystallized  in  cubes,  of  which  all  the  planes 
are  deeply  striated,  and  sometimes  partially  decomposed  on  the  surface. 
The  gold  it  contains  is  but  small,  and  exists,  according  to  Bergmann,  en- 
closed in  the  pyrites  in  small  angular  grains,  and  therefore  in  a  state  of 
simple  mixture. 

It  is  found  abundantly  in  the  gold  mines  of  Beresoff  in  Siberia,  and  in 
Brazil  in  detached  crystals.  It  has  also  recently  been  discovered  by  Dr. 
Jackson,  at  Canaan  and  Grafton,  N.  H.  It  is  occasionally  found  at  several 
of  the  gold  mines  in  the  Southern  State?. 

"  Iron  pyrites,  though  never  employed  to  furnish  iron,  is  still  a  valuable 
ore.  Its  sulphur  is  sometimes  extracted  by  sublimation.  But  it  is  chiefly 
valued  for  the  sulphate  of  iron,  (copperas),  which  it  affords  by  decompo- 
sition ;  —  a  change,  which  some  varieties  undergo  much  more  readily 
than  others.  In  this  process,  the  sulphur  receives  oxygen  from  the  air, 
or  from  moisture,  and  is  converted  into  sulphuric  acid.  This  acid  com- 
bines with  the  oxide  of  iron,  thus  forming  sulphate  of  iron,  which  is  ex- 
tracted by  lixivation,  evaporation,  and  crystallization.  Sometimes  this 
decomposition  is  spontaneous,  or  effected  by  merely  exposing  the  pyrites 
to  air  and  moisture ;  but  some  varieties  must  be  previously  roasted.  — 
The  sulphate  of  iron  often  appears  on  the  surface  of  the  pyrites,  or  the 
mineral,  which  contains  it,  in  yellowish  or  white  silky  efflorescences, 
sometimes  mixed  with  sulphate  of  alumina.  —  Clcavcland." 

PRISMATIC    IRON    PYRITES. 

WHITE    IRON    PYRITES. 

Cockscomb  Pyrites,  A.     Sparkies,  Kamkies,  Strahlkies,  W.      Fer  Sulfure   Blanc,  H. 
Prismatic  Iron  Pyrites,  M.  J.    Sperkise,  Beudant.    Pyrites  rhombicus,  D. 

Atomic  constitution  same  as  that  of  the  preceding,  or  it  con- 
sists by  weight  of  the  following  proportions. 

Iron 45-07 45  56 

Sulphur 53-35 54-34 

93-42  Berzelius.  99-90  Hatchett. 

Sp.  Gr.  4  69  —  4  84.     H.  =  6-0. 

Color  nearly  tin-white,  hence  its  name,  occasionally  tar- 
nished with  a  tinge  of  yellow  or  grey.  It  occurs  stalactitical, 
reniform,  botryoidal;  and  in  crystals  which  assume  the  form 
of  modified  rhombic  prisms.  The  variety  termed  spear-pyrites 
is  found  only  in  very  flat  crystals,  having  at  first  sight  the  ap- 
pearance of  dodecahedrons,  with  triangular  planes,  but  which 
are  macles,  consisting  of  similar  portions  of  five  crystals,  con- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


343 


nected  as  in  the  last  of  the  three  following  figures.  Cocks- 
comb pyrites,  or  kamkies,  is  of  the  same  description,  the  indi- 
viduals being  aggregated  in  such  a  manner  as  frequently  to 
represent  the  crest  or  comb  of  a  cock.  Primary  form  a  Right 
rhombic  prism  of  about  106°  and  74° ;  parallel  to  the  planes 
of  which  it  yields  to  cleavage. 


Mon  M 106°  2' 

P  on  M  or  M 90  00 

cl 161  24 

c2 160  48 

c3 130  00 

M  on  & 158  42 

c2  oil  c3 ....            .  141  30 


It  occurs  detached  and  imbedded  in  plastic  clay  at  Littmitz 
and  Altsattel,  near  Carlsbad  in  Bohemia;  in  Derbyshire  ac- 
companying galena  and  fluor  spar;  and  in  the  western  part  of 
Cornwall  in  extremely  delicate  stalactitic  concretions,  and 
crystals  similar  to  fig.  3.  The  radiated  and  hepatic  variety 
occurs  in  various  parts  of  Saxony,  also  at  Schemnitz  in  Hun- 
gary arid  Almerode  in  Hessia. 

The  crystallized  variety  of  this  mineral  is  rarely  met  with 
in  the  United  States.  Macled  crystals  similar  to  the  figure 
have  been  found  at  Warwick,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  in  fel- 
spar with  zircon  and  tourmaline.  Individuals  having  their 
acute  solid  angles  replaced  by  a  single  plane  parallel  with  the 
shorter  diagonal  of  the  terminal  planes,  or  corresponding  with 
c2  of  fig.  2,  have  been  found  in  magnesian  limestone  in  Phil- 
lipstovvn,  N.  Y.  The  common  massive  varieties  occur  in  Mas- 
sachusetts, Connecticut  and  New  York. 

MAGNETIC   IRON    PYRITES. 

Magnetkies,  W.     Fer  Sulfure,  Ferrifere,  Per  Sulfure  Magnetique,  H.    Rhombohedral 
Iron  Pyrites,  M.  J.    Liberkies,  Beudant.    Pyrites  hexagonus,  D. 
Cornwall.  Uton.  Pyrenees. 

Iron 63.5 S9-&5 56-37 

Sulphur 36-5 40-15 43-t>3 

100-0  Hatchett.  100-OU  Stromeyer.         100-00  Stromeyer. 


344 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Bodenmais. 

Iron 60-52 

Sulphur 38-78 

99-30  Rose. 


Fahlun. 

59-723. 

40-221. 


Brazil. 

, 59-636 

. .  .40-428 


99-914  Plattner. 


100-064  Plattner. 


This  differs  from  the  last  described  species  in  the  proportion 
of  its  constituents,  and  it  seems  to  be  a  mixture  of  simple  sulphu- 
ret,  or  of  one  atom  of  iron  and  one  of  sulphur,  with  portions  of 
bisulphuret.  Haiiy  supposed  it  to  be  a  sulphuret  mixed  with 
a  little  metallic  iron.  The  formula,  as  given  by  Beudant,  is 
FSP+6FS1.  This  requires  59'60  iron  and  40'40  sulphur  — 
numbers  which  almost  exactly  agree  with  the  third  and  last 
two  analyses  by  Stromeyer  and  Plattner. 

Sp.  Gr.  44  —  4-7.     H.  =  35  —  45. 

Color  bronze-yellow,  reddish,  or  brownish;  subject  to  speedy 
tarnish  on  exposure  to  the  air;  lustre  metallic.  Bournon  de- 
scribes it  as  occurring  in  irregular  six-sided  prisms  variously 
modified;  the  cleavage  being  parallel  to  the  terminal  planes 
of  the  prism,  but  it  is  rarely  found  crystallized.  The  massive 
varieties  frequently  exhibit  a  lamellar  structure,  yielding  to 
cleavage  parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  a  Regular  six-sided  prism  ; 
fracture  uneven  passing  into  imperfect  conchoidal.  Acts  on 
the  magnet,  and  is  said  even  to  possess  polarity.  B  B,  it 
affords  similar  results  to  the  preceding  species ;  and  is  solu- 
ble in  dilute  sulphuric  acid. 


M  on  M' 120°  00'  Bournon. 

P  on  M  or  M'    ....     90     00 

Mor  M'ond 150     00 

P  on  a 135     00 

c  .  .  .  102     13 


The  crystalline  varieties  of  this  species  have  been  noticed 
at  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  and  in 
Brazil.  The  cleavable  varieties  are  principally  from  Boden- 
mais in  Bavaria,  where  they  are  associated  with  iolite;  and 
the  granular,  compact,  and  massive,  from  Cornwall,  Appin  in 
Argylshire,  Saxony,  and  Silesia.  It  has  been  detected  in  the 
lavas  of  Vesuvius,  and  in  meteoric  masses.  The  locality  of 
the  large  and  distinct  crystals  preserved  in  some  of  the  Vienna 
collections  is  not  known. 

In  the  United  States  the  massive  variety  of  this  species  is 
common  in  connexion  with  magnetic  iron  ore  and  other  ores, 
as  in  Essex  county,  N.  Y.,  at  Stafford,  Vt.,  and  Litchfield, 
Conn.;  but  perfectly  developed  crystals  have  not  been  met 
with.  The  cleavable  variety  occurs  at  Trumbull,  Conn. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 


345 


ARSENICAL    IRON. 

Mispickel.     Fer  Arsenical,  H.  Bt.    Prismatic  Arsenical  Pyrites,  M.  J.    Arsenik  kies,  of 
the  Germans.    Argyrites  peritomus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuret  of  iron  and  arseniuret  of  iron. 

Freyberg.  Freyberg.  Freyberg. 

Iron 34-94 36-04 33-96 

Arsenic 43-4  -' 42-88 45-74 

Sulphur 20-13 21-08 19-01) 

98-49  Chevreul.          100-00  Stromeyer.          99-32  Thomson. 

The  analysis  by  Dr.  Thomson  comes  nearest  to  the  formula 
(FSl2+FAsQ)  which  Berzelius  has  given  for  this  species,  and 
which  requires  45  53  arsenic,  33  57  iron,  and  19DO  sulphur. 
Sp.  Gr.  57  —  62.     H.  —  55  —  60. 

It  is  nearly  of  a  tin-white  color,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  of 
yellow.  It  occurs  massive,  acicular,  and  crystallized  in  the 
form  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  parallel  to  whose  planes  it  may 
be  cleaved  (to  the  lateral  planes  most  readily),  affording,  by 
the  planes  so  produced,  angles  of  111°  12'  and  68°  48';  this 
prism  is  considered  the  primary  form  of  mispickel ;  fracture 
uneven,  with  a  metallic  lustre.  It  gives  fire  with  steel,  and 
the  sparks  are  attended  with  a  little  train  of  white  smoke, 
having  an  alliaceous  odor.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  gives  out  copi- 
ous arsenical  vapors,  and  forms  a  globule  of  nearly  pure  sul- 
phuret of  iron,  which  attracts  the  magnetic  needle. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  right  rhombic  prism.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which 
each  terminal  plane  is  in  part  replaced  by  two  faces  slightly  inclining  on 
the  acute  angles  of  the  prism.  Fig.  3  exhibits  the  primary  prism  modi- 
fied by  tri.mgular  planes  replacing  each  obtuse  solid  angle  ;  these  planes 
are  further  advanced  in  fig.  4,  and  still  further  in  fig.  5  ;  having  totally 
replaced  the  terminal  faces,  and  reduced  the  lateral  planes  to  triangles, 
meeting  two  and  two  at  the  acute  edges  of  the  prism. 


MonM 111°  1% 

P  on  M  or  M  .  .  .     90  00 

M  on  a 136  20 

c3 117       2 

C4 116  10 

a  on  a' 121  52 

cl  on  el'  over  P  .  .  154  56  H. 

c2  on  cl' 142  00  c.  g. 

c3on  c8' 118       5 

c4  on  c4     79  30 

c4  on  c4' 100  30 


346  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

It  chiefly  occurs  in  the  veins  and  beds  of  primitive  moun- 
tains, accompanying  ores  of  silver,  lead,  and  tin.  It  is  found 
abundantly  at  Freyberg,  Munzig,  and  other  mining  districts 
of  Saxony  ;  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz  ;  at  Joachimsthal  in 
Bohemia;  and  at  Wheal  Maudlin  and  many  others  of  the  Cor- 
nish mines;  and  Tunaberg  in  Sweden. 

Argentiferous  Arsenical  Iron.  Weisserz,  W.  Fer  Ar- 
senical argentifere,  H.  It  is  whiter  than  pure  arsenical  iron, 
being  of  a  somewhat  silvery-white;  but  agrees  with  it  in  all 
other  characters,  except  that  it  contains  from  1  to  15  per  cent, 
of  silver.  That  of  Andreasberg  consists  of  44  iron,  35  ar- 
senic, 13  silver,  and  4  antimony.  —  Klaproth. 

At  Freyberg  and  Braunsdorf  in  Saxony,  it  is  worked  for 
the  silver  it  contains. 

ARSENICAL  SULPHURET  OF  IRON  AND  COBALT.  Danaite 
of  Hayes.*  It  has  been  found  that  cobalt  sometimes  takes  the 
place  of  a  portion  of  the  iron  in  this  species,  without  producing 
any  marked  changes  in  its  chemical  characters,  or  in  its  gene- 
ral physical  characters.  It  would  seem,  however,  that  a  slight 
difference  exists  in  the  measurement  of  the  angles,  which  is 
probably  to  be  attributed  to  the  presence  of  the  cobalt.  This 
difference  was  first  observed  by  Scheerer  in  the  specimen  ex- 
amined by  him  from  Mod  urn  in  Nor  way  ,t  and  it  seems  also  to 
exist  in  the  crystals  from  Franconia,  as  measured  by  Mr. 
Teschemacher,  and  which  contained  nearly  the  same  propor- 
tion of  cobalt.  Scheerer  states  the  fact,  but  does  not  record 
the  measurements.  The  following  are  the  analyses  of  four 
specimens  of  arsenical  iron  containing  cobalt. 

Alodum.  Modum.  Modum.  Franconia,  N.  H. 

Arsenic 47-55 46-76 47-45 41-44 

J™n  : 26-54 26-36 30-91 32-94 

g°fa;1 8-31 9-01 4-75 6-45 

bulphur 17-57 17-34 17-48 17-84 


99-97  Scheerer.    100-47  Scheerer.    100-57  Wbhler.       98-57  Hayes.J 

Rammelsberg  (Handworterbuch,  i.  47)  has  thus  stated  the 
atomic  constitution  of  this  mineral  (F,Cb)-fSl2+(F,Cb)As24 

The  subjoined  figure  was  drawn  by  Mr.  Teschemacher,  and 
represents  the  crystals  of  this  mineral  from  Franconia,  N.  H., 

*  In  honor  of  the  late  Prof.  J.  F.  Dana,  who  first  discovered  cobalt  in  this  mineral.— 
fcee  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  via.  1824.  p.  302. 

t  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1833,  p.  2 II.  Scheerer  found  that  the  proportion  of  cobalt 
was  not  constant,  and  that  the  largest  crystals  contained  the  least  of  ft. 

$  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxiv.  388. 

§  In  transcribing  the  formulas  from  different  writers,  the  symbols,  excepting  in  the 
cases  of  some  of  the  chemical  formula,  have  always  been  changed  to  those  given  in  the 

^  V0lume'    This  seemed  —  7  *  order  » 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


347 


The  values  of  the  angles  were  determined  by  him  by  means 
of  the  reflecting  goniometer. 


i  i 


M  on  M 68°  00' 

M  on  M  over  summit  ...  112  00 

a  on  a' 121  30 

c  on  c 100  15 


This  rare  and  interesting  mineral,  was  discovered  by  Prof. 
J.  F.  Dana  in  gneiss,  accompanying  copper  pyrites,  at  Fran- 
conia,  N.  H.  The  most  highly  polished  crystals  are  imbedded 
in  layers  of  brownish  quartz,  interspersed  with  copper  pyrites. 
But  specimens  are  no  longer  found  at  this  locality. 

PLEISTO*-MAGNETIC  IRON. 
COMMON    MAGNETIC    IRON    ORE. 

Magneteisenstein,  W.  Fer  Oxyclule,  H.  Bt.  Octahedral  Iron  Ore,  M.  Magnetic  Iron 
Ore,  J.  A.  Oxydulated  fron,  Phillips.  Siderite  Aimant,  JVecker.  Ferroso-ferric  ox- 
ide. Magnetic  Oxide  of  Iron,  Cleavdand.  Siderus  octahedrus,  D. 

The  pure  crystallized  specimens  of  this  species,  consist  en- 
tirely of  iron  and  oxygen,  united,  according  to  Berzelius,  in 
the  proportion  of  two  atoms  peroxide  to  one  of  protoxide.  For- 
mula, as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson,  FF2.  The  whole  content  of 
oxygen  is  2822,  of  iron  71-78;  or  it  contains,  in  100  parts 
69-02  peroxide,  and  30-98  protoxide  of  iron.  Formula,  accord- 
ing to  Berzelius  :  FeE  .  Mohs  thus  states  it :  Fe+2Fe. 

It  occurs  earthy,  compact,  lamelliform,  and  crystallized  in 
the  Regular  octahedron,  which  is  considered  to  be  its  primary 
form  ;  structure  imperfectly  lamellar  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the 
octahedron;  fracture  uneven,  or  conchoidal  with  a  splendent 
lustre;  color  iron  black,  with  a  shining  or  glimmering  metallic 
lustre;  streak  black.  It  is  highly  magnetic,  with  polarity, 
especially  the  massive  (native  loadstone  ,  and  attracts  iron 
filings.  B  B,  it  becomes  brown,  and  loses  its  influence  on  the 
magnet,  but  does  not  fuse.  Colors  glass  of  borax  in  the  oxy- 
dating  flame  deep  red,  which  becomes  dingy  yellow  and  im- 
pure on  cooling;  and  in  the  reducing  flame  bottle-green. 
Soluble  in  heated  muriatic,  but  not  in  nitric  acid. 

*  From  the  Greek  7t).ttriTogt  alluding  to  its  hi?h  degree  of  magnetism,  from  its  con- 
taining a  large  portion  of  iron.  The  term  oxydulated  iron,  by  which  this  species  has 
been  distinguished  in  the  former  editions  of  this  work,  has  been  changed  to  one  which 
conveys  an  accurate  idea  of  its  character,  as  regards  one  of  its  essential  physical  proper- 
ties, while  it  necessarily  supposes  a  greater  proportion  of  iron  than  is  contained  in  the 
next  species.  (AM.  ED.) 


348  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

1  2.  3.  4. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  (he  regular  octahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of 
which  all  the  edges  are  replaced  by  planes :  this  replacement  has  pro- 
ceeded further,  and  the  planes  are  complete  in  fig.  3,  the  rhombic  dod- 
ecahedron ;  fig.  4,  the  primary,  having  each  of  its  solid  angels  replaced  by 
single  planes,  which  by  their  complete  extension,  have  changed  the  fig- 
ure into  a  cube,  fig.  5.* 


PonP 109°  28' H. 

P  on  e  or  P  on  e 144    44 

e  on  e 120    00 


This  species  is  most  common  in  primitive  countries,  gene- 
rally forming  beds  and  large  irregular  masses ;  and  accompanied 
by  hornblende,  granular  limestone,  and  garnet;  occasionally 
also  by  blende,  pyrites,  fluor,  tin,  and  galena.  The  extensive 
beds  of  Arendal  in  Norway,  and  almost  all  the  celebrated  iron 
mines  of  Sweden,  consist  of  massive  magnetic  iron.  Danne- 
mora,  Gellivara,  and  the  Taberg  (a  mountain  of  considerable 
dimensions),  are  entirely  formed  of  it,  and  immense  quantities 
of  iron  are  annually  obtained  from  these  localities.  It  is  plen- 
tifully found  also  in  Corsica,  Savoy,  Saxony,  Bohemia,  Silesia, 
Russia,  and  the  East  Indies. 

In  Scotland,  it  occurs  in  serpentine  in  Unst,  one  of  the 
Shetland  Isles.  In  England,  in  the  parishes  of  St.  Roach  and 
St.  Stephens,  and  at  Treliswell,  near  Penryn,  in  Cornwall. 
The  most  interesting  crystallized  varieties  occur  imbedded  in 
chlorite-slate  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  atNormark  in  Wermeland, 
at  Traversella  in  Piedmont,  and  among  the  ejected  masses  of 
Mount  Vesuvius. 

Siberia,  Elba,  Sweden  and  the  Hartz,  yield  the  most  pow- 
erful natural  magnets;  these  usually  form  either  compactor 
earthy  amorphous  masses,  and  are  unknown  crystallized.  In 

*  This  last  figure  has  been  very  rarely  met  with,  and  1  am  not  aware  of  any  instance 
of  its  occurrence  in  the  United  States,  excepting  that  recorded  by  Prof.  Beck,  in  his  Re- 
port on  the  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  p.  384.  (AM.  ED.) 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  349 

Nova  Scotia,  at  Digby  Neck,  detached  crystals  of  magnetic 
oxide  of  iron  are  found  in  the  water  courses  connected  with 
the  trap  rocks,  and  also  lining  the  cavities  of  large  masses  of 
this  ore  which  are  imbedded  in  the  trap.  They  are  frequently 
united  with  purple  amethyst. 

In  the  United  States,  localities  of  this  species  are  very  nu- 
merous, and  extend  with  very  little  interruption  from  Canada  to 
New  Jersey.  It  will  suffice  to  name  a  few  only  of  those  which 
have  afforded  the  finest  crystals,  or  have  been  longest  cele- 
brated for  their  application  to  the  manufacture  of  iron,  partic- 
ularly of  bar  iron.  The'se  are  those  of  Orange,  Clinton  and 
Essex  counties,  N.  Y.,  of  Franconia,  N.  H.,  of  Troy,  Vt.,  and 
of  Sussex  and  of  Morris  counties,  N.  J.,  in  each  of  which  the  ore 
appears  in  immense  beds,  or  irregular  deposits,  included  in 
granite,  gneiss  or  hornblende  rock,  and  associated  with  various 
crystallized  minerals.  The  Sterling  mine  in  Orange  county, 
N.  Y.,  is  supposed  to  cover  a  surface  of  about  thirty  acres.  The 
mine  at  Sucasunny,  Morris  county,  N.  J.,  has  been  wrought  to 
a  greater  depth  than  any  other  in  the  United  States,  and  in 
many  respects  it  bears  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  noted 
Danemora  mine  in  Sweden.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  however, 
that  this  deposit  rarely  affords  any  examples  of  the  crystalliza- 
tion of  this  species,  while  the  other  localities  mentioned  supply 
them  abundantly  and  in  great  perfection.  According  to  Prof. 
Beck,  the  O'Niel  mine,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  sometimes 
affords  octahedral  crystals  in  which  one  solid  angle  only  is 
replaced,  and  rarely,  those  in  which  no  portions  of  the  primary 
planes  are  visible  —  or  perfect  cubes  —  a  form  in  which  it  has 
been  rarely  if  ever  before  discovered.  The  chlorite  slate  of 
Marlboro'  and  Bridgewater,  Vt.,  and  the  epidote  of  Franconia 
and  Lisbon,  N.  H.,  have  hitherto  presented  the  largest  imbedded 
individual  crystals,  in  octahedrae  and  dodahedrae.  Dr.  Jackson 
also  cites  several  other  localities  in  the  same  State,  as  at  Am- 
herst  and  Manchester  in  granite. 

The  pleisto-magnetic  iron  ores  of  the  United  States  are  for 
the  most  part,  better  adapted  for  the  manufacture  of  malleable, 
than  of  cast  iron.  They  do  not  so  readily  unite  with  carbon  to 
produce  that  grey,  soft  condition  which  is  found  in  the  superior 
cast  iron  made  from  the  hematitic  and  clay  iron  ores  ;  and  they 
require  much  greater  heat  for  their  reduction,  and  perfect  me- 
tallization. They  probably  supply  about  one  half  of  all  the  pig 
iron  annually  manufactured  in  the  United  States,  and  nearly  all  of 
the  malleable  iron  obtained  directly  from  the  ore,  is  derived  from 
this  species,  either  with  anthracite  or  charcoal.  It  frequently 
contains  small  portions  of  oxide  of  titanium,  which  in  the  pro- 
30 


350  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

cess  of  smelting,  is  reduced  and  crystallized  in  minute  brilliant 
cubes  at  the  sides  and  bottom  of  the  furnace.  These  seem  to 
have  been  first  observed  by  Dr.  Wollaston,  but  they  are  now 
common  in  all  countries.  It  sometimes  also  contains  oxide 
of  chrome  and  manganese;  and  the  latter  is  carried  through 
the  same  reduction  as  the  iron,  and  exists  afterwards  in  com- 
bination with  the  metallic  iron,  to  which,  in  the  opinion  of 
some,  it  communicates  additional  strength. 

NATIVE  MAGNET.  Masses  of  this  ore,  which  are  tolerably  free  from 
earthy  impurities,  and  of  a  crystalline  or  granular  structure,  possess  the 
power  not  only  of  moving  the  magnetic  needle,  but  also  a  sensible  inhe- 
rent polarity,  by  which,  if  two  extremities  of  a  small  fragment  be  alter- 
nately presented  to  the  same  pole  of  a  magnetic  needle,  one  extremity 
will  attract,  and  the  other  repel  the  needle.  The  magnetism  of  this  vari- 
ety is  also  shown  by  its  power  of  attracting  iron  filings. 

IRON  SAND  OF  JAMESON.  This  is  the  common  black  sand  used  at 
merchants'  desks.  It  occurs  in  small  octahedral  crystals  more  or  less 
broken  and  rounded  by  attrition,  and  owes  its  origin  to  the  disentegration 
of  the  matrix  in  which  it  had  originally  crystallized.  Thus,  according  to 
Prof.  Silliman,  the  chlorite  slate  near  New  Haven,  Conn.,  abounds  with 
minute  octahedral  crystals,  which,  by  the  action  of  the  waves,  have  been 
liberated,  and  form  the  black  magnetic  sand  of  the  beach. 

EARTHY  PLEISTO-MAGNETIC  IRON.  This  variety  is  less  readily 
attracted  by  the  magnet.  It  is  more  or  less  mixed  with  lime  or  alumina, 
is  granular,  of  a  grey  and  bluish-black  color,  and  of  an  uneven  earthy 
fracture.  It  usually  soils  the  fingers. 

OLIGISTO*-MAGNETIC  IRON. 
SPECULAR!  IRON. 

Eisenglanz,  W.  Fer  Oligiste,  H.  Per  Speculate,  Br.  Iron  Glance,  J,  Fer  Oxyde, 
Berzetius.  Eiaenoxyd,  L.  Rhombohedral  Iron  Ore,  M.  Specular  Oxide  of  Iron, 
Cleaveland.  Siderus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

The  pure  crystals  of  this  species  consist  entirely  of  perox- 
ide of  iron,  in  the  proportion  of  iron  69  34,  to  oxygen  30'66. 
Symbol  F 

Sp.  Gr.  5-0  —  3.     H.  =  5'5  —  < >  5. 

It  is  considerably  magnetic,  especially  the  highly  crystalline, 
but  does  not,  like  the  preceding  species,  attract  iron  filings. 
It  occurs  lamellar,  and  crystallized  in  many  forms,  which  are 
derived  from  a  slightly  Acute  rhomboid  of  86°  10'  and  93°  50', 
the  structure  of  the  crystallized  being  lamellar,  and  reducible 
into  the  form  of  its  primary  crystal ;  fracture  uneven  ;  passing 
into  conchoidal;  color  deep  steel-grey,  with  a  brilliant  and 
often  iridescent  tarnish  externally  ;  internally  it  possesses  a 
shining  lustre ;  opake  in  large  fragments,  but  the  edges  of  thin 

*  From  the  Greek,  oliyioro?,  in  allusion  [to  its  slight  magnetic  property,  compared 
with  the  preceding  species, 
f  Specular,  from  its  brilliancy. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


351 


laminae  present  a  blood-red  color  by  transmitted  light.  Streak 
cherry-red,  or  reddish-brown ;  is  infusible  without  addition,  but 
with  borax  forms  a  green  or  yellow  glass,  like  pure  oxide  of  iron. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  slightly  acute  rhomboid.  Fig.  2,  an  octahedron, 
arising  from  the  replacement  of  the  upper  and  lower  acute  angles  of  the 
primary.  Fig.  3,  an  acute  rhomboid,  of  which  only  the  upper  plane,  and 
that  parallel  with  it,  correspond  with  the  planes  of  the  primary.  The 
upper  and  lower  lateral  faces  of  fig.  4  belong  alternately  to  the  primary. 
In  fig.  5  none  of  the  primary  planes  are  visible.  Of  fig.  6  all  the  larger 
planes  belong  to  the  primary,  and  the  small  triangular  faces  result  from 
the  replacement  of  its  lateral  and  lower  angles  by  two  planes,  and  the 
upper  acute  angle  by  three  planes.  Sometimes  the  edges  and  angles  are 
so  rounded  that  the  crystals  assume  a  lenticular  form. 

The  crystals  of  this  substance,  however,  and  especially  those 
from  Elba,  most  commonly  occur  in  the  general  form  of  the 
second  of  the  two  following  figures. 

Primary. 


P  on  h2  or  h2' 154° 

k'  or  P"  on  A:    ....  147 

168 
128 


a  on  c 

h2  on  h2  or  h2>  on  h2> 


h2  on  i  or  h2'  on  i 161 

i  on  i 159 

h2  on  g  or  h2>  on  g'  .  .   ,  .  144 


20' 
20 
30 
32 
40 
12 
20 


P  on  P' 86°  10' 

P  on  P" 93     50 

P  or  P'  on  a 122    40 

61 178     50 

, 62    .......  159     35 

P  on  g'  or  P'  on  g    ....  140     00 
P  on  Al  or  hi1 179    30 

It  occurs  in  transition  and  primitive  rocks,  both  in  beds  and 
veins,  and  is  accompanied  by  pleisto-magnetic  iron,  &c. 

The  mines  of  this  substance  in  the  Isle  of  Elba  are  of  great 
extent,  and  are  said  to  have  been  worked  upwards  of  3000 
years;  the  surfaces  of  the  splendid  crystals  from  this  locality 
frequently  present  the  most  magnificent  tarnish-colors.  It  is 
also  met  with  in  Saxony ;  in  Bohemia  in  beds  of  mica-slate ; 
in  specimens  consisting  of  large  crystalline  plates,  grouped 
together  in  the  form  of  rosettes,  accompanying  adularia  at  St. 


352  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Gothard  ;  at  Arendal  in  Norway  ;  at  Langbanshyttan  in  Swe- 
den ;  in  South  America;  and  in  Siberia.  In  England,  it 
occurs  finely  crystallized  in  one  or  two  of  the  Cornish  mines. 
Very  resplendent  crystalline  plates,  sometimes  of  considerable 
dimensions,  and  intersecting  each  other  at  various  angles,  are 
formed  by  sublimation  in  the  fissures  of  lava  at  Stromboli  and 
Lipari ;  likewise,  though  in  smaller  individuals,  at  Etna,  Vesu- 
vius, and  in  Auvergne.  A  micaceous  variety,  consisting  of 
minute  shining  scales,  either  loose  or  slightly  cohering,  which 
appears  by  reflected  light  of  an  iron-black,  sometimes  tinged 
red,  and  by  transmitted  light,  blood-red  —  occurs  at  Tavistock 
in  Devonshire,  and  near  Dunkeld  in  Perthshire.  In  Nova 
Scotia,  specular  iron  ore  forms  veins  in  the  trap  rocks  at  seve- 
ral places  along  the  shores  of  the  Bay  of  Fundy,  and  is  some- 
times in  crystals,  which  present  portions  of  the  planes  of  the 
primary  rhomboid.  The  most  beautiful  specimens  are  from 
Sandy  Cove,  where  it  is  associated  with  siliceous  sinter  and 
Laumonite,  and  sometimes  with  agate  and  jasper. 

Of  this  species,  unless  we  include  under  the  same  head,  as 
some  writers  have  done,  all  the  hematite  ores,  the  earthy-red 
oxide  of  iron,  and  the  clay  ores,  the  United  States  offers  but  few 
deposits  of  economical  value,  though  frequently  presenting  it  in 
small  seams  or  veins.  The  only  mines  which  are  extensively 
explored  for  manufacturing  purposes,  are  those  of  Edwards  and 
Governeur,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  where,  according 
to  Prof.  Emmons,  its  geological  associates  are  gneiss  and  pri- 
mary limestone.  It  smelts  easily,  and  as  the  process  is  now 
conducted  at  the  Parish  Iron  Works,  Rossie,  it  affords  a  valua- 
ble cast  iron,  superior  to  much  that  is  made  from  the  pleisto- 
magnetic  ore.  Low  tabular  and  lenticular  shaped  crystals, 
bearing  a  striking  resemblance  to  many  of  the  specimens  from 
Elba,  are  occasionally  found  in  the  cavities  of  this  ore,  and  they 
possess  an  almost  equal  degree  of  brilliancy  and  iridescence, 
compared  with  those  from  that  celebrated  locality. 

The  ore  obtained  from  the  celebrated  "Iron  Mountain"  in 
Missouri,  is  of  this  species,  and  unless  the  accounts  be  greatly 
exaggerated,  it  is  unprecedented  as  to  quantity,  so  far^as  any 
thing  is  known  of  mines  in  America. 

At  Hawley  and  Montague,  Mass.,  the  micaceous  variety,  in 
small  shining  scales,  feebly  cohering,  forms  veins  in  mica-slate  ; 
and  at  Lubec,  Maine,  it  is  attached  to  masses  of  siliceous  slate. 
At  Piermont,  N.  H.,  it  forms  considerable  beds  in  gneiss. 

Specular  iron  ore  is  rarely  met  with  to  a  sufficient  extent 
to  be  wrought  in  Europe,  though  the  Elba  mine  was  formerly 
explored  to  a  great  extent,  and  for  a  long  period  of  time  by  the 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  353 

Romans ;  and  is  yet  explored,  the  ore  being  removed  to  the 
continent  where  wood  is  more  abundant  for  supplying  the  char- 
coal used  in  smelting. 

FRANKLINITE.* 

Franklinite,  Berthier.     Dodecahedral  Iron  Ore,  M.     Zinc  Oxyd6  Ferrifere,  H.    Siderite 
Zincifere,  Necker.    Siderus  Zinciferus,  D. 

Combination  of  the  peroxide  of  iron,  with  the  oxide  of  zinc, 
and  red  oxide  of  manganese. 

Franklin,  New  Jersey. 

Peroxide  of  iron 66-0 66-10 68-88 

Oxide  of  zinc 17-0 17-43 10-81 

Sesquioxide  of  manganese ....  16-0 14-96 18-17 

Silica 0-0 2-00 0-40 

Alumina 0-0 0-00 0-73 

100-0  Berthier.        98-69  Thomson.       98-99  Abich. 

Taking  the  two  first  analyses  which  nearly  agree,  and  divid- 
ing by  the  atomic  weights,  we  obtain  numbers  approaching 
nearly  to  four  atoms  peroxide  of  iron,  one  atom  sesquioxide  of 
manganese,  one  atom  oxide  of  zinc.  Dr.  Thomson  supposes 
the  iron  to  act  the  part  of  an  acid,  and  expresses  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  mineral  thus  :  MnF2-fZF2. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-0  —  5-i.     H.  =  6'0— 6-5. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  grains  or  in  granular  masses  com- 
posed of  imperfect  crystals,  frequently  exhibiting  the  planes  of 
the  Regular  octahedron,  its  primary  form.  These  crystals  are 
often  replaced  on  their  edges,  but  more  frequently  bounded  by 
irregular  faces  produced  by  contact ;  the  structure  is  lamellar, 
parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  regular  octahedron ;  brittle ;  frac- 
ture conchoidal ;  streak  deep  reddish-brown  — distinguishing  it 
from  pleisto-magnetic  iron,  the  streak  of  which  is  black.  Acts 
slightly  on  the  magnet ;  soluble  without  effervescence  in  heated 
muriatic  acid.  At  a  high  temperature  the  zinc  is  driven  off; 
and  a  hard  compound  of  iron  and  manganese  remains.  B  B, 
with  borax  it  forms  a  green  glass,  which  when  completely  satu- 
rated becomes  red,  and  on  cooling  assumes  a  greenish-brown 
color,  and  remains  transparent ;  with  salt  of  phosphorus  it  yields 
a  yellowish-grey  glass,  and  with  soda  is  insoluble. 


P  on  P 109°  25' 

P  on  e 144    40 


*  Franklinite,  in  honor  of  the  celebrated  Franklin. 

30* 


354  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

The  measurements  by  the  reflective  goniometer  prove  the  regular  octa- 
hedron to  be  its  primary  form. 

It  occurs  at  Franklin,  Sterling  and  Sparta  in  Sussex  county, 
N.  J.,  accompanying  the  red  oxide  of  zinc,  and  is  fre- 
quently imbedded  in  calcareous  spar,  and  associated  with 
quartz,  yellowish-green  garnet,  and  other  substances.  The 
locality  which  has  afforded  the  finest  specimens  is  the  Sterling 
zinc  mine,  where  perfect  crystals,  or  groups  of  crystals,  simi- 
lar to  the  above  figure,  are  often  found  from  six  to  eight 
inches  in  circumference  with  highly  polished  faces.  The  most 
magnificent  crystal  ever  found  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Dr. 
Fowler,  and  measures  sixteen  inches  round  the  base  !  As  this 
substance  has  the  same  primary  form  with  pleisto-magnetic  iron 
ore,  and  presents  precisely  the  same  secondary  modifications,  it 
would  be  difficult  to  distinguish  the  crystals  of  one  from  the 
other,  were  there  not  discernible  a  superior  blackness  in  the 
lustre  of  the  faces  of  the  Franklinite,  and  greater  inequalities  of 
surface.  It  is  also  mentioned  as  accompanying  ores  of  zinc, 
in  amorphous  masses,  at  the  mines  of  Altenberg  near  Aix-la- 
Chapelle. 

HYDROUS    PEROXIDE    OF    IRON. 

LIMONITE. 

Prismatic  Iron  Ore,  M.  J.  (in  part).    Brown  Iron  Ore.   Onegite.  Pyrrhosiderite,  Limonite, 
Beudant.    Fer  Hydro-oxide,  Bournon.     Siderus  haematicus,  D. 

Peroxide  of  iron  combined  with  water. 

Peroxide  of  iron 80-50. .  .79-0. .  .82-0. .  .84-0. .  .81-0.  ..78-0.  ..73-0.  .76-0.  .94-0.  .76-8 

Sesquiox.  of  mangan.,  trace...  2-0...  9'0..,   1«0...  0-0. .trace...  1-0..  2-0. .trace.  8-2 

Water 16-00. .  .15-0. .  .14-0. .  .11-0. . .  12-0. . .  13-0.  ..14-0.  .14-0. .  3-0.  .10-0 

Silica 2-25...  3<0...  1-0...  2-0...  4-0...  6-0...  9-0..  5-0..  2-0..  4-3 

Alumina ,..,  0-00...  0-0. .. trace  ..  0-0...  0-0...  1-0...  0-0..  0-0..  0-0..  0-0 

98-75*    99  0|     99-Of    98-Of    97-Of   99-Of    97-Of   97-0|  99-0|  99-8J 

The  first  three  specimens  analyzed  belong  to  the  purest  form 
of  this  mineral,  and  they  seem  to  indicate  an  approach  to  a 
uniformity  in  the  composition  of  this  mineral.  From  the  mean 
of  these,  if  we  suppose  the  silica  to  be  united  with  peroxide  of 
iron,  as  a  tersilicate,  and  to  be  accidental,  we  obtain  one  atom 
water,  and  one  of  peroxide  of  iron.  Formula,  FAq.  This 
gives  about  60  parts  of  metallic  iron  in  100  parts  of  the  ore. 
Sp.  Gr.  350.  H.  =  5-0  —  55. 

This  mineral  presents  considerable  diversity  of  external  ap- 
pearance. It  is  found  both  crystallized  and  massive.  The 
crystals  are  small ;  externally  black,  and  very  brilliant;  inter- 

*Ulmann,  Hoffman's  Miner.,  iv.  188.    The  specimen  was  stilpnosiderite. 

t  D'Auhuisson,  Ann.  de  Chim.,  Ixxv.  237.  The  first  two  specimens  brown  hematites. 
The  third  and  fourth  compact  brown  hematites.  The  fifth  and  seventh  elites.  The  sixth 
lenticular  iron  ore.  The  eighth  red  haematite. 

J  C.  T.  Jackson.    Compact  red  haematite,  from  Aroostook  River,  Maine. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


355 


nalJy  blackish-brown.  Streak  yellowish-brown;  brittle-  and 
opake.  It  also  occurs  in  extremely  tender  stalactites,  of  which 
the  fibres  radiate  from  the  centre ;  and  compact.  The  primary 
form  appears  to  be  a  Right  rectangular  prism,  the  only  cleav- 
age being  parallel  to  the  plane  M.  The  crystals  which  have 
been  observed  in  cubes  and  octahedrons,  are  obviously  pseudo- 
morphous,  taking  the  place  of  iron  pyrites.  B  B,  in  the  rnalrass 
it  gives  off  water,  the  remainder  being  red  oxide  of  iron;  with 
borax  it  forms  a  yellowish-green  glass.  Occasionally  it  acts 
on  the  magnet,  and  does  so  always  after  exposure  to  heat. 
When  rubbed  upon  paper  some  varieties  leave  a  black  mark 
like  manganese,  for  which  they  may  occasionally  be  mistaken. 

P  on  M  or  T  .  .90°  00' 


Primary. 


T  on  M  

.  90 

00 

M  on  a2'  

.  135 

5 

b  

.  121 

45 

dl  

.  117 

50 

al  —  aV  

.  125 

30 

a2  —  a2'  

.  149 

24 

b  —b'  

.  117 

30 

c  —dl  

.  120 

42 

.  135 

20 

b  —  a2  or  bf  or  a2'  . 

.  121 

25 

al  —  dl  

.  129 

30 

a2  —  dl  

.  153 

25 

dl  —  dl  over  T  .  .  . 

.  130 

40 

.  147 

00 

The  second  figure  represents  the  crystals  from  the  vicinity  of  Bristol. 

It  occurs  at  Clifton  near  Bristol  in  quartzose  geodes,  in  the 
form  of  mamillary  masses,  and  often  enclosed  in  quartz  crys- 
tals ;  on  compact  hard  iron-stone  at  Botallack,  and  in  highly 
brilliant  crystals  near  Lostwithiel,  in  Cornwall;  also  disposed 
in  groups  at  Lake  Onega  in  Siberia  ;  acicular  and  capillary  in 
quartz  from  Oberstein,  and  amethyst  from  Petrosbotzky,  Russia. 
Also  in  the  same  form  penetrating  amethyst  in  Nova  Scotia. 

GOETHITE.*  Rubin-Glimmer,  Haussman.  Goethite,  Lenz.  Lepido- 
krokite,  Ullmann.  Color  brownish-red,  by  reflection  yellowish,  and  of  a 
brilliant  red  when  transparent  and  viewed  in  strong  light.  Streak  orange- 
red  ;  lustre  metallic  adamantine.  Primary  form,  either  aright  rhomboidal 
or  rectangular  prism.  Occurs  in  minute  laminae  or  tables  modified  on  their 
edges  by  oblique  facets.  The  principal  locality  of  this  species  is  the  Hol- 
lerterzug,  in  the  Westerwald,  Germany.  It  is  not  a  common  variety. 

RED  HjEMATiTE.t  Red  Iron  Ore.  Red  Iron-stone,  J.  Rother  Eisen- 
stein,  W.  The  more  compact  haematites  sometimes  slightly  affect  the 
magnet,  rendering  it  probable  that  they  contain  a  small  portion  of  the  pro- 

*  In  honor  of  the  celebrated  German  poet  Goethe. 

t  Hmmatite,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  blood-red  color.  Now,  however,  the 
original  meaning  of  the  term  is  so  far  lost  sight  of,  that  we  have  brown  and  even  black 
haematite.  This  variety  has  sometimes  been  classed  with  specular  iron,  but  it  presents 
forma  never  assumed  by  that  ore,  contains  water,  and  passes,  by  imperceptible  shades, 
into  the  common  brown  hffimatites.  1  have  therefore  included  it,  with  the  brown  haema- 
tites, among  the  varieties  of  the  present  species.  [Aw.  ED.] 


356  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

toxide  of  iron.  None  of  them  are  blood-red  by  transmitted  light;  and 
they  never  assume  a  crystalline  form. 

The  fibrous  variety  (Rother  Glaskopf,  W.  Fer  oligiste  concretionn^, 
H.)  has  externally  a  bluish  or  iron-grey  color,  and  presents  either  a  metal- 
lic lustre,  or  is  red  and  without  lustre  ;  internally  it  is  red  or  brownish-red. 
It  occurs  in  botryoidal  masses,  or  in  stalactites,  formed  of  concentric  coats, 
and  having  a  fibrous  or  radiated  structure. 

It  occurs  abundantly  in  Saxony,  Bohemia,  the  Palatinate,  Silesia,  and 
the  Hartz  ;  also  near  Ulverstone  in  Lancashire,  and  in  smaller  quantities 
in  many  parts  of  England  and  Scotland.  In  New  Brunswick,  at  Woodstock, 
compact  red  haematite  form  immense  beds  in  shale.  Red  haematite  affords 
excellent  iron  both  cast  and  malleable.  When  ground  to  fine  powder  it  is 
employed  in  the  polishing  of  metals.  The  scaly  variety  (Rother  Eisenrahm, 
Wr.)  occurs  in  slightly  cohering  scales  or  particles  of  a  red  color  with  a  tinge 
of  brown,  and  opake  ;  the  lustre  is  somewhat  metallic.  It  is  unctuous  to 
the  touch,  and  stains  the  fingers.  It  accompanies  the  preceding,  but  is 
principally  known  from  Cattas  Altas  in  the  Brazils. 

BROWN  HAEMATITE.  Fibrous  Brown  Iron  Ore.  Brauner  Glaskopf, 
W.  Fer  Oxide  Haematite,  H.  Specific  gravity  3-7 — 4-0.  Is  of  a  clove 
or  blackish- brown  color  ;  externally  is  often  steel-grey  and  splendent.  It 
is  more  finely  fibrous  than  the  red  haematite,  sometimes  with  a  silky  lustre, 
and  often  radiated  ;  in  the  other  direction  it  is  generally  concentric  lamel- 
lar, the  colors  being  disposed  in  bands  of  brown  of  various  shades.  It  occurs 
in  mamillary  and  botryoidal  masses,  in  stalactites  and  tubes.  It  is  brittle. 

It  forms  beds  in  limestone  and  other  secondary  rocks  in  most  European 
countries  ;  affording  materials  for  extensive  iron  works  in  Bohemia,  Styria, 
&c.  Sweden  and  Lapland,  which  abound  in  magnetic  iron,  contain  but 
small  quantities  of  the  brown  or  red  haematites.  But,  according  to  Berthier, 
it  supplies  more  than  three-fourths  of  all  the  iron  furnaces  in  France. 

In  Scotland  it  forms  veins  in  sandstone  at  Cumberhead  in  Lanarkshire ; 
at  Sandloge  in  the  Shetland  Isles;  and  in  Hoy,  one  of  the  Orkneys.  In 
Cornwall  it  occurs  at  Botallack  near  the  Land's  End,  and  in  Tin  Croft  mine 
near  Redruth.  It  affords  a  very  tough,  compact  cast  iron,  and  is  convert- 
ible also  into  malleable  iron  of  superior  quality.  In  the  United  States  the 
best  iron,  both  malleable  and  cast,  is  obtained  from  the  brown  haematite  ore  . 

Scaly  and  Ochrey  Brown  Iron  are  varieties  of  the  same  species  more 
or  less  decomposed,  presenting  either  slightly  cohering  scales  and  particles, 
or  having  an  earthy  consistence  which  is  meagre  to  the  touch,  and  soils  the 
fingers.  Bog  iron  ore,  the  morasterz,  sumpferz,  wiesenerz  of  the  Ger- 
mans, is  of  recent  formation  ;  it  arises  from  the  decomposition  of  certain 
rocks  over  which  water  passes,  and  is  deposited  by  it  in  low  and  marshy 
situations.  It  frequently  contains  traces  of  phosphoric  acid,  and  forms  con- 
siderable repositories  in  Germany,  Poland,  and  Russia.  The  variety 
termed  bohnenerz  or  pea-ore,  consists  of  concentric  globuliform  concre- 
tions, imbedded  either  in  friable  or  compact  brown  haematite  ;  at  St.  Ste- 
phens in  Styria  this  kind  of  ore  yields  about  33  per  cent,  of  iron.  Brown 
iron  ore  not  unfrequently  assumes  the  form  of  other  minerals;  at  Hutten- 
berg  in  Carinthia,  for  instance,  it  has  evidently  taken  the  place  of  sparry 
iron ;  and  at  Beresof  in  Siberia  occupies  large  cubical  pseudo-crystals  of 
iron  pyrites. — Allan's  Manual. 

The  most  valuable  varieties  of  this  species,  brown  and  red  haematite,  are 
plentifully  distributed  throughout  the  United  States,  as  at  Bennington,  Vt., 
on  the  Aroostook  river,  Me.,  at  Salisbury  and  Kent,  Conn.,  Richmond,  Lenox 
and  West  Stockbridge,  Mass.,  Cumberland,  R.  I.,  Franklin  and  Hamburg, 
Sussex  county,  N.  J.,  and  near  Fishkill  and  Ameniaville,  Dutchess  coun- 
ty, N.  Y.  It  occurs  also  in  extensive  beds  in  several  of  the  Western  States. 
The  beautiful  imitative  forms  which  these  ores  are  known  to  assume,  are 
found  at  all  of  these  localities,  but  the  dependent  stalactitico-botryoidal 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  357 

masses,  of  a  brilliant  glossy  black  color,  which  are  sometimes  met  with  in 
the  cavities  at  Salisbury,  are  by  far  the  most  interesting.  Those  from 
Dutchess  county,  are  sometimes  covered  by  a  layer  of  grey  oxide  of  man- 
ganese, of  a  radiated  structure.  Most  of  these  hasmatite  ores  also  contain 
oxide  of  zinc,  which  condenses  on  the  sides  of  the  chimneys  where  they  have 
been  smelted.  United  with  proper  fluxes,  all  these  varieties  are  readily 
reduced  in  the  smelting  furnaces,  and  afford  a  metal  of  superior  strength 
and  softness.  The  bog-iron  ores  are  also  very  abundant  throughout  the 
United  States,  but  they  are  apt  to  yield  what  is  termed  cold  short  iron, 
which  cannot  be  safely  used  in  the  manufacture  of  wire,  or  seldom  even 
of  sheet  or  plate  iron,  though  it  is  well  adapted  for  casting. 

CLAY  IRON  STONE,  OR  ARGILLACEOUS  IRON  ORE.  This  is  com- 
posed of  peroxide  of  iron  united  with  variable  proportions  of  lime,  magne- 
sia, alumina,  silica,  and  frequently  with  carbonate  of  iron.  It  more  pro- 
perly comes  under  the  species  carbonate  of  iron,  which  see. 

STILPNOSIDERITE.*  Ullmann.  Specific  gravity  3-6 — 365.  Hard- 
ness =  4-5.  In  botryoidal  groups,  massive,  and  dendritic;  of  a  black  or 
brownish-black  color,  with  a  splendent  lustre  both  externally  and  internally ; 
fracture  conchoidal ;  opake  ;  brittle.  Streak  yellowish-brown.  It  be- 
comes black  B  B,  but  does  not  fuse ;  and  tinges  borax  dark  olive-green, 
though  it  is  not  melted  itself. 

It  occurs  at  Rashau  and  Schiebenberg  in  Saxony,  in  Thuringia,  Nassau, 
and  the  Hartz,  frequently  associated  with  brown  hematite,  to  which  it 
appears  to  be  nearly  allied. 

CRONSTEDTITE.t 

Rhorabohedral  Melane  Mica,  M.     Cronstedit,  L.    Sideroschislite.    Arealus  foliaceus.  D. 

Contains  oxide  of  iron  58*85,  silica  22*45,  oxide  of  manga- 
nese 2*89,  magnesia  5*08,  water  10*70.  —  Steinmann, 

It  is  a  hydrous  silicate  of  iron.     Formula:  FS+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  3*3  —  3*35.     H.  =  2*5. 

Massive  and  crystallized  ;  the  massive  consisting  of  black 
and  opake  fibres,  having  a  brilliant  lustre ;  the  crystallized 
occasionally  in  separate  six-sided  prisms,  more  often  however 
the  prisms  adhere  laterally.  In  thin  laminae,  somewhat  elastic ; 
streak  dark  leek-green  ;  cleavage  distinct  perpendicular  to  the 
axis.  B  B,  it  intumesces  slightly,  but  does  not  melt.  With 
borax  it  affords  with  difficulty  a  hard,  black,  and  opake  enamel. 
When  reduced  to  powder  it  gelatinizes  in  concentrated  muri- 
atic acid.  It  is  found  near  Przibram  in  Bohemia  with  carbo- 
nate of  iron  ;  in  diverging  groups  at  Wheal  Maudlin  in  Corn- 
wall ;  and  associated  with  quartz  and  magnetic  pyrites  at  the 
mines  of  Conghonas  do  Campo  in  Brazil. 

Dr.  Thomson  has  described  an  anhydrous  silicate  of  iron 
( Outlines,  fyc.,  i.  p.  461,)  from  one  of  the  Mourne  Mountains  in 
Ireland,  which  agrees  with  this  in  containing  one  atom  of 
protoxide  of  iron  and  one  of  silica,  but  has  its  hardness  in- 
creased to  4,  and  its  specific  gravity  to  3'884,  apparently  sim- 

*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  a  shining  ore  of  iron. 

f  In  honor  of  Cronstedt,  the  Swedish  mineralogist ;  named  by  Prof.  Steinmann. 


358  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

ply  by  its  containing  no  water.     It  gave  protoxide  of  iron  68'60, 
silica  29'60,  protoxide  of  manganese  L!85. 

PINGUITE. 

Breithaupt.     (Schiceiffger's  Jahrbuch,  Iv.  303.) 

Contains  per  and  protoxide  of  iron  35 'GO,  silica  36  90,  alu- 
mina 1  -80,  magnesia  0-45,  oxide  of  manganese  0.14,  water 
25-10.—  Kersten. 

Sp.  Gr.  2  315.     H.  under  2-0. 

Pinguite  occurs  in  masses  of  a  siskin  or  oil-green  color  ; 
with  a  slightly  resinous  lustre  ;  and  conchoidal  or  uneven  frac- 
ture; feels  greasy;  does  not  adhere  to  the  tongue,  and  emits 
a  feeble  argillaceous  odor  when  struck.  Streak  lighter  than 
the  mineral.  Extremely  soft,  resembling  newly  made  soup. 

In  the  matrass  it  yields  much  water.  B  B,  per  sc,  it  becomes 
black,  but  only  fuses  on  the  edges.  With  borax  it  melts  easily, 
exhibiting  the  presence  of  iron  ;  as  also  with  salt  of  phospho- 
rus, in  which  a  skeleton  of  silica  remains.  Occurs  in  a  vein 
of  barytes  at  Wolkenstem  in  the  Erzebirge,  and  has  been  seve- 
rally described  by  Breithaupt,  Freisleben,  and  Beckmann. 

CHLOROPAL. 

Bernhardi  and  Brandes,  (Schweigger's  Jahrbuch,  v.  29.) 

Sp.  Gr.  1  -7  —  20.     H.  =  3'0  —  4'0. 

Of  this  there  are  two  varieties;  the  one  massive  and  com- 
pact, the  other  earthy.  Color  pistachio-green ;  opake,  or 
feebly  translucent  on  the  edges;  fracture  conchoidal  and 
splintery ;  it  does  not  phosphoresce.  Infusible,  per  se,  B  B,  but 
with  soda  melts  into  a  clear  glass,  showing  some  red  spots.  The 
massive  consists,  according  to  Brandes,  of  oxide  of  iron  33'3, 
silica  46-0,  magnesia  2'0,  alumina  1-0,  water  18'0,  manganese 
a  trace.* 

These  numbers  correspond  with  three  atoms  silica,  one 
atom  protoxide  of  iron,  and  two  atoms  water.  The  Ceylon  va- 
riety, analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  gave  a  different  result,  and 
will  probably  be  distinguished  by  a  new  name. 

It  occurs  associated  with  opal  at  Unghwar  in  Hungary,  and 
appears  to  be  closely  allied  to  green  iron-earth.  It  has  been 
brought  also  from  Ceylon. 

CHAMOIS1TE. 

Kobell.    Berthier,    (Ann.  des  Mines,  v.  393.) 

Contains  oxide  of  iron  50'5,  silica  14-5,  alumina  6'6,  water 

*  Analysis  by  Bernhardi  and  Brandes. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  359 

14'7,  carbonate  of  lime  14'4,  carbonate  of  magnesia  1*2.     It  is 
not  certain  how  many  of  these  constituents  are  essential. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-0  —  3-4.     Pretty  hard. 

Occurs  massive,  of  a  greenish-grey  or  black  color,  and  has 
a  granular  earthy  fracture;  magnetic.  Is  soluble  in  acids, 
with  the  exception  of  its  silica,  and  gives  off  water  when 
heated  in  the  matrass.  It  is  found  in  the  calcareous  deposit  of 
Mount  Charnoison  in  the  Valais;  whence  it  is  advantageously 
extracted  as  an  ore  of  iron. 

SIDEROSCHISOLITE. 

Wernekinck.    (Pogg.  Ann.,  i.  387.)     Hydrous  disilicate  of  Iron  ofTTiomson. 

Contains  protoxide  of  iron  75*16,  silica  16*30,  alumina  4*10, 
water  7*30 — Wernekinck, 

The  above  numbers,  supposing  the  alumina  to  be  acciden- 
tal, give  very  nearly  one  atom  each  of  silica  and  water  to  two 
atoms  of  protoxide  of  iron,  thus  showing  it  to  be  a  hydrous 
disilicate  of  iron.  Formula:  F2S+Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3*0.          H:=  20  —  3*0. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid,  presenting  only  a  single  cleavage, 
which  is  perpendicular  to  the  axis.  This  mineral  occurs  in 
small  sided  prisms  of  a  black  color.  Its  streak  is  green ;  its 
lustre  brilliant;  it  becomes  magnetic  and  black  from  exposure 
to  heat.  BB,  is  readily  fusible  into  a  black  magnetic  glass; 
and  is  soluble  in  acids. 

It  occurs  at  Conghonas  do  Campo  in  the  Brazils. 

HISINGERITE. 

Hisin<»erite,  Berzelius.     (Aafhndl.  i.  Fysik.  S[c.,  iii.  S.  304.)     Thraulite,  Kobdl.    Siderus 

Hisingeri,  D. 
Bodentnais.  Bodenmais.  Kiddarkytton. 

Peroxide  of  iron 49-869 50-86   Per  and  protox..  .44-39 

Silica 31-775 31-28 36-30 

Water 20-000 19-12 20-70 

100-764  Hisinger.  101-26  Kobell.  101-39  Hisinger. 

We  obtain  from  the  two  first  analyses  one  and  a  half  atom 
silica,  one  atom  peroxide  of  iron,  and  a  little  less  than  two  atoms 
water.  But  according  to  Hisinger  the  mineral  contains  both 
oxides  of  iron,  and  he  has  given  the  following  formula,  answer- 
ing to  the  last  analysis :  Fe'Si+j?eSi+6H.* 
Sp.  Gr.  3-04. 

Occurs  in  masses  which  are  cleavable  in  one  direction  only, 
and  possess  a  foliated  structure.  Black ;  dull ;  with  an  earthy 
fracture ;  streak  greyish-green  ;  capable  of  being  cut  with  the 

*The  formula  requires  of  protoxide  13-55,  of  peroxide  30-13,  of  silica  35-55,  of  water  20-27. 


360  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

knife.  B  B,  at  a  gentle  heat  becomes  magnetic  ;  at  a  more 
elevated  temperature  fuses  into  an  opake  black  dull  globule  ; 
and  with  borax  forms  a  yellowish  glass. 

It  is  found  in  the  cavities  of  calcareous  spar,  in  the  parish 
of  Suarta  in  Sudermanland,  Sweden;  but  is  not  common. 
The  thulite  is  found  at  Riddarkyttan  in  Westmarland,  and 
at  Bodenmais,  in  Germany. 

YENITE.* 

Lieviite,  J.    Diprismatic  Iron  Ore,  M.     Hyait,  Haus.    Fer  Calcareo-Siliceux,  H.    Side- 
rus  rhombicus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  lime. 

Elba.      Elba.      Elba.  Hungary.  Elba. 

Protoxide  of  iron.  .  .  .55-0.  .  .52-54.  .  .31-900  ..........  42.30  ..........  33-07 

Peroxide  of  iron  ....  0-0.  ..  0-00.  .  .23-000  ..........  15-78  ..........  24-58 

Silica  .  ,         .......  28-0.  .  .29-28.  .  .29-278  ..........  34-60  ..........  29-f3 

Lime  ..............  12-0  .  .  .  13-78.  .  .  13-779  ..........  5-84  ..........  12-44 

Oxide  of  manganese.  3>0...  1-59...   1-587  ..........  0-28  ..........    l'50 

Alumina  ...........  0-6...  0-61...  0-614  ..........  0-12  ..........  0-00 

Water...  ..........  0-0...  1-27...  1-268  ..........  1-00  ..........  0-00 

98^6t     99<07t  101-426  Kobell.    100-00  Wehrle.  101-42  Rammelsberg. 

The  formula  which  has  been  given  from  the  two  first  analy- 
ses is  no  longer  tenable,  as  the  later  analyses  by  Kobell  and 
Rammelsberg  have  shown  the  presence  also  of  peroxide  of 
iron.  Rammelsberg  has  given  the  following  formula  : 


This  requires  28'9S  silica,  24'56  peroxide  of  iron,  33'06 
protoxide  of  iron,  lime  13*40;  —  answering  very  nearly  to  the 
third  and  last  analyses. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-08  —  4-06.     H.  =  5'05  —  6'0. 

Its  color  is  brown,  or  brownish-black  ;  sometimes  dull  ex- 
ternally, but  the  crystals  have  often  a  metallic,  and  sometimes 
a  velvety  lustre  ;  they  are  opake.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhom- 
bic prism  of  111°  30'.  It  occurs  amorphous,  acicular,  and  also 
crystallized,  generally  in  the  form  of  a  rhombic  prism  termi- 
nated by  a  pyramid  with  several  modifications;  cleavage  not 
very  distinct,  parallel  to  a  plane  passing  through  its  longer 
diagonal.  Streak  black,  inclining  to  green  or  brown  ;  fracture 
uneven  ;  the  faces  of  the  prism  deeply  striated  longitudinally. 
On  charcoal  it  fuses  into  a  black  'globule,  which  attracts  the 
magnet  if  not  heated  to  redness  ;  and  with  borax  melts  readily 
into  a  dark  green  and  almost  opake  glass.  It  is  soluble  in,  and 
forms  a  jelly  with,  heated  muriatic  acid. 

*  Lievrite,  in  honor  of  Le  Lievre,  its  discoverer  j  Yenite,  in  commemoration  of  the 
battle  of  Jena.  |  By  Descotils.  J  By  Stromeyer. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


361 


M  on  M' 111°  30' 

P  on  M  or  M' 90  00 

M  on  g  or  M'  on  g  .  .  .  164  35 

M  on    i 160  48 

fon  g 151  42 

1  on  e  or  M'  on  e'  .  .  .  128  50 

P  on  c  or  e' 141  48 

e  on  e' 139  30 

a  on  e'  or  e 160  30 

P  on  a 146  30 

P  on  c 137  45 

c  on  e'     144  25 

b  on  e  or  b>  on  e'   ....  161  20 

It  is  principally  found  in  Elba,  at  Rio  la  Marina,  and  Cape 
Calmite,  where  it  occurs  both  in  solitary  crystals  of  consider- 
able dimension,  and  in  groups  which  are  also  large  and 
splendid.  It  was  formerly  quite  abundant,  but  at  present 
good  crystals  are  rarely  met  with,  and  the  prices  demanded 
for  them  are  very  extravagant.  One  specimen  at  Porto  Ferrajo 
is  valued  at  three  hundred  dollars.  It  has  also  been  noticed 
in  Siberia;  Silesia;  and  at  Fossum  in  Norway.  In  Hungary, 
near  the  village  of  Szurnasko,  Zemesker,  it  occurs  in  com- 
pact easily  divisible  masses  of  a  black  and  greenish  color,  and 
when  exposed  to  the  weather,  brownish.* 

In  the  United  States  it  was  formerly  obtained  in  Cumberland, 
R.  I.,  in  long,  slender  slightly  rhomboidal  prisms,  longitudi- 
nally striated,  and  sometimes  presenting  the  terminal  faces. 
These  prisms  are  implanted  on  granular  quartz  with  minute 
octahedral  crystals  of  magnetic  iron  ore.  But  of  late  years  no 
specimens  have  been  found  at  this  locality. 


PITCHY  IRON-ORE,  t 
Eisensinter.    Eisenpecherz,  W.    Fer  Oxyde  Resinite,  H.    Pittizite,  Levy.    Sideritine, 

Beudant. 
Saxony.  Freyberg. 

Peroxide  of  iron 33-46 40-45 35-0 

Arsenic  acid 26-06 30-25 20-0 

Sulphuric  acid 10-75 0-00 14-0 

Protoxide  of  manganese  ...  0-57 0-00 0-0 

Water 28-48 28-50 3'>>-0 

99-31  Stromeyer.  99-20  Kersten.  99-0  Laugier. 

There  is  a  great  variation  in  these  analyses,  and  the  result 
obtained  by  Kersten,  would  seem  to  show  that  sulphuric  acid 
is  not  essential  to  its  composition.  Future  analyses  must  de- 
termine its  true  formula. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-2  — 24.     H.  =  2-5. 


*  Berzelius'  Jahres-Bericht,  1835,  p.  223. 

f  From  its  more  or  less  perfect  resemblance  to  pitch. 


31 


362 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


Color  blackish-brown,  or  reddish-black.  It  occurs  in  small 
masses,  reniform,  and  stalactitic,  having  much  the  aspect  of 
resin;  fracture  flat  conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous  lustre;  trans- 
lucent on  the  edges,  and  yields  to  the  knife;  streak  olive- 
green  or  lemon-yellow. 

B  B,  per  se,  it  instantly  becomes  opake  and  cracks,  some 
varieties  emitting  a  strong  arsenical  odor,  during  which  they 
are  partly  volatilized;  at  an  increased  temperature  it  fuses 
into  a  black  enamel,  and  on  charcoal  becomes  magnetic  ;  in 
the  matrass  it  gives  off  water  profusely. 

It  occurs  in  several  old  mines  near  Freyberg  and  Schnee- 
berg  in  Saxony,  in  the  district  of  Pless  in  Upper  Silesia,  in 
Brittany,  and  in  Chili.  It  is  supposed  to  be  produced  from 
the  decomposition  of  iron  pyrites. 

PYROSMALITE.* 

Pyrosmalyth,  Karsten.    Fer  Muriate,  H.     Pyrosmalite,  or  Native  Muriate  of  Iron,  J. 
Pyroxene  Ferro-Manganesien,  Beudant.     Arealus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Contains  Silica 35-850 

Chlorine 3-7GO 

Peroxide  of  iron 35-480 

Sesquioxide  of  manganese. .  .23-44-1 

Lime 1-210 

Water 3-<jOl) 

1U3-344  Hisinger. 

The  excess  is  owing  to  the  additional  oxidation  of  the  iron 
and  manganese  which  exist  in  the  mineral  as  protoxides. 
Beudant  does  not  regard  the  chloride  of  iron  as  essential,  nor 
is  it  included  in  the  chemical  formula  thus  given  by  Ram- 
melsbeig:  4(Fe3Si-H\ln3Si2). 

Sp.  Gr.  2i)5  to  3- 10.     H.  =4-0  — 4'5. 

It  occurs  in  the  primary  form,  a  regular  hexahedral  prism, 
of  which  the  terminal  edges  are  sometimes  replaced,  as  rep- 
resented on  the  following  figure,  copied  with  the  measure- 
ments, from  a  short  article  by  Brooke  on  the  crystalline  form 
of  this  mineral  hitherto  undescribed,  inserted  in  the  LoncL  and 
Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.  for  1837. 


P  on  a 148°  30' 

P  on  b 129     13 

P  on  M 90     00 

M  on  M 120     00 


*  Pyrosmalite,  or  Pyrodmalite,  from  the  Greek  ;rvc,  fire,  and  oSur.  smell,  —  emitting 
an  odor  when  heated. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  363 

Cleavage  distinct  and  easily  obtained  perpendicular  to  the 
axis.  Color,  pale-liver  brown  passing  into  gray  and  pistachio- 
green.  External  lustre  shining,  that  of  the  terminal  planes 
pearly ;  structure  lamellar,  translucent  on  the  edges,  and  brit- 
tle. On  charcoal  B  B,  with  a  gentle  heat,  it  becomes  reddish 
brown,  and  gives  out  a  weak  acid  odor  ;  in  a  strong  fire  it 
fuses  readily  into  a  globule  presenting  a  brilliant  smooth  sur- 
face and  iron-black  color,  which  is  attractable  by  the  magnet. 
With  glass  of  borax  it  melts  readily,  exhibiting  the  colors 
characteristic  of  iron  ;  and  is  soluble  in  muriatic  acid,  leaving 
a  small  residuum  of  silica. 

It  occurs,  both  crystallized  and  massive,  with  magnetic 
iron,  calcareous  spar,  and  hornblende,  in  Bjelke  Gruvan,  one 
of  the  iron  mines  of  Nordmark  near  Philipstadt  in  Sweden. 

SPATHOSE  IRON. 

Oarbonatf  of  Iron.  Brown  Spar.*  Sparry  Iron.  Braclsytypous  Paracbrose  Baryte,  M. 
Spatli-Eisenstein,W.  Fer  Uxyde  Carbonate,  H.  Fer  Spathique,  Br.  Clay  iron  stone, 
or  y\rgillaceous  iron  ore.  Marantalus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  carbonic  acid,  and  protoxide  of  iron,  of 
which  occasionally  a  small  portion  is  replaced  by  protoxide  of 
manganese,  magnesia,  and  lime. 

England.  Baigony. 

sii-'sided  prisms.  lamellar.  Sphcrrosiderite,  Hartz. 

Protoxide  of  iron.. .  .59-97 53-0 52-12 57-50 

Carbonic  acid 38-72 41-0 32-23 36-00 

Oxide  of  manganese  0-39 0-6 0-00 3-30 

Lime 0-92 0-0 0-00 1-25 

Magnesia 0-00 5-4 9-96 0-00 

Alumina 0-00 0-0 5-67 0-00 

100-00  Beudant.      100-0  Berthier.      99-93  Bischoff.      93-05  Klaproth. 

The  crystallized  specimens  of  this  mineral  consist  of  pure 
carbonate  of  iron,  composed  of  one  atom  carbonic  acid  and 
one  atom  protoxide  of  iron  —  FC  —  but  it  is  almost  always 
mixed  with  various  accidental  substances.  Beudant's  analy- 
sis gives  almost  exactly  the  theoretical  numbers  required  by 
the  formula. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-6  —  38.     H.  —  3-5  —  4-5. 

Color  various  shades  of  yellow,  passing  on  exposure  into 
brown,  and  brownish-black  ;  transparent,  translucent,  or  opake. 
Occurs  in  obtuse  rhomboids  (whose  faces  are  occasionally 
curvilinear)  ;  in  acute  rhomboids,  sometimes  perfect,  or  hav- 
ing the  terminal  angles  replaced;  in  six-sided  prisms;  in  octa- 
he*drons;  and  in  lenticular  crystals;  also  striated  and  massive. 

*  Spathose  iron,  from  its  presenting  rather  a  sparry  than  a  metallic  substance;  brown 
spar,  from  its  prevailing  color. 


364 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Externally  it  is  shining.     Structure  lamellar,  with  a  brilliant 
or  pearlv  lustre;  yields  readily  to  cleavage  parallel  to  all  the 
planes  of  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  107°   and  73  .     Affects  the 
magnetic  needle.    B  B,  blackens  and  becomes  more  magnetic, 
but  does  not  melt;  colors  borax  bottle-green  in  the  reducii 
flame,  and  yellow  in  the  oxidating  ;   and  is  with  difficulty  s< 
ble  in  acids,  unless  previously  reduced  to  powder. 


P  on  P' 107°  00' 

P  or  P'  on  P" 73     00 

P  or  P'  on  g  (fig.  2)   ...  122     50 
g>  on  g"  (fig.  2) 67     20 


P  or  P'  on  a  (fig.  3)   140°  00'  c.  g. 
g  on  a  (fig.  3)    ...  155     00     — 
a  on  g  or  g  on  e  > 
(fig.  4)    ...    5    ' 


It  occurs  abundantly  in  some  countries,  and  particularly  in 
Styria  and  Carinthia,  where  it  forms  coherent  tracts,  which 
extend  along  the  chain  of  the  Alps  into  Austria  and  Saltzburg. 
On  these  the  great  iron  manufactories  of  Eisenerz  and  Vor- 
dernberg  are  situated,  so  celebrated  for  the  fine  steel  they 
produce.  Magnificent  crystals  of  spathose-iron  occur  at  Harz- 
gerode  in  the  Hartz,  in  veins  traversing  grauwacke  ;  at  Frey- 
berg  in  silver  veins;  and  presenting  many  interesting  varieties 
in  the  mining  districts  of  Alston-Moor,  Cornwall,  and  Devon- 
shire. 

In  the  United  States  carbonate  of  iron  sometimes  crystal- 
lized, or  in  readily  cleavable  masses  of  a  reddish-brown  color, 
and  of  a  brilliant  lustre,  forms  a  considerable  bed  in  mica 
slate  at  Sterling,  Mass.  It  occurs  also  very  abundantly  in 
gneiss  at  Roxbury,  Conn.,  where  it  is  of  a  yellowish-grey 
color,  and  is  associated  with  iron  and  copper  pyrites.  Very 
beautiful  specimens  have  been  brought  from  Plymouth,  Vt. 

Junkerite.  M.  Dufrenoy*  has  discovered  at  Poullaouen  in 
Brittany,  a  carbonate  of  protoxide  of  iron  which  crystallizes 
in  right  rhombic  prisms  and  rectangular  octahedrons,  thus 
showing  carbonate  of  iron  to  be  dimorphous  like  several  other 
minerals.  It  agrees  very  nearly  in  composition  with  the  analy- 


*  Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.  Ivi.  198. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  365 

ses  just  given,  and  its  general  physical  characters  identify  it 
with  common  spathose  iron.  Its  name  is  in  honor  of  Mr. 
Junker,  the  sub-director  of  the  mine  where  it  was  discovered. 

A  FIBROUS  CARBONATE  OF  IRON  occurs  in  the  veins  of  Tin  Croft 
mine  in  Cornwall,  in  tabular  masses  of  half  an  inch  or  less  in  thickness, 
striated  in  a  direction  perpendicular  to  the  surfaces  of  the  mass,  and  of  a 
brown  color.  Sphcerosiderite  is  the  name  applied  to  a  spheroidal  and  ra- 
diated variety  from  Hanau,  where  it  is  met  with  occupying  hollows  in 
greenstone  without  any  indication  of  crystalline  form. 

COLUMNAR  CLAY  IRON-STONE.  Its  colors  are  the  same  as  the 
amorphous.  It  occurs  in  angular  pieces  composed  of  columnar  concre- 
tions like  starch,  often  closely  aggregated,  and  cohering  slightly  ;  or  the 
interior  is  found  to  be  columnar,  the  interstices  being  in  some  cases  filled 
either  with  bitumen  or  calcareous  spar.  It  is  dull,  soft,  brittle,  and  when 
of  a  reddish  -brown  color  is  magnetic.  It  occurs  in  Bohemia,  the  Upper 
Palatinate,  and  Saarbruck  :  in  Scotland  in  the  Isle  of  Arran;  in  England 
in  the  Wednesbury  coal  deposit  in  Staffordshire,  where  the  columns  are 
coated  with  pyrites,  and  their  interstices  partially  filled  with  carbonate  of 
lime,  sometimes  with  blende  and  galena. 

LENTICULAR  CLAY  IRON-STONE.  Fer  oxyde  brun  granuleux,  Bt. 
It  occurs  in  small  granular  or  lenticular  concretions,  which  are  separate 
or  aggregated  into  masses.  Its  color  is  reddish,  or  yellowish-brown,  or 
greyish-black,  with  a  pseudo-metallic  lustre.  Is  brittle,  and  easily  broken. 
It  occurs  in  Franconia,  Bavaria,  Salzburg,  Switzerland,  France,  and  the 
Netherlands. 

CLAY  IRON  STONE,  OR  ARGILLACEOUS  CARBONATE  OF  IRON. 
This  is  the  variety  which  occurs  so  extensively  in  the  coal  formations  of  Great 
Britain,  and  supplies  nearly  all  of  the  iron  which  is  made  there.  Dr.  H.  Col- 
quhoun  published  in  the  seventh  volume  of  Brewster's  Journal  his  anal- 
yses of  about  twenty  specimens  of  the  Scotch  clay  iron  stones,  in  which  he 
finds  from  fifty-five  to  sixty  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  iron,  the  rest  being 
carbonate  of  lime  and  magnesia,  with  clay.  The  "  black  band"  of  Mushet 
contains  eighty-five  per  cent,  of  carbonate  of  iron,  or  forty  per  cent,  of 
metallic  iron,  and  is  the  richest  of  the  ores  accompanying  the  coal  for- 
mations in  Great  Britain.  The  ores  which  are  found  in  the  anthracite 
and  bituminous  coal  measures  of  Pennsylvania,  and  those  which  occur 
so  plentifully  in  the  neighborhood  of  Baltimore,  Md,,  have  very  nearly  the 
same  composition  with  the  above,  and  yield  from  twenty  to  forty-five  per 
cent,  when  reduced  in  the  smelting  furnaces. 


PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON. 

Vivianite,  W.    Fer  Phosphate,  H.     Blue  Iron  Ore,  J.     Prismatic  Iron  Mica,  M.    Dicro- 
matic  Euclas  lialoide,  Haidinger.     Arealus  rhomboideus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  water. 

Cornwall,  Bodenmais.      Earthy  Phosphate.     New  Jersey. 

Protoxide  of  iron...  41  -23  ............  41-0  .......  .....32-0  .........  ...44-51 

Phosphoric  acid....  3M8  ............  96-4  ............  47-5  .......  .....  25-85 

Water  .....  .  ......  27-49.  ...  ........  31-0..  ..........  20-0  ............  28-08 

99-90  Stromeyer.  98-4  Vogel.          99-5  Klaproth.     98-62  Vanuxem. 

These  results  differ  widely  from  each  other.     Dr,  Thomson 
has  thus  given  a  formula  from  the  h'rst  analysis  by  Stromeyer  : 


31* 


386 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


Sp.Gr.  2-66.     H.=2'0. 

Vivianite  occurs  crystallized  in  the  form  of  a  Right  oblique- 
angled  prism,  which  is  that  of  its  primary  crystal.  It  cleaves 
readily,  and  only  parallel  to  the  plane  P  of  the  following 
figures  ;  the  crystals  are  prismatic,  and  of  considerable  length, 
being  attached  to  the  matrix  at  the  face  M  or  the  opposite 
plane,  in  which  case  the  faces  P  T  and  c  form  the  prismatic 
planes  of  the  crystal.  Color  varying  from  pale  green  to  indigo- 
blue  ;  by  transmitted  light  green  at  right  angles  to  the  axis, 
and  of  a  pale  blue  color  parallel  to  it.  Transparent  or  trans- 
lucent, with  a  partly  metallic,  partly  vitreous  lustre  ;  streak 
almost  white,  but  on  exposure  to  the  air  soon  changes  into 
indigo-blue.  The  powder  produced  by  crushing  the  mineral 
in  a  dry  state,  is  liver-brown.  The  crystals  are  often  very 
small,  aggregated,  and  divergent;  those  of  Cornwall  are  flexi- 
ble, but  not  elastic,  while  the  crystallized  variety  of  New  Jer- 
sey is  extremely  brittle.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  intumesces,  red- 
dens, and  fuses  into  a  steel-grey  colored  globule  with  metallic 
lustre.  Soluble  without  effervescence  in  dilute  sulphuric  and 
nitric  acids. 


P  on  M  or  T    ....     90°  00' 

M  on  T     .  • 125  18 

P  on  cl 125  56 

d 135  35 

T  on  cl     143  40 

c2     165  25 

b  or  6     125  25 

M  on  cl H7  4Q 


M  on  d  or  d' 150°  30' 

b  on  b 148  5 

cl  on  a 340  35 

d 134  5 

b 125  40 

cl 108  30 

c2 157  45 

dondf 120  45 


It  occurs  with  iron-  and  magnetic-pyrites  in  gneiss  at  Bo- 
denmais  in  Bavaria;  in  the  gold  mines  of  Voroospatak  in 
Transylvania;  in  the  Isle  of  France  ;  and  in  Brazil. 

In  England  it  is  met  with  finely  crystallized  near  St.  Agnes 
in  Cornwall,  accompanied  by  magnetic  iron-pyrites  and  spa- 
those  iron :  in  Derbyshire  in  crystals  of  the  same  form  and 
color,  in  the  decomposed  shale  of  that  country. 

In  the  United  States  it  occurs  crystallized  and  in  nodules, 
imbedded  in  bog  iron  ore  at  Allentown,  Monmouth  county, 
N.  J.,  and  occupying  the  interior  of  belemnites  and  gryphites, 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  367 

in  the  ferruginous  sand  formation  in  the  same  region.  It  has 
been  found  here  in  masses  weighing  thirty  pounds. 

DELVAUXINE.  M.  Dumont  (Ulnstitut,  1839,  No.  282,)  has  given 
this  name,  in  honor  of  M.  Delvaux,  to  a  phosphate  of  iron  which  he  had 
discovered  in  a  lead  mine,  and  a  chalk  quarry  at  Bernean  near  Vise,  in 
France.  It  forms  kidney  shaped  masses,  which  easily  separate  with  a 
conchoidal  fracture  and  resinous  lustre.  It  is  a  little  harder  than  gypsum, 
and  falls  to  pieces  when  moistened  with  water.  Specific  gravity  1-35. 
Its  analysis  gave  M.  Dumont,  phosphoric  acid  13-6,  protoxide  of  iron  29-0, 
water  40-20,  besides  11-0  carbonate  of  lime  and  3-5  silica,  which  are  acci- 
dental. Berzelius  observes  that  this  is  the  same  basic  phosphate  as  that 
from  the  Isle  of  France,  with  the  difference  that  it  contains  twice  the 
amount  of  water. 

ANGLARITE  of  Kobell.  This  is  a  fibrous  and  compact  variety  of  phos- 
phate of  iron.  Its  color  is  grey,  inclining  to  blue  ;  and  it  is  translucent. 
B  B,  it  melts  into  a  black  globule,  and  in  the  matrass  yields  water. 

It  occurs  at  Anglar,  in  the  Haute  Vienne,  France. 

MULLICITE  of  Dr.  Thomson.  This  is  from  Mullica  Hill,  Gloucester 
county,  N.  J.,  and  has  been  made  into  a  new  species  by  Dr.  Thomson. 
Its  analysis  gave  phosphoric  acid  24,  protoxide  of  iron  42-65,  water  25, 
sand  7'90.  It  forms  very  brilliant  radiating  needle-form  crystals,  attached 
to  casts  of  several  of  the  fossils  of  the  green  sand  formation. 

YELLOW  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON,  containing  CHLORINE. —  C.  T. 
Jackson.  This  variety  occurs  in  compact,  botryoidal  masses,  in  the  pri- 
mary rocks  of  Newfield,  Me.  Color  brownish  or  greenish-yellow  ;  lus- 
tre on  fractured  surfaces  resinous.  Streak  and  powder  nearly  white. 
Hardness  5.  B  B,  on  charcoal  turns  black  the  moment  the  flame  acts 
upon  it,  and  becomes  magnetic  ;  fuses  slightly  on  the  edges  into  a  black 
glass ;  with  soda  into  a  yellow  bead.  In  a  glass  tube,  with  charcoal,  yellow 
scales  sublime  which  are  chloride  of  iron.  The  presence  of  chlorine  is 
also  shown  by  the  usual  acid  tests.  Dr.  Jackson  obtained  protoxide  of 
iron  64-394,  phosphoric  and  chlorohydric  acids  56'606. 

EARTHY  PHOSPHATE  OF  IRON.  Blaue  Eisenerde,  W.  Fer  phos- 
phate terreux,  H.  Blue  Iron  Earth,  J.  The  color  of  this  variety  on  its 
first  exposure  is  grey,  yellow,  or  greenish-white,  or  with  a  very  slight 
tinge  of  blue  ;  afterwards  it  becomes  blue  of  different  degrees  of  intensity. 
It  occurs  massive,  disseminated  in  or  coating  other  substances  ;  and  is  some- 
times loose,  occasionally  cohering,  and  with  an  earthy  fracture.  It  is  dull, 
meagre  to  the  touch,  soils  the  fingers  slightly,  and  is  light.  B  B,  it  becomes 
reddish-brown,  and  then  melts  into  a  brownish-black  slag,  attractable  by 
the  magnet.  It  occurs  in  clay,  and  mud,  more  or  less  intermingled  with 
animal  matter,  from  which  the  phosphoric  acid  is  conjectured  to  have  pro- 
ceeded. Also  in  argillaceous  deposits  in  many  places  where  it  seems  to 
have  had  its  origin  from  the  decomposition  of  animal  substances.  It  has 
been  brought  from  Styria,  Carinthia,  and  Greenland.  The  friable  varie- 
ties have  been  met  with  in  forming  excavations  in  the  river  mud  of  the 
Isle  of  Dogs ;  in  the  same  deposit  at  Toxteth  near  Liverpool.  On  the  sur- 
face of  peat-mosses  in  several  of  the  Shetland  Isles;  at  Ballagh  in  the  Isle 
ot  Man,  accompanying  animal  matter,  as  the  bones  of  the  elk  and  deer. 

Bog  iron  ores  are  frequently  more  or  less  contaminated  with  phosphate 
of  iron,  and  the  cold  short  quality  oi  the  cast  iron  obtained  from  them,  has 
been  supposed  to  be  owing  either  to  the  direct  combination  of  phosphoric 
acid  with  the  metal,  in  the  process  of  smelting,  or  to  its  not  leaving  the 
iron  with  which  it  was  already  united  in  the  ore.  It  is  evident,  however, 
that  phosphoric  acid  could  not  escape  decomposition  in  the  intense  heat  of 
the  smelting  furnace. 


308  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

HETEPOSITE. 

KobeU.     (Ann.  dc  CJtim.  xxx.  294.)     Heterositc,  B.     Marantalus  Frcna  i,  D. 

Consists  of  phosphoric  acid  41'77,  protoxide  of  iron  :34'69, 
protoxide    of  manganese   17'57,   silica  022,    water    4'40. - 
Dufremoy.     Formula:  2FPh2+MnPh2+Aq. 

Massive ;  having  a  lamellar  structure,  and  a  greenish-grey 
or  blue  color;  lustre  resinous,  like  that  of  apatite.  Primary 
form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  100°  and  80°,  and  101°  and 
79°,  obtained  by  cleavage.  After  long  exposure  to  the  atmos- 
phere its  color  becomes  violet,  and  its  lustre  is  changed  into 
semi-metallic.  Is  soluble  in  acids,  with  the  exception  of  its 
silica;  and  B  B,  fuses  into  a  brown  enamel,  which  has  a  semi- 
metallic  lustre. 

It  occurs  at  Hureaux,  in  the  Haute  Vienne,  and  was  noticed 
and  described  by  M.  Dufresnoy. 

KARPHOS1DERITE. 

Breithaupt.     (Brewstcr's  Journal,  viii.  181.) 

Consists  of  phosphoric  acid,  oxide  of  iron,  and  water. 
Sp.  Gr.  25.     II.  =  4-0  — 4-5. 

Occurs  in  reniform  masses  of  a  straw-yellow  color  ;  lustre 
resinous  ;  fracture  uneven  ;  feels  greasy.  B  B,  in  the  open 
tube,  it  gives  off  water,  accompanied  by  fumes  which  redden 
turmeric  paper  :  alone  on  charcoal  it  becomes  black  ;  and  at  a 
high  temperature  melts  into  a  globule,  which  is  powerfully 
magnetic.  Is  soluble  with  facility  in  borax,  and  with  salt  of 
phosphorus  forms  a  black  scoria. 

This  mineral  was  distinguished  by  Breithaupt,  who  named  it 
in  allusion  to  its  straw-yellow  color.  Its  locality  is  Labrador. 


SULPHATE  OF  IRON. 

Green  Vitriol.     Melanterie,  Bcudunt.      Bison-Vitriol,  W.      Fcr  Fulphnte,  II.      Hcmi- 
Prismutic  Vitriol,  J.     Hemi-1'rismatic  Vitriol  Suit,  M.     Vitriolum  Martiale,  D. 

Composed,  by  the  analysis  of  Berzelius,  of  sulphuric  acid 
28-8,  protoxide  of  iron  25'7,  water  45'4.  Formula :  FSl-H3Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  184  —  19.  H.  =  2*0. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism.  M  on  M/r=82° 
20',  P  on  M  or  M'  99°  20'.  It  is  usually  modified  by  replace- 
ments on  the  acute  and  obtuse  solid  angles,  as  well  as  on  the 
acute  and  obtuse  terminal  edges;  sometimes  also  on  the  late- 
ral edges.  (See  fig.  12,  p.  xi.  of  the  Introduction.} 

It  presents  various  shades  of  green,  sometimes  emerald- 
green  ;  but  more  frequently,  owing  to  exposure,  is  externally  of 
a  yellow  or  yellowish-brown  color.  It  occurs  in  crystals,  also 
massive,  pulverulent,  and  in  stalactites;  cleavage  perfect  par- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  369 

allel  to  P,  less  so  to  M ;  translucent;  lustre  vitreous;  taste 
extremely  astringent ;  fracture  conchoidal.  It  is  readily  solu- 
ble in  double  its  weight  of  water,  and  the  solution  turns  black 
on  the  addition  of  tincture  of  galls.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  be- 
comes magnetic,  and  colors  glass  of  borax  green.  Exposed  to 
the  air,  it  soon  appears  covered  with  a  yellow  powder,  which  is 
the  persulphate  of  iron. 

It  occurs  in  the  Rammelsberg  mine  near  Goslar  in  the  Hartz, 
at  Schwartzenberg  in  Saxony,  and  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary  ; 
also  in  aluminous  shale,  at  Hurlet  near  Paisley  ;  and  in  New 
England,  where  it  forms  crusts  upon  the  surfaces  of  such  mica- 
slate  rocks  as  happen  to  abound  in  iron  pyrites. 

This  species  in  its  natural  state  is  rare ;  in  most  cases  it  is 
produced  by  the  decomposition  of  other  minerals,  particularly 
iron  pyrites,  when  it  is  freely  exposed  to  the  action  of  air  and 
moisture,  by  which  the  sulphur  is  changed  in  sulphuric  acid, 
the  iron  into  an  oxide,  and  a  combination  thus  takes  place  be- 
tween them  with  the  addition  of  water.  It  is  sometimes  found 
dissolved  in  the  waters  of  certain  mines.  This  natural  cop- 
peras is  used  in  dyeing,  in  making  ink,  Prussian  blue,  and 
sulphuric  acid. 

WHITE  COPPERAS.     COQUIMBITE. 

Bisulphated  Peroxide  of  Iron,  Thomson.    (Outlines,  &c.,i.  450.)  Vitriolumhexagonum,D. 

The  results  of  three  analyses  of  this  mineral  are  as  follow  : 

Sulphuric  acid 43-55 43-55 41-369 

Peroxide  of  iron 24-1 1 25-21 26-789 

Alu.ninti 0-92 0-78 1-050 

Lime 0-73 0-14 0-000 

Magnesia 0-32 0-21 0-300 

Silica 0-31 0-37 0-825 

Water 30-10 29-98 29-:397 

100-04  H.  Rose.      100-24  H.  Rose.       99-680  J.  H.  Blake. 

Dr.  Thomson  has  deduced  the  atomic  composition  of  this 
mineral  from  the  first  analysis.  By  supposing  the  alumina, 
lime,  and  magnesia,  to  be  united  with  sulphuric  acid,  he  ob- 
tains very  nearly  two  atoms  of  sulphuric  acid  to  one  of  peroxide 
of  iron,  combined  with  five  atoms  water  of  crystallization. 
Formula  :  FSP+oAq.  But  Rammelsberg  has  described  this 
salt  as  a  ter  sulphate,  and  even  shown  by  the  method  of  deter- 
mining the  ratios  of  the  constituents  from  the  quantities  of 
oxygen  contained  in  them,  that  there  is  a  small  quantity  of  free 
sulpliuric  acid  present  in  this  mineral.  In  the  analysis  by  Mr. 
Blake  there  is  a  deficiency  of  acid,  while  the  iron  and  water 
answer  more  nearly  the  demands  of  the  formula,  as  given  by 
Rammelsberg,  than  either  of  the  other  two. 


370  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

The  salt  is  white,  also  of  various  shades  of  brown,  yellow, 
red,  and  sometimes  even  of  a  deep  blue  violet  color.  It  is  in 
masses  of  a  granular  texture,  some  parts  of  which  are  crystal- 
lized. The  crystals  are  in  regular  hexahedral  prisms,  termi- 
nated at  both  extremities  by  six-sided  pyramids.  The  faces  of 
the  pyramids  c  c1  meet  each  other  at  an  angle 
of  128°  8',  and  incline  upon  the  faces  M  M' 
at  an  angle  of  119°.  P  on  c  or  c'  151°.  Cleav- 
age imperfect  parallel  with  M.  The  crystals 
are  entirely  soluble  in  water,  and  if  the  solu- 
tion be  heated,  a  copious  precipitate  of  per- 
oxide of  iron  falls.  When  dissolved  in  water 
containing  muriatic  acid,  a  portion  of  silica 
remains  undissolved.  According  to  Prof.  G. 
Rose,  the  solution  after  long  standing  in  the 
air  yields  crystals  which  do  not  seem  to  have 
the  form  of  the  natural  salt. 

It  would  seem  probable  that  this  is  a  dimorphous  salt,  as  the 
specimens  obtained  by  Mr.  Blake,  who  has  carefully  explored 
the  region  in  which  it  is  found,  present  regular  octahedral 
crystals  of  considerable  size,  as  well  as  perfect  hexahedral 
prisms,  the  only  form  observed  by  Rose.  These  octahedrons 
are  obtained  more  beautiful  and  perfect  by  re-dissolving  the 
salt  in  pure  water  and  subsequent  crystallization.  It  was  one 
of  the  natural  octahedral  crystals  which  Mr.  Blake  analyzed. 
This  salt  is  found  in  great  abundance  in  the  extreme  south- 
ern part  of  Peru  —  the  western  part  of  Bolivia,  near  Calama, 
and  in  the  northern  part  of  Chili,  near  Copiapo,  forming  beds 
arid  veins  in  feldspar  porphyry  or  trachyte  in  the  outer  and 
western  range  of  the  Andes.  About  five  leagues  east  of  the 
town  of  Copiapo  there  is  an  extensive  bed  five  or  six  yards  in 
depth,  and  in  Bolivia  it  occurs  in  extensive  veins  traversing 
feldspar  porphyry.  Near  Calama  it  constitutes  the  greater  part 
of  a  large  hill. 


SULPHATED  PEROXIDE  OF  IRON. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Outlines,  &c.,  i.  451.) 

This  salt  is  found  encrusting  the  preceding,  in  small  grains 
or  six-sided  tables,  and  accompanying  masses  of  a  dirty  yellow- 
ish-green matter  which  is  not  crystallized.  When  separated 
from  this,  its  analysis,  by  H.  Rose,  gave  the  following  results  : 
sulphuric  acid  31'73,  peroxide  of  iron  28*11,  lime  1:91,  mag- 
nesia 0-59,  water  36*56,  silica  1'43. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


371 


The  sulphuric  acid  amounts  to  6'33  atoms,  and  the  peroxide 
of  iron  to  5'62;  but  the  lime  and  magnesia  amount  together 
to  0'75  atom,  which  supposing  them  to  be  united  with  sulphu- 
ric acid,  leave  5'58  atoms  of  sulphuric  acid  to  combine  with 
5'62  atoms  peroxide  of  iron  —  numbers  so  nearly  equal  that  it 
is  evident  the  salt  is  a  neutral  sulphated  peroxide.  The  water 
amounts  to  nearly  6  atoms.  Formula :  FSl+6Aq.  The 
color  of  this  salt  is  yellow;  it  is  translucent ;  and  possesses  a 
pearly  lustre.  It  is  mixed  with  a  good  deal  of  silicious  matter 
which  is  not  easily  separated.  Cleaves  readily  parallel  to  P  of 
the  tables. 


BOTRYOGENE. 

Native  Red  Iron  Vitriol  of  Fahlun,  Haidinger.    RotherEisen-VitrioJ,  Leonhard.  Neoplase, 
Beudant.     Vitriolum  bicolor,  D. 


Consists  of  sulphuric  acid  32'55,  peroxide  of  iron  23'S6, 
protoxide  of  iron  10*71,  water  32'85. 

Formula,  by  Beudant,  FSl2+3FSl-hl2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-039.     H.  =  2  25  —  2%5. 
Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  1  19°  66'  and  60°  4'. 


M  on  M' 119°  56' 

/  on  / 81    44 

q  on  q 141      0 


M 


M 


Occurs  in  small  crystals  which  are  usually  aggregated  in 
reniform  and  botryoidal  masses,  consisting  of  globules  with  a 
crystalline  surface  ;  sometimes  like  a  bunch  of  grapes,  hence 
its  name,  from  $OTgvs.  Faces  of /and  M  striated  parallel  to 
the  axis,' and  less  perfectly  formed  than  the  inclined  planes; 
cleavage  parallel  to  M.  Color  deep  hyacinth-red,  passing,  when 
massive,  into  ochre-yellow,  the  color  of  its  streak ;  translucent ; 
lustre  vitreous;  taste  slightly  astringent.  When  exposed  to  a 
moist  atmosphere  it  becomes  covered  with  a  dirty  yellow  pow- 
der, but  remains  unchanged  when  dry.  B  B,  it  intumesces 
and  gives  off  water,  leaving  a  reddish-yellow  earth ;  with  salt 
of  phosphorus  yields  a  red  glass,  which  becomes  colorless  on 
cooling.  Boiling  water  dissolves  only  a  part  of  it.  It  occurs 


372  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

in  the  great  copper  mine  of  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  in  the  level 
called  Mellanrumsort,  forming  a  coating  on  gypsum  or  pyrites, 
along  with  Epsom  salt,  green  vitriol,  &c.  —  Allan's  Manual 
The  MISY  of  Hausmann  occurs  with,  and  is  nearly  related 
to  this  species.  As  no  analysis  is  given  of  it  by  Rammelsberg 
its  composition  is  not  accurately  known.  The  name  Misy 
was  first  given  by  Pliny  to  some  artificial  compound  obtained 
in  the  process  of  making  vitriol  in  the  Island  of  Cyprus. 

ARSENIATE  OF  IRON. 

Wurfelerz.  W.     Fer  Arscniate,  H.     rube-Ore,  J.     Pharmakosiderit,  Hans.     Hexaheclral 
Lirocone  Malachite,  M.     Arcalus  cubicus,  U. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  protoxide  and  peroxide  of  iron, 
and  water,  mixed  with  phosphoric  acid  and  oxide  of  copper  in 
very  minute  proportions. 

Peroxide  of  iron 39-20 40-Sfi 45-5 

Arsenic  acid 37-82 38-00 31-0 

Phosphoric  acid 2-ftf 0-71) 0-0 

Oxide  of  copper IH5 <Hi() 9-0 

Water 18'(U 19-f>7 10-5 

Insoluble  matter 1-76 0-35 4-0 

100-57  Berzelius.        99-7b  Berzelius.       100-0  Chenevix. 

The  two  analyses  by  Berzelius  give  very  nearly  one  atom 
arsenic  acid,  one  atom  peroxide  of  iron,  and  three  and  a  half 
atoms  water,  so  that  the  mineral  appears  to  be  a  hydrous  sub- 
sesquiarseniate  of  iron.     Formula:  F^As-hS^Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  29  — 3-0.     H.  =  25. 

Various  shades  between  light-  and  bottle-green,  and  yellow- 
ish- and  brownish-green ;  it  rarely  occurs  massive,  mostly 
crystallized  in  its  primary  form,  a  Cube,  either  perfect  or 
having  the  alternate  angles  replaced  by  one  or  by  three  planes, 
very  rarely  with  all  the  edges  and  angles  replaced.  The  small 
planes  b,  b,  on  the  largest  of  the  following  figures,  appear  at 
first  only  as  striae,  apparently  indicating  the  tetrahedron  as  the 
primary  form  ;  but  the  crystals  yield  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
planes  of  the  cube,  though  not  with  sufficient  brilliancy  for  the 
use  of  the  reflective  goniometer.  The  cross  fracture  is  uneven 
or  imperfectly  conchoidal,  with  a  shining  vitreous  lustre.  It 
varies  from  transparent  to  opake  ;  sometimes  ochreous  exter- 
nally, from  partial  decomposition  ;  and  is  brittle.  Streak  pale 
olive-green.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  emits  arsenical  vapors,  and 
fuses  into  a  grey  scoria  which  exhibits  metallic  brilliancy  and 
is  attractable  by  the  magnet.  With  the  fluxes,  after  the  disen- 
gagement of  arsenical  fumes, -it  forms  bottle-green  colored  glo- 
bules. On  exposure  to  heat  it  becomes  electric,  and  is  soluble 
in  concentrated  acid. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 
2.  3. 


373 


Fig.  1,  the  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  the  alternate  solid  angles 
are  replaced  by  triangular  planes.  Fig.  3,  in  which  they  are  replaced  by 
four  planes;  these  are  sometimes  rounded,  and  appear  but  as  one  plane. 
Fig.  4,  the  cube,  of  which  both  the  edges  and  angles  are  replaced. 


b  on  b  or  b 93°  40' 

b  on  b' 176    30 

6  (upper)  on  b' 86    30 

the  other  planes  are  dull,  or  some- 
what convex. 


Its  principal  localities  are  the  mines  of  Huel  Gorland,  Huel 
Unity,  and  Carharack  in  Cornwall,  where  it  occurs  associated 
with  various  ores  of  copper.  On  the  continent  it  has  been 
found  at  St.  Leonard  in  France,  and  at  Schneeberg  and 
Schvvartzenberg  in  Saxony,  but  it  is  a  rare  mineral  out  of 
England. 


DIARSENIATE    OF    IRON. 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines,  &,c.,  i.  456.) 

This  mineral  is  composed,  by  the  analysis  of  Kersten,  of 
arsenic  acid  30*25,  peroxide  of  iron  40-45,  water  and  a  trace 
of  sulphuric  acid  28'50.  The  numbers  correspond  with  one 
atom  arsenic  acid,  two  atoms  peroxide  of  iron,  and  six  atoms 
water.  It  is  therefore  a  hydrous  arseniate  of  iron,  as  thus  ex- 
pressed by  the  formula — F2As+6Aq. 

It  occurs  in  yellowish-grey  kidney-shaped  pieces,  soft,  ap- 
proaching to  friable,  with  a  coarse  earthy  fracture,  and  adher- 
ing strongly  to  the  tongue.  Without  lustre,  and  rough  to  the 
feel.  It  was  first  noticed  by  Freiesleben,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Freiberg,  but  it  does  not  appear  to  have  been  observed 
under  any  crystalline  form. 

ARSENIATE  OF  IRON. 

This  mineral  has  been  analyzed  by  Berzelius  and  Boussin- 
gault,  giving  the  following  results  : 
32 


374  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

Arsenic  acid 50-78 49*6 

Peroxide  of  iron 34-85 34-3 

Oxide  oflead 0-UO 0-4 

Arseniate  of  alumina 0-07 0-0 

Water 15-55 1(3-9 

101-65  Berzelius.       1U1-2  Boussingault. 

Dividing  the  mean  numbers  which  these  two  analyses  give, 
by  the  atomic  weights,  we  obtain  one  atom  arsenic  acid,  one 
atom  peroxide  of  iron,  and  two  atoms  water.  But  one  third  of 
the  iron  is  supposed  to  be  in  the  state  of  protoxide,  whence  Dr. 
Thomson  has  given  this  formula;  FAs+SFAs+GAq. 

It  occurs  massive  ;  usually  in  small  porous  masses,  present- 
ing imperfect  crystallizations,  among  which  Berzelius  observed 
Right  square  prisms  terminated  by  four-sided  pyramids.  Color 
pale;  streak  white.  Heated  in  a  glass  tube  it  gives  out  water 
with  the  evolution  of  arsenious  acid.  B  B,  it  becomes  yel- 
low, but  without  changing  its  form. 

This  mineral  occurs  at  Antonio  Pareiza,  Villa  Rica,  in 
Brazil,  and  at  Loaysa,  near  Marmato,  in  Popayan. 

OXALATE  OF  IRON. 

Fer  Oxalate,  Levy.    Oxalate  do  Fer.     Humboldtine,  Rivcro.    Humboldtite,  Nccker  and 
Beudant.     Astasialus  phytogeneus,  D. 

Combination  of  oxalic  acid,  protoxide  of  iron,  and  water. 

Oxalio  acid 46-14 42-40 

Protoxide  of  iron. . .  .53-66 41-31 

Water 0-UO llj-47 

100-00  Rivero.  100-00  Rammelsberg. 

Since  the  oxygen  of  the  oxalic  acid,  of  the  protoxide  of  iron, 
and  of  the  water,  is  as  3:1  :  1,  5,  humboldite  is  a  neutral 
oxalate  of  the  protoxide  of  iron,  with  one  and  a  half  atom  of 
water.  It  thus  differs  from  the  artificial  combination  by  con- 
taining one  half  atom  less  of  water.*  Formula:  FO+l^Aq. 
or,  as  stated  by  Rarnmelsberg,  2Fe€3H.  Rivero's  number 
gave  very  nearly  one  atom  acid  to  one  atom  base,  but  it  ap- 
pears that  he  overlooked  the  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-13  (Leonhard),  1-3  (Beudant).     H.  about  2'0. 

It  occurs  in  small  flattish  masses  of  a  bright  yellow  color, 
and  crystalline,  but  the  crystals  are  not  determinate  ;  opake, 
devoid  of  lustre,  and  having  an  uneven  earthy  fracture.  It 
acquires  resinous  electricity  by  friction:  it  decomposes  easily 
on  live  coal,  giving  out  a  vegetable  odor,  the  residue  passing 
by  degrees  from  yellow  to  black,  and  finally  to  red.  It  is  in- 

*  Rammelsberg's  Ilandwbrterbuch,  part  1st,  p.  315. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  375 

soluble  in  boiling  water  and  alcohol,  but  dissolves  without 
effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  imparting  to  it  a  yellowish  tint. 

It  is  found  at  Koloseruk,  near  Bilin  in  Bohemia,  imbedded 
in  moor-coal  or  friable  lignite,  and  is  supposed  by  its  analyst 
to  result  from  the  decomposition  of  succulent  plants. 

Dr.  Thomson,  from  an  examination  of  this  mineral,  has  been 
led  to  question  whether  oxalic  acid  is  really  contained  in  it, 
but  Rammelsberg's  result  renders  it  probable  that  he  did  not 
receive  a  genuine  specimen  of  the  substance. 

TUNGSTATE  OF  IRON. 

Wolfram,  W.    ScheelinFerru^ine,  H.  Bt.    Prismatic  Wolfram,  J.     Prismatic  Scheelium 
Ore,  M.     Wolframius  rectangulus,  D. 

Combination  of  the  oxides  of  tungsten,  iron,  and  manganese. 

Cumberland.  Haute-Vienne.          Bohemia.  Cumberland. 

Tungstic  acid 74-666 73-511 73-60 78-77 

Protoxide  of  iron 17-594 20-745 11-20 18-32 

Prot.  of  manganese..  5-640 5744 15-75 6-22 

Silica 2-100 0-000 0-00 1-25 


100-000  Berzelius.   100-000  Vauquelin.  100-55  Richardson  104-56  Berz. 

We  obtain  from  the  two  analyses  by  Berzelius,  numbers 
which  approach  very  nearly  to  three  atoms  tungstate  of  iron, 
and  one  atom  tungstate  of  manganese,  or  3FTn+MnTn. 
Sp.  Gr.  7-1 1  —  7-33.     H.  =  5'0  —  55. 

Color  brownish-black  ;  is  found  both  mas- 
sive and  crystallized  in  rectangular  prisms. 
Structure  lamellar ;  cleavage  perfect  parallel 
to  a  plane  which  bevels  the  lateral  edge  be- 
tween r  and  r  ;  streak  dark  reddish-brown  ; 
lustre  brilliant,  often  metallic ;  opake ;  and  is 
brittle ;  —  t  on  t  over  the  apex,  125°  20' ;  r 
on  r  over  M,  101°  5'.  B  B,  it  decrepitates, 
and  fuses  under  a  strong  heat  into  a  black  and 
somewhat  scoriaceous  globule ;  it  is  readily  soluble  in  borax, 
and  does  not  act  on  the  magnet. 

Wolfram  is  peculiar  to  primitive  rocks;  and  is  a  common 
associate  of  tin  ore,  particularly  in  the  mines  of  Saxony,  Bohe- 
mia, and  Cornwall.  In  the  former  countries  it  is  found  in 
large  well-defined  crystals;  in  the  latter  in  such  abundance  as 
frequently  to  impede  the  working  of  the  tin  ore.  At  Wheal 
Maudlin  in  Cornwall  it  has  occurred  in  pseudomorphous  crys- 
tals, assuming  the  precise  form  of  tungsten.  Greenland,  Sibe- 
ria, Limoges  in  France,  and  the  island  of  Rona  in  the  Hebrides, 
are  other  localities  of  this  species. 

In  the  United  States,  this  mineral  is  found  in  considerable 


376 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


quantity  at  Lanes  mine,  Monroe,  Conn.,  in  an  extensive  bed  of 
quartz,  accompanied  by  tungsten,  blende,  galena,  and  native 
bismuth.  It  occurs  under  similar  circumstances  in  quartz  at 
Trumbull  in  the  same  State.  In  Maine,  at  Bluehill,  with  sul- 
phuret  of  molybdena,  and  at  Jackson,  N.  H.,  accompanying  the 
veins  of  oxide  of  tin,  discovered  by  Dr.  Jackson.  This  mine- 
ral is  frequently  pseudomorphic,  or  takes  the  form  of  other 
substances,  as  of  carbonate  of  lime,  felspar,  and  tungstate  of 
lime.  (See  the  table  of  pseudomorphous  bodies,  p.  Ixxxii. 
of  the  Introduction.) 

RUTILE. 

Prismatico-Pyramidal  Titanium-Ore,  J.  Peritomous  Titanium  Ore,  M.  Rutil,  W. 
Titane  Oxyde,  H.  Futile,  Br.  Red  Oxide  of  Titanium,  Cleaveland.  Titane  Kutile,Bt. 
Titanic  acid,  Thomson.  Rutilus  quadratus,  D. 

This  species  consists  of  titanic  acid  united  with  various  pro- 
portions of  oxide  of  iron.  Formula:  Tt.* 

Sp.  Gr.  4  24  —  44.     H.  ==  G'O  —  6'5. 

Usual  color  reddish-brown,  in  which  case  it  is  opake  ;  also 
in  prismatic  crystals  terminated  by  pyramids,  of  a  blood-red 
color,  and  then  translucent  or  transparent.  It  occurs  in  four- 
or  eight-sided  prisms,  either  single  or  geniculated,  and  com- 
monly striated  longitudinally  ;  also  in  minute  reticulated  crys- 
tals. The  structure  is  lamellar.  The  primary  form  is  a  Right 
square  prism  ;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M,  interrupted  paral- 
lel to  d ;  the  fragments  possess  metallic  adamantine  lustre; 
cross  fracture  imperfectly  conchoidal  or  uneven ;  streak  very 
pale  brown  ;  brittle  ;  acquires  resinous  electricity  by  friction. 
B  B,  it  is  infusible  per  se,  but  with  borax  it  forms  a  transparent 
reddish-yellow  glass,  which,  when  long  in  the  reducing  flame, 
assumes  an  amethystine  color. 

Geniculated  crystal. 


*  In  the  crystals  of  this  mineral  from  St.  Yrieix,  Prof.  G.  Rose  found  only  1-53  per  cent, 
peroxide  of  iron  ;  whence  we  may  suppose  the  above  formula  to  represent  the  true  com- 
position of  this  species. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  377 


P  on  M  or  M'    ....     90°  00' 

M  on  M' 90    00 

—  on  d  or  M'  on  d'    .  135      5 

M  on  e  or  e1 161    40 

M  on  c  or  M  on  c'   .  .  122    45 
a  on  a' 123    15 


a  or  a'  on  c'     151°  42' 

a  on  d  or  a'  on  d'     .......  132    20 

d  on  e 153    33 

M  on  M"  or  M'  on  M"  (made)  134    52 
a  on  a  over  summit  ....  114°  30'  ) 
c  on  cover  summit    ....  123°  08  )* 

Rutile  is  most  frequently  met  with  in  lengthened  prismatic 
crystals  imbedded  in  quartz,  as  at  Crianlarich  in  Perthshire, 
Rosenau  in  Hungary,  Karingbricka  in  Sweden,  Arendal,  St. 
Gothard,  and  in  Brazil.  When  the  quartz  is  limpid,  and  is 
cut  and  polished  to  show  the  rutile,  its  slender  needle-shaped, 
or  hair-like  crystals,  appear  of  a  blood-red  hue  by  transmitted 
light.  The  reticulated  variety  occurs  at  St.  Gothard,  disposed 
in  red,  translucent  flat  prisms,  on  crystals  of  fer-oligiste.  At 
St.  Yrieix  in  France,  Horcaejulo  in  Spain,  and  in  Castile,  it 
forms  remarkable  geniculated  twin  crystals,  which  are  often 
of  large  size. 

Nigrin,t  W.  Titane  oxyde  ferrifere,  H.  Titan  nigrin,  Bt. 
Oxide  of  titanium  containing  about  14  per  cent,  of  iron.  Of 
a  brownish-black  color,  and  generally  in  loose,  angular,  or 
rounded  masses;  structure  lamellar;  cross  fracture  flat  and 
imperfectly  conchoidal ;  lustre  shining;  streak  pale-brown,  and 
in  most  of  its  characters  precisely  similar  to  rutile.  It  is  found 
in  alluvium  in  Ceylon  with  iron  sand,  hyacinth,  &,c. ;  and  at 
Ohlapian  in  Transylvania  with  gold,  almandine,  and  rutile. 

In  the  United  States,  the  most  delicately  acicular,  or  hair- 
shaped  crystallizations,  have  been  found  in  loose  masses  of 
quartz,  in  the  vicinity  of  Hanover,  N.  H.  A  specimen  in  the 
cabinet  of  Dartmouth  College,  will  vie  in  beauty  with  any 
brought  from  Brazil.  According  to  Dr.  Jackson,  it  occurs 
massive,  and  forms  considerable  veins  in  the  gneiss  rocks  of  the 
Souhegan  River,  and  Merrimack  Mountain,  N.  H. ;  also  crys- 
tallized, and  sometimes  in  macled  forms,  in  mica-slate,  at  Cor- 
nish, N.  H.  Very  fine  single  crystals,  with  highly  polished 
planes,  occur  in  the  chlorite  slate  of  Windsor,  Mass.,  and  im- 
bedded in  the  felspar  which  occupies  the  seams  of  the  slate. 
Prof.  Hitchcock  has  also  found  in  the  gneiss  at  Barre,  large 
and  perfectly  formed  prisms  along  with  crystallized  mica  and 
sulphuret  of  iron.  Large  compound  crystals,  of  a  dark  color, 

*  The  measurements  of  these  angles  were  incorrectly  given  in  the  former  editions  of 
this  treatise.  The  first  (a  on  a'  aver  summit  =90a),  was  so  obvious  that  we  are  surprised 
to  find  it  copied  into  other  works  unobserved.  Mr.  Brook  and  Prof.  Miller,  have  referred 
to  them,  as  one  or  two  mistakes  made  by  the  author,  probably  in  transcribing  ;  and  the 
last  named  aentleman,  has  now  given  the  values  of  these  angles,  in  an  article  on  the 
forms  of  rutile,  in  the  Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.,  xvii.  268.  Mr.  Teschemacher  at  my 
request,  had  previously  obtained  the  values  of  a  a,  as  above  stated,  but  the  planes  c, 
c,  were  not  sufficiently  perfect  for  measurement.  1  have  therefore  added,  as  above,  Prof. 
Miller's  determination  of  their  values.  His  observed  values  of  a  a,  almost  exactly  coin- 
cided with  Mr.  Teschemacher's.  [Aw.  ED.]  t  F*°m  its  black  color» 

32* 


378  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

are  found  at  Munroe  and  Huntington,  Ct.  The  white  limestone 
of  Essex  and  Warren  counties,  N.  Y.,  as  at  Amity  and  War- 
wick, and  of  Kingsbridge,  New  York  county,  according  to 
Drs.  Beck  and  Horton,  furnishes  several  forms  of  crystallized 
rutile ;  often  in  acicular  four-sided  semi-transparent  prisms,  of 
a  dark  blood-red  color  —  these  prisms  being  united  at  their 
bases,  so  as  to  form  the  genicule-ternaire  of  Haiiy. 

It  occurs  at  Edenville  and  Amity,  N.  Y.,  and  is  associated 
with  pargasite  at  the  former  place,  and  with  spinel,  mica,  &c. 
at  the  latter.  It  is  contained  also  in  the  same  limestone  rock 
at  Newton  and  Sparta,  N.  J.,  and  accompanied  by  the  various 
interesting  minerals  of  this  region.  The  white  and  grey 
quartz,  which  abounds  in  the  vicinity  of  Georgetown,  D.  C., 
has  lately  added  many  beautiful  crystals  to  the  cabinets  of 
American  mineralogists,  and  the  specimens  are  no  less  re- 
markable for  their  perfection,  than  for  the  magnitude  of  their 
crystals,  many  of  them  having  their  terminal  planes  complete, 
and  measuring  three  inches  in  length.  Crystals  of  equal  di- 
mensions, with  highly  lustrous  planes,  have  been  found  at 
Sadsbury,  Lancaster  and  Chester  counties,  Penn.,  about  40 
miles  west  of  Philadelphia.  According  to  J.  A.  Clay,  the 
finest  geniculated  crystals  are  found  loose  in  the  soil,  and 
these  sometimes  measure  five  inches  in  length. 

TITANIATE  OF  IRON. 

Menakan.    Menaccanite.    Iserine.    Gregorite. 

Compound  of  titanic  acid  and  oxide  of  iron. 

Menaccanite.  Iserine.  Brazil. 

Titanic  acid 57-187 5(H2 41-0 

Protoxide  of  iron   ....39-780 49-88    Peroxide.... 56-2 

Protoxide  of  manganese  2.175 0-00.  ..Quartz... .   2-5 

99-142  Colquhoun.*     100-00  H.  Rose.         99-7  Berthier. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-5—5.     H.  =  5—5-5. 

It  occurs  in  small  black  granular  masses,  which  slightly  affect 
the  magnetic  needle,  and  were  first  noticed  in  the  bed  of  a  rivulet 
near  Menaccan,  in  Cornwall ;  and  near  the  rise  of  the  stream 
Iser  t  in  the  Riesengebirge  of  Silesia.  Also  from  Botany  Bay, 
in  New  South  Wales,  and  on  the  shores  of  Siecles  in  Brittany. 

These  ferro-titaniferous  minerals  vary  considerably  in  their 
proportions  of  titanic  acid  and  iron,  and  probably  include 
more  than  one  species.  Regarding  the  mineral  a  compound 
of  one  atom  titanic  acid,  and  one  atom  protoxide  of  iron,  the 
first  analysis  gives  an  excess  of  acid,  and  the  second  a  de- 
ficiency. The  third  comes  very  near  to  a  subsesquititanite  of 
iron.  But  we  shall  omit  the  formula. 

*  Thomson's  Outlines,  &c.,  i.  p.  465.  |  Whence  Menaccanite  and  Iserine. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  379 

The  Hystatite,  or  hystatisches  eisenerz  of  Breithaupt,  should 
probably  come  under  this  head,  though  in  crystalline  form  it 
approaches  nearer  to  Ilmenite.  According  to  Von  Kobell,  it 
consists  of  titanic  acid  43*24,  protoxide  of  iron  27 '91,  peroxide 
of  iron  28-66.  Von  KobelPs  Basanomelan,  and  Breithaupt's 
trappisches  eisenerz,  seem  to  follow  in  the  same  class.  The 
latter  occurs  in  cubes  and  octahedrons. 

BROOKITE.* 

Prismatic  Titanium  Ore,  Headinger.     Brookite,  Levy.      (Ann.  of  PAiZ.,  second  series. 
ix.  140.)    Jurinite  of  Soret. 

Contains  titanic  acid,  with  some  traces  of  iron  and  manga- 
nese, but  it  has  not  been  analyzed. 

H.  —55  —  6-0. 

Primary  form  a  right  rhombic  prism  of  100°  and  80'.  The 
measurements  are,  e  on  e  101°  37',  e  on  ef  (opposite  side)  135° 
46',  m  on  m  over  h  140°. 

In  crystals  of  a  hair-brown  color,  passing 
into  deep  orange-yellow,  more  or  less  trans- 
lucent ;  streak  yellowish-white  ;  lustre  bril- 
liant, metallic-adamantine.  Insoluble  and 
indecomposible  in  boiling  muriatic  acid, 
even  when  reduced  to  powder.  Alone  on 
charcoal  it  is  infusible,  but  it  is  entirely 
soluble  and  forms  a  brownish-yellow  glass 
with  salt  of  phosphorus. 

This  species  occurs  in  extremely  beautiful 
crystals  with  anatase  and  Crichtonite  at 
Bourg  d'Oisans  in  Dauphine,  and  was  first  noticed  by  M.  Soret. 
It  occurs  also  on  the  Tete-noire  in  Savoy,  and  in  large  distinct 
crystals,  sometimes  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  at  Tremadoc  in 
Wales.  It  is,  however,  a  rare  mineral,  and  the  locality  is  sup- 
posed to  be  exhausted.  According  to  Joseph  A.  Clay,  a  single, 
but  very  perfect  crystal,  not  distinguishable  from  Brookite,  has 
been  found  at  Phenixville,  on  the  Reading  rail-road,  Penn., 
associated  with  pearl  spar. 

CRICHTONITE.t 

Fer  Oxydule  Titane,  H.     Crichtonite,  Sournon.    Siderus  acrotomus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-0.     H.  =  4-5. 

It  occurs  in  small  crystals  in  the  form  of  acute  rhomboids, 
having  the  summits  replaced,  and  being  otherwise  variously 
modified  by  secondary  planes ;  the  only  cleavage  is  at  right 

*  In  honor  of  H.  J.  Brooke,  Esq.,  well  known  for  his  valuable  contributions  both  to 
Mineralogy  and  Crystallography.  f  In  honor  of  Dr.  Crichton. 


380 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


angles  to  the  axis  of  the  rhomboid,  *.  e.  parallel  to  the  plane  a. 
Color  bluish-black,  opake,  and  of  a  brilliant  metallic  lustre ; 
the  cross  fracture  conchoidal  and  shining;  streak  deep  black. 
Infusible  B  B,  but  with  salt  of  phosphorus  affords  a  glass 
which  becomes  red  on  cooling.  It  does  not  affect  the  magnet. 
Crichtonite  is  classed  by  Berzelius  with  menaccanite. 


P  on  P'  .... 
P  or  P'  on  P"  . 
on  a  .  . 


61°  20' 

118    45 

97    12 


P"  on  a 83    20 


It  occurs  accompanying  anatase,  and  on  rock  crystal,  at  St. 
Christophe,  near  Oisans,  in  Dauphine.  It  has  not  been  anal- 
yzed, but  it  is  supposed  to  contain  titanic  acid  and  iron.  By 
some  it  is  included  with  the  next  species.  At  Amity  and 
Monroe,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  a  mineral  supposed  to  be 
Chrichtonite,  but  which  has  not  been  analyzed,  occurs  in  black 
shining  crystals  imbedded  in  serpentine  and  white  limestone, 
accompanied  by  Brucite,  spinel  and  rutile.  The  mineral  in 
broad  laminated  masses,  found  at  Washington,  Conn.,  formerly 
referred  to  this  species,  and  now  described  as  a  new  mineral 
by  Prof.  Shepard,  under  the  name  of  Washingtonite,  seems  to 
belong  to  the  next  species. 

ILMEN1TE.* 

Axotomous  Iron  Ore,  M.     Ilmenit,  L.    Kibdelophan,  Beudant.     Siderua  acrotomus,  D. 

Combination  of  titanic  acid  and  oxide  of  iron. 

Miask. 

Titanic  acid 46-67 

Peroxide  of  iron 11-71 

Protoxide  of  iron a5-87 

Protoxide  of  manganese . .  2-39 

Magnesia 0-60 

Lime 0-25 

Oxide  of  chrome 0  38 

Silica 2-80.... 


Miask. 

.46-92 

.10-74 

.37-86 

.  2-73 

.  1-14 

.  000 

.  0-00 

.  0-00... 


Cast. •in. 

59-00 

, 4-25 

, 36-00 

, 1-65 

, 0-00 

0-00 

0-00 

0-00 


100-17  Mosander. 


99-39  Mosander. 


100-90  Kobell. 


Formula  from  the  mean  of  the  two  first  analyses  :  FT+F2T. 
Sp.  Gr.  44  — 4-8.  H.  —  50  — 52. 

Occurs,  though  rarely,  in  irregular  opake  crystals  of  a  dark 
iron-black  color;  generally  massive.  Primary  form  an  acute 
rhomboid  of  85°  59'  and  94°  1'.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  o ; 
lustre  imperfect  metallic;  streak  black;  fracture  conchoidal; 

*  From  its  locality,  the  lake  llmen  in  Siberia. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  381 

slightly  affects  the  magnet.     B  B,  on  charcoal  it  is  infusible, 
but  with  fluxes  comports  itself  like  oxide  of  iron. 


This  species  occurs  imbedded  in  serpentine,  and  associated 
with  apatite  and  sparry  iron,  at  Inglisberg  near  Hoff,  in  the 
Gastein  Valley,  Saltzburg.  It  is  also  met  with  massive  and 
compact  at  Eggersund  in  Norway,  and  imperfectly  crystal- 
lized at  Ilmensee  and  Ekatherineburg  in  Siberia.  It  was  first 
described  by  Prof.  G.  Rose. 

WASHINGTONITE,  Shcpard.  The  earliest  notice  we  have 
of  the  mineral  now  known  by  this  name,  is  in  Shepard's 
Mineralogy,  vol.  i.  p.  150,  where  it  is  described  under  the 
species  Crichtonite.  The  discovery  of  other  localities  of  the 
mineral  having  since  afforded  some  better  defined  crystals 
which  are  plainly  distinct  from  those  of  Crichtonite,  Prof. 
Shepard  has  supposed  them  to  belong  to  a  new  species. 
But  they  seem  to  agree  very  nearly  with  Ilmenite  or  Axo- 
tomous  iron,  and  they  have  therefore  been  here  introduced 
as  a  variety  of  that  mineral,  appearing  under  a  different 
secondary  modification.  Fig.  2  has  been  copied  from  an 
article  by  Prof.  Shepard  in  the  Am.  Jour,  of  Science,  vol. 
xlviii,  p.  364.  The  faces  are  not  sufficiently  perfect  for 
measurement  with  the  reflecting  goniometer,  but  planes  P  P, 
which  had  been  varnished,  afforded  an  approximate  angle  of 
86°.  The  replacing  planes  are  the  most  brilliant,  and  they 
sometimes  convert  the  crystals  into  regular  hexahedral  tables. 
Cleavage  very  perfect  parallel  with  P,  affording  planes  more 
brilliant  than  the  natural  ones.  Fracture  uneven ;  lustre  im- 
perfectly metallic;  color  iron-black  or  greyish-black;  slightly 
magnetic.  According  to  Prof.  Shepard,  in  specific  gravity 
and  hardness,  this  mineral  rather  exceeds  axotomous  iron; 
but  in  isomorphous  minerals,  in  which  the  constituents  re- 
place each  other  in  various  proportions,  we  may  well  conceive 
that  these  characters  are  liable  to  vary,  no  less  than  the  blow- 
pipe characters.* 

This  variety  occurs  at  Washington,  Litchfield,  and  South 
Britain,  Conn.,  at  Westerby,  R.  I.,  and,  according  to  Prof. 
Shepard,  at  Goshen,  Mass. 

*  For  the  chemical  composition  of  Washingtonite,  aee  the  Appendix  to  this  volume. 


382  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

MOHSITE.* 

Mohsite,  Levy.    (Phil.  Mag.,  new  scries,  ii.  286.)     Uncleavable  Iron  Ore,  Shepard. 

Scratches  glass  easily. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid  of  73°  45'.  Occurs  in  twin  crys- 
tals, flattened  in  a  direction  perpendicular  to  the  axis,  present- 
ing the  aspect  of  small  flat  tables,  nearly  circular,  with  alter- 
nate re-entering  and  salient  angles  on  their  edges.  Cleavage 
not  observable;  color  iron-black ;  opake  ;  with  a  perfect  me- 
tallic lustre;  brittle;  does  not  act  on  the  magnet. 

This  species  was  noticed  by  Levy  on  a  specimen  which 
was  understood  to  be  from  Dauphine.  It  has  not  been  anal- 
yzed, but  it  seems  to  stand  in  very  near  relation  to  Crichtonite. 


COLUMBITE.t 

Columbite,  Hatchett.    Tantalit,  Karstcn.    Tantale  Oxide  Ferro-mangan6sifere,  H.    Tan- 
talite,  J.  A.    Prismatic  Tantalum  Ore,  M.     Columbus  rectangulus,  U. 

Combination  of  columbic  acid  with  the  protoxides  of  iron 
and  manganese. 

Kimito.  Broddbo.  Zamela. 

Columbic  acid 83-2 68-22 83-44 

Protoxide  of  iron 7-2 9-58 13-75 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  7-4 7-15 1*12 

Oxide  of  tin 0-0 8-26 0-00 

Tungstic  acid 0-0 6-19 0-00 

Lime ,  ...trace...  ..1-.19 0-00 


98-4  Berzelius.  100-59  Berzelius.  98-31  Nordenskibld. 

Bodenmais.          Bodenmais.     New  London,  Conn.   Bodenmais. 

Columbic  acid 75-0 75-0 80-0 79-65 

Protoxide  of  iron 20-0 17-0 15-0 14-00 

Protox.  of  manganese.  4-0 5-0 0-0 7-55 

Oxide  of  tin 0-5 1-0 0-0 0-50 

Lime 0-0 0-0 5-0 0-00 

Moisture 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-05 

99-5  Borkowsky.  98-0  Vogel.         100-0  Wollaston.  100-75  Thomson. 

The  first  specimen  from  Kimito  analyzed  by  Berzelius,  the 
third  from  Tamela  by  Nordenskiold,  and  the  sixth  from  Con- 
necticut by  Wollaston,  give  almost  exactly  one  atom  of  colum- 
bic acid  to  one  of  the  bases  —  protoxides  of  iron  and  man- 
ganese. It  is  evident  that  the  iron  is  substituted  for  the 
manganese  partly  in  the  third  specimen,  and  wholly  in  the 
sixth.  In  the  first  analysis  the  atoms  of  Cl  are  3'27,  of  F  1'60, 
of  Mn  1  -64.  In  the  sixth,  Cl  351 ,  F  3*33  —  with  this,  includ- 
ing the  manganese  with  the  iron,  the  third  very  nearly  agrees. 
Whence  we  obtain  the  formula,  FCl+MnCl,  or  simply  FC1. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-3  — 6-8.  H.  =  60. 

*  Named  by  Levy  in  compliment  of  Professor  Mobs. 

t  Columbite,  from  its  having  been  first  discovered  in  America;  whence  Columblum, 
the  designation  of  the  pure  metal,  so  named  by  Hatchett. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 


383 


Color  greyish  or  brownish-black;  it  occurs  in  single  crys- 
tals, and  in  small  crystalline  masses;  the  crystals  are  mostly 
incomplete,  but  possess  the  general  form  of  quadrangular 
prisms,  striated  longitudinally,  shining  externally  and  vari- 
ously modified.  The  primary  form  as  determined  by  Brooke 
is  a  Right  rectangular  prism.  Cleavage  parallel  to  M  and  T, 
rather  distinct;  streak  brownish-black.  It  is  opake,  scratches 
glass,  and  gives  sparks  with  the  steel.  Alone  B  B,  none  of 
the  varieties  of  tantalite  suffer  any  change ;  with  borax,  how- 
ever, those  of  Kimito  and  Finbo,  which  contain  large  propor- 
tions of  columbium,  dissolve  slowly  but  perfectly,  communi- 
cating to  it  a  faint  green  color ;  those,  on  the  contrary,  which 
contain  less  columbium,  fuse  readily  into  a  black  or  extremely 
dark-green  and  almost  opake  glass.  In  heated  sulphuric  acid 
it  is  partly  soluble,  but  it  is  wholly  decomposed  by  fusion  with 
sulphate  of  potash. 


Bodenmais. 


Middletown. 


3, 

d      2. 

Tj 

3 

1 

P  on  M  or  T  . 
M  on  T .... 
P  on  al  or  al; 

e  .  .  .  . 

T  on  dl 156 

d'2 114 

c 150 

P  on  6 160 


90°  00'— Brooke. 
90  00 
136  30 
120  00 
30 
SO 
00 
34  —Dana. 


The  lateral 


Fig.  1  represents  a  crystal  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Brooke, 
positron  of  the  two  last  figures  is  reversed. 

The  most  crystalline  foreign  varieties  of  this  species  have 
occurred  at  Bodenmais  in  Bavaria,  associated  with  beryl  and 
uranite.  It  is  obtained  in  granite  at  Kimito  in  Finland,  at 


334  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

Finbo  near  Fahlun  with  topaz,  and  at  Rabenstein  near 
Zvviesel  in  Bohemia. 

In  the  United  States  this  mineral  occurs  at  Haddam  and 
Middletown,  Conn.,  accompanying  the  chrysoberyl,  &c.,  at  the 
former  place,  and  imbedded  in  felspar  with  uranite  and  rutile, 
at  the  latter.  The  crystals  present  very  regular  and  highly 
finished  planes,  and  though  usually  small,  have  sometimes 
been  met  with  several  inches  in  length,  and  in  one  instance,  of 
fourteen  pounds  in  weight.  Prof.  Johnston,  of  the  Wesleyan 
University,  possesses  one  of  these  gigantic  crystals,  and  has  pub- 
lished a  description  of  it  in  the  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxx.  p. 
387.  Fig.  3  is  given  on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Torrey,  and  fig.  4, 
has  been  copied  from  a  paper  by  J.  D.  Dana*.  At  Chesterfield, 
Mass.,  very  distinct  crystals  have  been  found  in  granite  with 
beryl  and  tourmaline.  According  to  Shepard,  large  and  per- 
fect crystals  were  formerly  found  at  Ackworth,  N.  H.,  but  the 
locality  appears  to  be  exhausted.  Columbite  was  first  discov- 
ered near  New  London,  Conn.,  and  the  specimen  now  in 
the  British  Museum,  originally  examined  by  Hatchett,  and 
subsequently  by  Wollaston,  came  from  this  place,  and  was 
sent  by  Gov.  Winthrop  to  Sir  Hans  Sloane. 

Torrellite  of  Dr.  Thomson.  In  the  fourth  volume  of  the 
Records  of  General  Science,  Dr.  Thomson  has  given  the 
description  and  analysis  of  a  mineral  sent  to  him  by  Dr.  Tor- 
rey as  Columbite,  and  which  he  has  named  Torrellite,  as 
a  new  species,  in  honor  of  that  gentleman.  It  came  from 
Middletown,  the  well  known  locality  of  Columbite.  In  hard- 
ness and  specfic  gravity,  it  is  much  inferior  to  the  Bohemian 
Columbite,  but  is  similar  in  its  characters  B  B.  From  the 
measurement  of  an  imperfect  crystal,  Dr.  Thomson  deter- 
mined the  primary  form  to  be  a  Right  oblique  prism,  thus 
differing  from  Columbite,  the  primary  form  of  which  is  a 
Right  rectangular  prism.  M  on  T  (mean  of  several  trials) 
84°  20',  (see  fig.  11,  p.  xxix.  of  the  Introduction  to  this 
vol.)  T  on  a  plane  replacing  the  acute  lateral  edge  G,  152°, 
M  on  the  same  plane  110°  20'.  The  opposite  acute  solid 
angle  B,  is  replaced  by  a  triangular  plane  inclining  on  the  ad- 
jacent edge,  at  an  angle  of  about  143°  45'.  Proportions  be- 
tween the  length  and  breadth  of  the  crystal,  apparently  the 
same  as  in  columbite.  Color  black,  or  much  darker  than 
columbite  ;  surface  irridescent,  with  a  play  of  blue  and  green 
colors;  lustre  imperfectly  metallic,  almost  resinous,  being 


*  Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Nat.  His.  New  York,  i.  p.  89.    Amer.  Jour,  of  Science, 
xxxii.  p.  149. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  385 

very  similar  to  that  of  cherry  coal.  Structure  foliated  paral- 
lel with  M.  Cross  fracture  granular.  Opake.  Its  analysis 
afforded  these  products  : 


Columbic  acid  ..........  73-90 

Protoxide  of  iron  ........  15-65 

Protoxide  of  manganese.  8-00 
Water  .................  0-35 

97-90 

These  numbers  correspond  with  two  atoms  dicolumbate  of 
iron,  and  one  atom  dicolumbate  of  manganese.  Formula, 
as  given  by  Dr.  Thomson:  2F2Cl+Mn2Cl. 

CHROMATED   IRON. 

Siderite  Chromifere,  N.    Eisenchrom,  L.    Prismatic  Chrome  Ore,  J.    Octahedral  Chrome 
Ore,  M.    Chromeisenstein,  W.     Fer  Chromate,  H.  Bt.     Siderus  Chromicus,  D. 

Combination  of  oxide  of  chromium  with  peroxide  of  iron  and 
alumina. 

Siberia.  Bare  Hills,  Md.  Chester,  Penn. 

Oxide  of  chromium  .  .  .53-0  ................  52-95  ................  51-36 

Peroxide  of  iron  ......  34-0  ................  29-24  ................  35.14 

Alumina  .............  11-0  ................  12-22  ................  9-72 

Silica  ...............  2-0  ................  3-09*  ...............  2-90 

100-0  Laugier.  97-50  Thomson.  99-32  Seybert. 

Bare  Hills,  Md.  Bare  Hills,  Md. 

Oxide  of  chromium  ____  51-6  ................  39-51 

Peroxide  of  iron  .......  35-0  ................  36-00 

Alumina  ..............  10-0  ................  13-00 

Silica  ................  3-0  ................  10-60 

99-6  Berthier.  99-11  Seybert. 

Vauquelin,  who  first  discovered  chrome  in  this  mineral,  con- 
sidered it  a  combination  of  chromic  acid  with  oxide  of  iron, 
but  Laugier  has  shown  that  the  chromic  acid  was  formed  in 
the  process  by  igniting  the  mineral  with  potash.  Dr.  Thom- 
son supposes  the  silica  shown  in  these  analyses,  to  have  been 
mechanically  mixed  with  the  specimens,  in  consequence  of  suf- 
ficient care  not  having  been  used  in  selecting  pure  crystals.  His 
analysis  was  obtained  from  perfect  octahedral  crystals,  and  it 
gave  only  a  trace  of  silica,  approaching  very  nearly  to  two  atoms 
oxide  of  chrome,  one  atom  peroxide  of  iron,  and  one  atom  alumi- 
na. As  the  oxide  of  chrome  is  supposed  to  act  the  part  of  an  acid} 
the  formula  is  thus  stated:  FCh+AlCh.  If  we  suppose  with 
Rammelsberg  and  others,  that  this  mineral  in  its  purest  state 
is  only  oxide  of  chrome  and  protoxide  of  iron,  or  FCh,  it  cor- 
responds with  pleisto-magnetic  iron  ore,  the  form  of  which  it 
assumes,  the  peroxide  of  iron  being  replaced  by  oxide  of 
chromium. 

*  White  matter. 


386  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

Sp.  Gr.  4-3  — 4-6.     H.  =  5'5. 

Occurs  massive,  disseminated  in  grains,  and  crystallized  in 
the  Regular  octahedron,  which  is  its  primary  form ;  cleavage 
parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  that  figure ;  color  iron-black  or 
brownish-black;  the  massive  has  sometimes,  though  rarely,  a 
perfectly  lamellar  structure,  the  fracture  being  commonly  im- 
perfect conchoidal  and  uneven,  with  a  shining  and  somewhat 
metallic  lustre;  occasionally  magnetic ;  has  a  brown  streak, 
and  is  opake.  Insoluble  in  nitric  acid,  and  infusible  B  B, 
without  addition,  becoming  magnetic  when  exposed  to  the 
inner  flame;  but  with  borax,  or  salt  of  phosphorus,  it  melts 
slowly,  though  completely,  and  on  cooling  exhibits  the  fine 
green  of  the  oxide  of  chrome,  which  becomes  still  more  in- 
tense on  the  addition  of  tin.  When  fused  in  powder  with 
soda,  it  gives  a  yellowish  dross,  colored  by  oxide  of  chrome. 


P  on  P'  or  P"  .  .  109°  28' 


Chromated  iron  forms  irregular  veins  in  serpentine  at 
Gassin  in  the  Department  du  Var,  near  Nantes  ;  in  the  Gulsen 
mountains  near  Kraubat  in  Styria:  in  the  Uralian  mountains 
of  Siberia;  in  the  Shetland  isles  of  Unst  and  Fetlar;  near 
Portsoy  in  Banffshire ;  and  in  St.  Domingo,  it  is  found  in  oc- 
tahedral crystals. 

In  the  United  States,  very  perfect  and  brilliant  octahedral 
crystals,  with  their  edges  replaced,  are  found  in  the  serpentine 
of  Bare  Hills  near  Baltimore,  Md.,  and  also  at  Hoboken,  N.  J., 
imbedded  in  serpentine  and  dolomite.  It  occurs  also  at  Mil- 
ford  and  New  Haven,  Conn.,  arid  at  New  Fane,  Vt. 

Its  large  proportion  of  chrome  renders  this  a  highly  valuable 
ore.  It  is  employed  as  a  pigment,  —  yielding,  in  combination 
with  the  oxides  of  other  metals,  green,  yellow,  and  red  colors, 
which  are  used  in  oil-painting,  and  coloring  porcelain. 

HAUSMANNITE. 

Ho3nHit<l'  ?alu  1Ly1rai™du1  Manganese  Ore,  M.  Black  Manganese.  Manganese 
Oxide  Hydrate,  H.  Blattncher  Schwarz  Braunsteinerz,  Hauvnann.  Foliated  Black 
Manganese  Ore,  J.  Manganus  acrotomus,  D. 

Anhydrous  red  oxide  of  manganese,  mixed  with  a  small  pro- 
portion of  the  peroxide.  The  analysis  by  Dr.  Turner,  gave 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  387 

red  oxide  of  manganese  98-098,  oxygen  0*215,  water  0-435, 
barytes  O'lll,  silica  0'337.  The  red  oxide  of  manganese 
(oxidunimanganeso-mangamcum  of  Arfvvedson)  consists  of  one 
atom  protoxide,  and  two  atoms  sesquioxide  of  manganese.  As 
the  other  ingredients  are  doubtless  accidental,  the  formula  for 
this  mineral  is  therefore,  MnMn2. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-72  —  4-8.     H.  =  5'0  —  5-5. 

It  occurs  massive  arid  crystallized.  Its  primary  form  is  an 
octahedron  with  a  square  base.  Cleavage  indistinct  parallel 
with  the  octahedral  faces,  but  readily  obtained  parallel  with 
the  base.  Color  iron-black,  opake ;  very  hard,  and  affords  a 
dark-reddish  or  chesnut-brown  powder.  Lustre  imperfect  me- 
tallic. On  charcoal  in  a  strong  heat  it  fuses  on  the  edges ; 
with  borax  readily  forms  a  deep  violet-blue  or  almost  black 
globule  ;  and  with  soda  produces  a  green  colored  scoria.  Is 
insoluble  in  muriatic  acid,  but  is  decomposed  by  heated  sul- 
phuric acid. 


P  on  P"  or  P'  on  P'" 117°  30' 

P  on  P'  or  P"  on  P'"   .  .  105    45 


Hausmannite  is  found  in  veins  of  porphyry,  along  with  other 
ores  of  manganese,  at  CEhrenstock  near  Ilmenau  inThuringia; 
at  Ihlefeld  in  the  Hartz  ;  and  at  Lebanon  in  Pennsylvania, 
United  States.  The  most  distinctly  crystallized  specimens  are 
met  with  at  Framont  in  Alsatia;  but  it  is  on  the  whole  not  a 
common  species.  The  summits  of  the  pyramids  are  sometimes 
replaced  by  low  four-sided  pyramids. 

BRAUNITE.* 

Brachytypous  Manganese  Ore,  M.   Brachytypous  Manganerz,  L.   Manganus  peritomus,  D. 

It  ic  an  anhydrous  sesquioxide  of  manganese.  The  variety 
from  Elgersburg  yielded  to  Turner,  protoxide  of  manganese 
86'94,  oxygen  9  85,  water  0'95,  and  baryta  2'26.  Divided  by 
the  atomic  weights,  the  atoms  of  oxygen  are  very  nearly  half 
those  of  the  protoxide  of  manganese ;  it  is  therefore  a  sesqui- 
oxide. Formula  :  Mn. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-8  —  49.     H.  —  6-0  —  6-5. 

*  Named  by  Turner  and  Haidinger,  in  compliment  to  their  mutual  friend  Mr.  Braun  of 
Gotha.  A  valuable  paper  by  these  gentlemen,  on  the  Manganesian  Minerals,  has  been 
published  in  the  Edinb.  Trans,  xii.  119  and  143. 


388 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Primary  form,  an  Octahedron  with  a  square  base  whose 
faces,  according  to  Haidinger,  are  inclined  at  angles  of  109° 
587,  and  108°  39'.  Secondary  form  the  same,  occasionally 
truncated.  Occurs  both  crystalline  and  massive,  frequently 
fibrous  and  divergent,  of  a  dark  brownish-black  color,  with  an 
imperfect  metallic  lustre ;  streak  black  or  slightly  brownish; 
cleavage  distinct  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  primary  ;  fracture 
uneven ;  brittle.  It  is  soluble  in  muriatic  acid,  leaving  a 
trace  of  siliceous  matter.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  is,  per  sc,  infusi- 
ble, but  assumes  in  the  reducing  flame  a  reddish  color.  With 
borax  it  melts  with  a  slight  effervescence. 

This  species  of  manganese  forms  veins  in  porphyry  at 
(Ehrenstock  near  Ilmenau,  at  Elgersburg,  Friedrichsroda,  and 
elsewhere  in  Thuringia ;  also  with  red  epidote  at  St.  Marcel 
in  Peidmont.  Besides  its  superior  hardness  to  other  ores  of 
manganese,  the  direction  of  its  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces 
of  the  pyramid,  sufficiently  distinguishes  this  species  from 
Hausmannite,  in  which  the  cleavage  always  takes  place  par- 
allel to  the  base. 


PYROLUS1TE.* 

Prismatic  Manganese  Ore,  M.     Manganus  prismaticus,  D.     Grey  ore  of  Manganese. 

It  is  an  anhydrous  binoxide  of  manganese,  united  with  seve- 
ral accidental  substances. 

Binoxide  of  manganese.. 98-14 97-835 99-242 

Water l-8») ].]2ij 0-000 

Barytes 0-00 0-53-2 0-000 

Silica 0-00 0-513 0-840 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-00 0-000 0-130 


100-00  Arfwedson.   100-000  Dr.  Turner.    100-212  Dr.  Thomson. 

Formula:   Mn. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-6  —  4-9.     H.  =  2*0  —  25. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  Color  iron-black, 
sometimes  bluish;  opake;  lustre  metallic;  streak  black; 
cleavage  parallel  to  M,  v,  and  w. 


M  on  M  over  v  .  .93°  40' 


*  Pyrolusite,  from  TVQ,  fire,  and  Aovw,  /  wash,  in  allusion  to  it3  valuable  property  of 
discharging  the  brown  and  green  tints  in  glass. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 

B  B,  at  a  powerful  heat,  in  the  reducing  flame,  it  becomes 
brownish-red,  but  does  not  fuse  ;  is  soluble  with  brisk  effer- 
vescence in  borax,  coloring  the  globule  of  an  amethystine  tinge, 
but  yields  no  water  when  heated  in  the  matrass. 

In  an  economical  point  of  view,  pyrolusite  is  the  ore  of  man- 
ganese properly  so  called,  and  is  extensively  worked  in  many 
countries,  particularly  atllrnenau,  Friedrichsroda,  Elgersburg, 
and  other  places  in  Thuringia.  The  mines  of  Ehrensdorf,  near 
Maehrisch-Triebau  in  Moravia,  afford  annually  many  hundred 
tons  of  this  ore  ;  and  in  Cornwall,  Devonshire,  Saxony, 
France,  Hungary,  and  other  countries,  it  is  of  more  or  less  fre- 
quent occurrence.  In  all  these  localities  it  is  associated  with 
psilomelane,  from  which,  however,  it  is  easily  distinguished  by 
its  greatly  inferior  hardness;  indeed  it  is  generally  so  soft  as, 
even  in  crystalline  specimens,  to  soil  the  finger  when  handled. 
At  first  sight  it  may  be  confounded  with  certain  crystallized 
varieties  of  antimony ;  but  its  dark  steel-grey  color  is  sufficient- 
ly characteristic ;  and  if  not,  the  blowpipe  will  distinguish  it, 
pyrolusite  being  perfectly  infusible,  while  antimony  yields  even 
to  the  flame  of  a  candle.  —  A  Man's  Manual  The  annual  con- 
sumption of  this  ore  in  Great  Britain  is  about  30,000  tons, 
nearly  a  third  of  which  is  consumed  in  Glasgow. —  Thomson. 

In  Nova  Scotia  and  New  Brunswick,  it  is  frequently  met 
with  in  scattered  masses  through  the  new  red  sandstone,  but  it 
does  not.  occur  in  regular  beds. 

In  the  United  States  this  mineral  frequently  accompanies 
the  deposits  of  brown  haematite  iron,  and  is  both  massive  and 
in  crystals.  Bennington,  Vt.,  has  supplied  the  largest  quanti- 
ties of  the  massive  variety.  Salisbury  and  Kent,  in  Conn., 
Richmond  and  Lennox,  Mass.,  have  afforded  many  distinctly 
crystallized  specimens. 


GREY  OXIDE  OF  MANGANESE. 

MANGANITE. 

Grau  Braunsteinerz,  W.  Mansanese  Oxide  Motalloide,  H.  Prismatoidal  Manganese 
Ore  M  IMan«anite,  Haidinger.  Prismatic  Manganese  Ore,  J.  Hydrated  Deutoxide 
of  Manganese,  Tamer.  AcerdUe,  Beudant.  Manganus  rhombicus,  D. 

Ihlefeld.  Undenaes. 

Protoxide  of  manganese  .....  86-85  ............  87-1  ............  86-41 


100-00  Turner.       100-0  Gmelin.        99-95  Arfwedson. 

According  to  Dr.  Thomson  this  mineral  is  a  hydrated  ses- 
quioxide,  and  differs  from  Braunite  only  in  containing  one 
atom  of  water.  Formula  :  Mn2Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-31  —  44.      H.  =  4'0  —  4  2. 
33* 


390 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Color  steel-grey,  passing  into  iron-black  ;  occurs  in  prisma- 
tic crystals,  which  are  occasionally  modified ;  cleaves  readily 
and  with  brilliant  surfaces  parallel  to  the  lateral  planes  of  a 
Right  rhombic  prism  of  100°  and  80°*  (the  primary  form),  and 
both  its  diagonals.  It  occurs  also  in  acicular  crystals  longitu- 
dinally striated,  either  diverging,  or  confusedly  intersecting 
each  other  ;  also  massive,  with  a  fibrous  structure,  or  having  a 
granular  or  earthy  texture  ;  lustre  imperfect  metallic;  opake, 
except  in  the  thinnest  fragments,  which  exhibit  a  feeble  trans- 
lucence ;  brittle;  marks  strongly  when  rubbed,  giving  a  dark 
reddish-brown,  and  in  the  massive  varieties  a  black,  streak. 


Primary. 


y__ 

T—  r—                        N/ 

h 
4 

Jjl 

i 

M: 

r 

•>  - 

P  on  M  or  M'  

90°  00' 

M  on  %2 

168°  00 

M  on  M'  

100  00 

.....  .  0-3 

1  ^2   ^T 

P  on  a  

115  02 

f  

1  30  on 

M  on  &  or  M'  on  6'  ... 

121  35 

il  .  .  .  . 

174  30 

dl  dl'  .  . 

138  00 

i2  .  .  . 

168  52 

d2  d2'  .  . 

125  00 

i3  . 

161  00 

el  iV 

130  20 

z'4  ...... 

.  .    155  12 

.    g2  e2' 

149  30 

162  00 

M  on  gl  

171  30 

el  on  b  

.  168  12 

B  B,  it  yields  water  in  the  matrass.  Per  se,  it  is  infusible, 
but  assumes  a  reddish  tinge  in  the  oxidating  flame.  With 
borax  it  affords  a  violet-blue  colored  globule.  It  is  insoluble 
in  nitric  acid,  but  in  muriatic  it  gives  off  chlorine,  and  dissolves 
without  residue ;  when  exposed  to  a  powerful  heat,  oxygen  is 
disengaged. 

This  is  the  purest  and  most  beautifully  crystallized  ore  of 
manganese.  It  occurs  both  in  primitive  and  secondary  forma- 
tions, in  veins,  beds,  and  irregular  masses.  Its  principal 
locality  is  Ihlefeld  in  the  Hartz,  where  it  is  associated  with 
calcareous  spar  and  barytes,  in  veins  traversino-  porphyry  It 
occurs  also,  though  less  abundantly,  in  Bohemia,  Alsatia, 
Saxony,  Aberdeenshire,  Cornwall,  and  at  Undenaes  in  West 


*  According  to  Necker,  99°  41'  and  80°  19*. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  391 

Gothland.  It  is  distinguished  from  pyrolusite  by  its  superior 
hardness  and  characteristic  brown  streak,  which  sometimes 
appears  black  until  a  portion  has  been  abraded. 


PSILOMELANE.* 

Uncleavable  Manganese  Ore,  M.  Compact  and  Fibrous  Manganese  Ore,  or  Black  Hema- 
tite, J.  Black  lion  Ore.  Schwartz  Eisenstein.  Schwartzer  Glaskopf,  W.  Dichtes 
Schwartz  Manganerz,  L.  Manganese  Oxide  Hydrate  Concretionne.  Manganese  Oxide 
Non-Barytifere,  H.  Manganus  informis,  D. 

Though  this  ore  has  been  placed  by  mineralogists  among 
the  oxides  of  iron,  under  the  names  of  black  haematite  and 
black  iron  ore,  pure  fragments  of  it  do  not  contain  a  trace  of 
that  metal. 

England.  Romaneche. 

Red  oxide  of  manganese. .  .69-795 70-3 

Oxygen 7-464 7-2 

Bary  tes 16-365 16-5 

Water. 6-216 4-0 

Silica 0-260 2'0 


100-000  Turner.       100-0  Berthier. 

Formula,  by  Dr.  Thomson  :  2Mn6Br+5MnAq. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-0  — 4-15.     H.  =  5'0  —  6-0. 

Crystalline  form  unknown  ;  massive  and  botryoidal ;  color 
black,  passing  into  dark  steel-grey;  lustre  imperfect  metallic; 
opake  ;  streak  brownish-black,  and  shining:  cleavage  and  frac- 
ture not  observable.  B  B,  it  colors  glass  of  borax  violet-blue, 
like  other  ores  of  manganese;  and  is  completely  soluble  in 
muriatic  acid,  with  the  exception  of  a  small  quantity  of  silica. 

This  species  is  frequently  associated  with  pyrolusite,  some- 
times even  alternating  with  it  in  layers  of  different  thickness; 
and  occurs  in  botryoidal  and  stalactitic-shaped  masses  in 
Devonshire  and  Cornwall ;  at  Ihlefeld  in  the  Hartz  ;  in  the 
district  of  Siegen  in  Hessia;  and  at  several  places  in  Saxony, 
Silesia,  and  Bayreuth.  The  Romaneche  variety  possesses  a 
somewhat  higher  specific  gravity. 

VARVACITE.t 

Richard  Phillips.    (Phil.  Mag.  2nd  series,  v.  209.) 

This  mineral,  first  named  and  described  by  R.  Phillips,  is 
composed,  according  to  his  own  analysis,  as  follows  : 

Protoxide  of  manganese 81-12 

Oxygen, • 13-48 

Water,. 5-40 

100-00 

*  Psilomelane,  from  \Lt\oc,  smooth  or  naked,  and  pela?,  black,  in  allusion  to  its  smooth 
or  botryoidal  form,  and  black  color, 
f  From  its  occurring  in  the  county  of  Warwick. 


392  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

These  numbers  give  two  atoms  binoxide  and  two  atoms  ses- 
quioxide  of  manganese,  united  with  one  atom  water.  Formu- 
la: 2Mri2Mn-hAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-28  —  4-53. 

Color  grey,  not  differing  much  from  that  of  pure  binoxide. 
It  is  composed  of  thin  plates  and  fibres,  without  any  regular 
crystalline  shape,  often  radiating.  Lustre  metallic;  opake. 
According  to  Dr.  Turner  (Chemistry,  p.  420,  seventh  edition,) 
this  is  found  in  the  manganese  ore  of  Ihlefeld  in  pseudomor- 
phous  crystals  in  the  form  of  the  six-sided  prisms  of  calcareous 
spar. 

HYDROUS   BINOXIDE   OF  MANGANESE. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  and  analyzed  by  Berthier.* 
It  is  contained  in,  or  forms  the  principal  part  of  an  ore  of 
manganese  from  three  different  localities.  The  analyses  are 
thus  given  : 

Groroi.  Vecdessoss.  Caustern. 

Protoxide  of  manganese. .  .62-4 68-9 46-5 13-86  ^ 

Oxygen 12-8 11-7 7-1 12-8     | 

Water 15-8 12-4 8-8 14-04  \  f 

Peroxide  of  iron 6-0 0-0 3-6 1-2 

Clay 3-0 7-0  .  .Quartz...  33-6 0-OOJ 

100-0  Berthier.     100-0  Berthier.      99-6  Berthier. 

Of  the  first  analysis  Dr.  Thomson  observes,  that  the  whole 
protoxide  of  manganese  to  be  converted  into  the  deutoxide, 
would  require  13'S  atoms  of  oxygen;  but  only  12'8  atoms 
were  obtained.  Hence  the  mineral  must  have  been  a  mixture 
or  compound  of  ll-8  atoms  binoxide,  two  atoms  sesquioxide, 
fourteen  atoms  water.  It  is  obvious  that  every  atom  of  the 
oxides  of  manganese  in  the  mineral,  was  combined  with  an 
atom  of  water.  We  have  then  a  compound  of  six  atoms  bin- 
oxide  of  manganese,  one  atom  sesquioxide  of  manganese, 
seven  atoms  water.  But  as  there  is  a  great  variation  in  the 
quantity  of  sesquioxide  in  the  three  specimens,  Berthier  has 
regarded  it  as  accidental ;  and  the  mineral  may  thus  consist, 
of  one  atom  binoxide  of  manganese,  one  atom  water.  P^or- 
mula:  MnAq;  or  6Mn-h2Mn-H4Aq,  if  we  adopt  the  first 
analysis. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  rolled  masses,  in  a  bed  of  sand  and 
clay.  Color  brownish  black ;  dull;  here  and  there  metallic. 
Its  powder  has  a  slight  chocolate  color.  By  ignition  it  loses 
24  per  cent,  of  its  weight  in  water  and  oxygen,  without 

*  Memoirs  by  Berthier,  ii.  p.  230.  j  Atoms  answering  to  the  first  analysis. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  393 

changing  its  form,  but  acquiring  a  reddish  color.  It  dissolves 
slowly  in  concentrated  sulphuric  acid,  to  which  it  communi- 
cates a  fine  violet-red  color.  Oxalic  acid  attacks  it  readily, 
even  without  heat,  and  two  and  a  half  times  its  weight  of  this 
acid  are  required  to  disoxidise  it  completely.  Sulphurous  acid 
dissolves  it  almost  instantly. 

An  ore  of  manganese  somewhat  resembling  that  above  de- 
scribed, but  differing  slightly  in  its  composition  —  the  Hy- 
drous Sesquibinoxide  of  Manganese  of  Dr.  Thomson,  is  found 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Cork.  Its  analysis  gave  Dr.  Thom- 
son, silica  22'90,  sesquioxide  of  manganese  23  48,  binoxide  of 
manganese  17'22,  peroxide  of  iron  28'64,  water  8-05.  To 
suppose  this  mineral  to  be  a  hydrous  sesquibinoxide  of  manga- 
nese, requires  that  we  throw  out  the  silica  and  oxide  of  iron 
as  accidental. 

WAD. 

Earthy  Manganese.    Black  Wad.     Manganus  terrenus,  D. 

Contains,  according  to  Klaproth,  oxide  of  manganese  68'0, 
oxide  of  iron  6'5,  water  17-5,  carbon  1*0,  baryta  and  silica  9'0. 
Specific  Gravity  3'7,  though  apparently  very  light  when  taken 
in  the  hand. 

It  occurs  of  various  shades  of  brown,  blackish-brown,  and 
grey,  sometimes  approaching  to  steel-grey.  It  is  commonly 
dull,  but  the  grey  possesses  a  glimmering  lustre.  Occurs  mas- 
sive, botryoidal  and  amorphous,  sometimes  pulverulent;  or  in 
froth-like  coatings  on  other  minerals.  The  massive  commonly 
yields  to  the  nail  and  soils  the  fingers.  From  its  giving  off 
water  abundantly  on  exposure  to  heat  in  the  matrass,  it  is  con- 
sidered by  Berzelius  as  a  hydrate  of  manganese. 

It  occurs  principally  at  the  manganese  pits  of  Upton  Pyne, 
Devonshire  ;  in  Cornwall,  the  Hartz,  and  in  Piedmont. 


CUPREOUS  MANGANESE. 

Kunfer  Mangan  of  the  Germans.      Manganese  Hydrate   Cuprifere,  JYccker.    Cupreous 
Manganese,  J.     Manganus  Cupriferus,  L). 

Hydrate  of  the  oxide  of  manganese,  mixed  with  oxide  of 
copper  and  gypsum. 

Oxide  of  manganese 74-10 

Oxide  of  copper 4-80 

Water 21-10 

Gypsum 1*05 

Silica 0-30 

100-45  Kersten. 

Rammelsberg  has  thus  given  the  chemical  formula  for  this 

mineral  —  CuMnH9+3Mn2H3. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-15  —  325.     H.  about  1-5. 


394  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Is  found  massive,  in  small  reniform  and  botryoidal  opake 
groups  of  a  bluish-black  color  ;  lustre  resinous;  streak  corres- 
ponding to  the  color  ;  not  brittle.  B  B,  it  becomes  brown,  but 
is  infusible ;  to  borax  or  salt  of  phosphorous  it  communicates 
the  amethystine  and  green  colors  characteristic  of  manganese  ; 
with  a  mixture  of  soda  and  borax,  grains  of  reduced  copper  are 
obtained.  This  very  rare  mineral  occurs  in  the  tin  mines  of 
Schlaggenwald  in  Bohemia,  and  was  first  distinguished  by 
Breithaupt  and  Lampadius. 

HELVINE.* 

Helvine,  W.  and  H.     Tetrahedral  Garnet,  M.  J.     Carbunculus  hemihedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  glucina,  alumina,  and  the  protoxides 
of  iron  and  manganese. 

Schwartzenberg. 

Silica 3.5-37 33-258 

Alumina l-4~> ( 

Glucina 8-0:2 j  12-099 

Protoxide  of  manganese 29-35 31-817 

Protoxide  of  iron 7-9!) 5-564 

Sulphuret  of  manganese 14-00 14-000 

97-8^3  Gmelin.        97-231  Vogel. 

There  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  the  atomic  composition  of 
this  mineral,  owing  to  the  presence  of  sulphuret  of  manga- 
nese. Regarding  this  as  accidental,  Dr.  Thomson  has  given 
the  formula  thus:  FS2+CS2+OMnS. 

Sp.  Gr.  31—33.     H.r=GO  —  6'5. 

Primary  form  the  Regular  tetrahedron.  Occurs  in  small 
tetrahedrons,  whose  solid  angles  are  replaced  ;  of  a  pale  wax- 
yellow  color,  inclining  to  brown  or  siskin-green;  translucent 
on  the  edges  ;  lustre  vitreous,  inclining  to  resinous  ;  and  streak 
white.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  in  the  reducing  flame,  it  fuses  into 
an  opake  globule  of  nearly  the  same  color  as  the  mineral ;  with 
borax  it  melts  slowly  into  a  diaphanous  glass,  which  remains 
yellow  when  cold,  if  the  dissolution  be  not  complete;  and 
which,  when  it  is  complete,  becomes  colorless  in  the  reducing, 
and  of  a  deep  amethystine  tinge  in  the  oxidating  flame. 


P  on  P'  or  P"    .  ...  109°  30' 


*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  sun-yellow  3  in  allusion  to  its  color. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  395 

Schwartzenberg  in  Saxony,  where  it  occurs  in  beds  of  gneiss, 
accompanied  with  garnet,  quartz,  fluor,  and  calc  spar,  and 
Hortekulle,  near  Modum  in  Norway,  are  the  best  known  lo- 
calities of  helvine. 


SILICATE  OF  MANGANESE. 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines,  &c.,  i.  514.) 

This  mineral  accompanies  the  Franklinite  and  red  oxide 
of  zinc  at  Franklin,  N.  J.  It  was  analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson 
in  1825,  and  with  the  following  results  : 

Silica 2964 

Protoxide  of  manganese 66*60 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-92 

Moisture 2-70 

99-86 

The  atoms  of  silica  are  14-82,  and  the  atoms  of  protoxide 
of  manganese  14*80,  showing  the  mineral  to  be  a  simple  sili- 
cate. Formula :  MnS. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-078.     H.  —  6'25. 

Color  light  brownish-red.  Massive ;  structure  foliated. 
Two  cleavages  are  very  distinct  at  right  angles,  or  nearly  so, 
to  each  other.  There  is  a  third  cleavage  perpendicular  to  the 
two  others,  but  it  is  very  imperfect.  Hence  the  primary  form 
seems  to  be  a  right  oblique  prism,  which  differs  only  by  3° 
or  4°  from  aright  angle.  Lustre  shining  and  vitreous;  opake. 
Powder  light  red,  becomes  brown  by  ignition  and  loses  2'7 
per  cent,  of  its  weight.  It  dissolves,  by  digestion,  in  dilute 
muriatic  acid  without  effervescence. 

SESQUISILICATE  OF  MANGANESE. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Outlines,  &.C.,  i.  514.) 

This  mineral  occurs  under  precisely  the  same  circumstances 
with  the  last  described,  both  at  Franklin  furnace  and  at  the 
principal  zinc  mine.  Dr.  Thomson  found  it  to  consist  of 
silica  42-40,  protoxide  of  manganese  50-72,  protoxide  of  iron 
C'76.  These  numbers  correspond  with  eight  atoms  sesquisili- 
cate  of  manganese,  and  one  atom  tersilicate  of  iron.  Formula  : 
8MnS1H-FS3.  But  Dr.  Thomson  supposes  the  tersilicate  of 
iron  to  be  accidental,  and  the  mineral  to  be  a  pure  sesquisilicate 
of  manganese. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-586.     H.  =  6-25. 

Color  brown,  with  a  very  slight  shade  of  red.  Texture  foli- 
ated. Crystallized  in  six  or  eight-sided  prisms,  which  are  said 
to  be  several  inches  in  length,  and  an  inch  in  diameter.  Tex- 


396 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


ture  foliated  with  a  threefold  cleavage,  indicating  for  the  pri- 
mary form  of  its  crystal  a  doubly  oblique  prism.  M  on  T,  as 
measured  by  Dr.  Thomson,  56°  30' ;  the  inclination  of  P  to 
the  axis,  about  108°.  Lustre  vitreous;  shining.  Opake.  This 
species  has  been  named  Fo vvlerite  in  compliment  to  Prof.  Fowler. 


TROOSTITE.* 

Ferruginous  Silicate  of  Manganese,  of  Dr.  Thomson.    Spatinius  rhombohedrus,  D. 

This  is  another  of  the  manganesian  salts  found  with  the 
Franklinite  and  other  analogous  substances  at  Franklin,  in 
New  Jersey.  It  is  unlike  the  other  silicates  of  this  metal  in 
being  in  large  and  perfectly  defined  crystals.  We  are  in- 
debted to  Dr.  Thomson  for  its  analysis,  as  follows: 

Silica 30-650 

Protoxide  of  manganese. .  .46-215 

Peroxide  of  iron 15-450 

Carbonic  acid  and  water  ..  7-300 

99-615 

Dr.  Thomson  has  given  this  formula  —  SMnS+FS^+SAq. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-0  =  4-1.  H.  =  5-5. 

Color  greenish,  yellow,  grey,  and  reddish-brown ;  with  vi- 
treous lustre  inclining  to  resinous;  transparent  to  translucent. 
Primary  form  an  obtuse  rhomboid,  P  on  P  115°,  as  measured 
with  the  common  goniometer.  It  cleaves  parallel  with  the 
lateral  planes  of  the  annexed  figure,  which  represents  the  com- 
mon secondary  form  of  this  mineral.  These  lateral  planes  are 
comparatively  smooth,  and  shining,  while  P  and  m  are  dull. 
Fracture  conchoidal.  Brittle.  Streak  white. 


P  on  m 147°  30' 

P  on  o 122    00 

raon  o 109    00 

o  on  o .  120    00 


*  In  honor  of  Professor  Gerard  Troost,  of  Nashville,  Tenn. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  397 

B  B,  it  becomes  transparent  and  melts  on  the  edges.  With 
borax,  it  dissolves  giving  the  violet  tinge  of  oxide  of  manga- 
nese. It  dissolves  with  effervescence  in  muriatic  acid,  some 
carbonic  acid  gas  being  evolved,  and  silica  remaining. 

NEWKIRKITE. 

Dr.  Thomson.    (Outlines,  &c.,  ii.  509.) 

Dr.  Thomson  has  separated  this  from  the  grey  ore  of  man- 
ganese, with  which  it  had  long  been  confounded,  and  has 
given  us  the  following  account  of  it.  Composed  of  binoxide 
of  manganese  56-30,  peroxide  of  iron  40'35,  water  6'70.  For- 
mula: 3MnAq-h2MnF2. 

Sp.'  Gr'.  3-824.     H.  =  3  — 3-5. 

Color  brilliant  black;  lustre  metallic;  splendent.  Occurs 
in  small  needles  which,  when  viewed  through  a  powerful  mi- 
croscope, assume  the  appearance  of  a  Right  rectangular 
prism.  But  they  are  not  susceptible  of  measurement.  They 
form  a  coaling  on  red  hematite.  Opake,  rather  rectile.  Lo- 
cality at  Newkirchen  in  Alsace. 


BISILICATE   OF    MANGANESE. 

Manganese  Oxide  Silicifere,  H.    Silicate  of  Manganese,  A.     Manganese  Spar,  J.    Man- 
ganspath,  W.    Spatinius  decolorans,  D. 

Langbanshyttan.          New  Jersey. 

Silica 48-00 48-58 48-00 

Protoxide  of  manganese 48-98 38-92 49-04 

Protoxide  of  iron traces 13-50 0-00 

Lime 3-12 0-00 3-34 

Magnesia 0-22 0-00 0-00 

Water 0-00 3-00 0-00 

Carbonic  acid  ..  ..0-00...  ..3-23 0-00 


100-32  Berzelius.        99-23  Thomson.      100-38  Rose. 

Taking  the  analyses  by  Berzelius  and  Rose,  which  were  of 
the  purest  specimens,  we  obtain  for  the  constitution  of  this 
mineral,  two  atoms  silica,  and  one  atom  protoxide  of  manga- 
nese. Formula:  MnS2. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-5  —  37.     H.  =  5'0  —  55. 

It  occurs  massive ;  of  a  pale  rose-red  color.  The  fracture  is 
even  or  flat  conchoidal ;  it  is  translucent  on 
the  edges,  and  is  very  hard;  lustre  inter- 
mediate between  pearly  and  resinous  ;  cleav- 
age apparent  in  two  directions  perpendic- 
ular to  each  other,  exhibiting  as  the  primary 
form  a  Doubly  oblique  prism ;  that  parallel 
to  P  highly  perfect.  M  on  T  121°;  M  on 
P93°  to  94°;  T  on  P  112°  30'. 

Alone  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  becomes  dark  brown,  and  fuses 
34 


398  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

into  a  reddish-brown  or  black  globule.  With  borax  it  forms  a 
violet-colored  glass.  Reduced  to  powder  and  treated  with 
muriatic  acid,  it  is  partly  dissolved ;  the  insoluble  remainder 
assuming  a  white  color. 

It  occurs  at  Langbanshyttan  in  Wermeland,  Sweden,  in  beds 
of  iron  ore;  at  Ekatherineburg  in  Siberia;  at  Elbingerode  in 
the  Hartz ;  in  Devonshire  on  Black  Down,  near  Tavistock, 
associated  with  grey  oxide  of  manganese ;  and  in  Cornwall, 
near  Calington,  in  a  manganese  quarry. 

In  the  United  States  it  occurs  at  Cummington,  Mass.,  in 
rolled  masses  scattered  through  the  soil.  Specimens  recently 
obtained  are  sometimes  of  a  beautiful  pink  color.  It  is  found 
also  at  Franklin,  N.  J.,  with  the  other  siliceous  compounds 
of  this  metal. 

It  is  cut  and  polished  by  the  lapidary,  and  employed  for  in- 
laid work. 

The  substances  described  by  Leonhard  and  Jasche  under 
the  names  of  dialogite,  tomositc,  manganese  pyrope,  allagitc, 
photizite,  rhodonite,  and  corneous  manganese,  all  from  the 
vicinity  of  Rubeland  in  the  Hartz,  are  evidently  compact  vari- 
eties of  this  species  under  different  states  of  oxidation,  and  in 
more  or  less  perfect  conditions  of  purity.* 

Corneous 
Allagite.  Rhodonite.  Photizite.  Manganese. 

Oxide  of  manganese  .75-0 49-87 46-13 54-58 

Silica 16-0 39-00 39-00 34-00 

Carbonic  acid 7-5 4-00 1 1-00 8-00 

Alumina 0-0 0-12 0-25 0-00 

Water 0-0 6-00 3-00 2-00 

Oxide  ofiron 0-0 0-25 0-50 0-50 

98-5  Du  Menil.    99-24  Du  Menil.    99-88  Brandes.       99-08  Brandos. 

The  rhodonite  has  frequently  a  fibrous  texture,  and,  as  well 
as  the  photizite  and  corneous  manganese,  presents  various 
red,  green,  and  grey  colors,  which  become  darker  on  expo- 
sure to  the  air.  The  allagite  is  analogous  in  composition 
with  disilicate  of  manganese. 

HYDROSILICATE   OF    MANGANESE. 

Opsimose,  Beudant.    Schwarzer  Mangan-Kiesel. 

Consists,  by  the  analysis  of  Klaproth,  of  silica  25,  protoxide 
of  manganese  60,  water  13.  Formula:  MnS+Aq,  or  it  is  a 
simple  hydrosilicate  of  manganese. 

Occurs  compact,  of  a  black  color  and  metallic  appearance  ; 

*  These  names  were  introduced  by  C.  F.  Jasche,  who  has  described  these  manganeiian 
salts  at  length  m  the  Trans,  of  the  Russian  Imp.  Min.  Hoc.,  vol.  i.  part  2d.  1842. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  399 

streak  brownish-yellow.  Gives  off  water  in  the  matrass,  and 
becomes  grey.  Is  fusible  into  a  green  glass  in  the  reducing 
flame,  and  forms  a  black  one  in  the  oxidating.  Upon  platina 
foil  it  communicates  a  green  color  to  soda.  Is  acted  upon  by 
acids. 

Locality,  Claperude  in  Dalecarlia,  Sweden. 

KNEBELITE.* 

Lem  and  Dobereiner. 

It  contains  according  to  the  analysis  of  Dobereiner, 

Atoms. 

Silica 32-5 16-25 

Protoxide  of  iron 32-0 7-11 

Protoxide  of  manganese . . .  .35-0 7-77 

99-5 

The  constitution  of  this  mineral  thus  approaches  very  nearly 
to  one  atom  silicate  of  iron,  and  one  atom  silicate  of  manga- 
nese. Formula:  FS+MnS. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-714. 

Color  grey,  spotted  with  dirty  white,  brownish-red,  brown, 
and  green;  it  is  massive,  but  the  surface  is  cellular  and 
uneven ;  and  both  internally  and  externally  it  is  glistening ; 
fracture  imperfectly  conchoidal ;  is  opake,  hard,  brittle,  and 
difficultly  frangible.  No  locality  is  given. 

BUSTAMITE. 

Brogniart.     (Ann.  des  Mines,  2d  series,  i.  272.) 

It  is  composed,  according  to  the  analysis  of  Dumas,  of 

Atoms. 

Silica    48-90 24-45 

Protoxide  of  manganese . .  .36-06 8-01 

Lime 14-57 4-16 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-81 0-18 

100-34 

The  numbers  show  it  to  consist  of  two  atoms  bisilicate  of 
manganese,  and  one  atom  bisilicate  of  lime. 

Formula:  2MnS2+CalS2. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-1—3-3.     H.  about  7'0. 

Occurs  in  irregularly  disposed  prismatic  crystals,  having  a 
somewhat  fibrous  structure,  and  a  pale  grey,  greenish,  or  red- 
dish color;  almost  opake.  It  occurs,  associated  with  iron  py- 
rites, at  Real  de  Minas  in  Mexico,  and  was  first  noticed  as 
new  by  M.  Bustamente,  in  compliment  to  whom  it  has  been 
named. 

*  After  Major  Von  Knebel  who  presented  the  mineral  to  Dobereiner. 


400  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

SULPHURET   OF    MANGANESE. 

Mangan  Blende,  Breithaupt.  Hexahedral  Glance  Blende,  M.  Prismatic  Manganese 
Blende,  J.  Schvvartzerz,  Hausmann.  Manganese  Sulfure,  II.  Manganglanz,~Le0n- 
hard.  Alabandine,  Beudant.  Acarpia  cubica,  I), 

Combination  of  one  atom  sulphur  and  one  atom  manganese, 
or  in  parts,  of  manganese  66-95,  sulphur  53'65.  Formula : 
MnSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  3  95  —  4-05.     H.  =  3-5  —  4-0. 

Primary  form  the  Cube.  Secondary  form  the  regular  octa- 
hedron. Cleavage  parallel  to  the  primary  faces  distinct; 
traces  parallel  to  its  edges. 

Color  brownish-black,  but,  when  fresh  fractured,  of  a  dark 
steel-grey;  it  occurs  massive,  sometimes  botryoidal,  with  an 
imperfect  metallic  lustre;  fracture  commonly  fine  grained; 
streak  dark-green ;  opake.  B  B  it  fuses  with  difficulty,  and 
only  on  the  thinnest  edges,  forming  a  brownish  scoria;  re- 
duced to  powder  it  is  dissolved  when  thrown  into  acid,  emit- 
ting at  the  same  time  fumes  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

It  occurs  in  the  gold  mines  of  Nagyag  in  Transylvania, 
with  tellurium,  blende,  copper  pyrites,  and  other  ores  of  man- 
ganese; also  in  Mexico,  and  in  Cornwall. 


ARSENIURET   OF    MANGANESE. 

Arseniet  of  Manganese,  Thomson.    Argyritea  Manganicus,  D. 

For  the  discovery  of  this  rare  substance  we  are  indebted  to 
Mr.  Robert  J.  Kane  of  Dublin,*  who  detected  it  in  a  mass  of 
galena  from  Saxony. 

Its  analysis  gave  him  manganese  45'5,  arsenic  5T8,  and  a 
trace  of  iron  =  97*03.  It  probably  consists  of  one  atom  man- 
ganese and  one  atom  arsenic,  or  MnAs.  This  formula  is  ob- 
tained, if  we  suppose  the  loss  to  have  been  chiefly  arsenic, 
otherwise  there  is  a  deficiency  in  this  metal,  the  atoms  being 
1.3  to  10-9. 

Sp.  Gr.  5*55.     H.  not  stated. 

Its  color  is  greyish  white ;  texture  foliated,  fracture  in  one 
direction  uneven,  fine,  granular  and  shining;  in  the  opposite 
direction  it  is  dull  and  earthy.  B  B,  it  burns  with  a  blue  flame, 
and  falls  to  powder.  In  a  stronger  heat,  an  arsenical  fume 
rises  and  coats  the  charcoal  with  a  white  dust.  It  dissolves  in 
aqua  regia  without  leaving  any  residue. 

*  Quarterly  Journal  of  Science,  new  series,  vi.  381. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  401 

CARBONATE  OF   MANGANESE. 

Manganese  Oxyde  Carbonatee,  H.  Rhomboidal  Red  Manganese,  J.  Macrotypous  Para- 
chrose  Baryte,  M.  Red  Manganese,  A.  Rothbraunsteinerz,  Haidinger.  Kohlensaures 
Mangan,L.  Rother  Braunstein,  W.  Diullogite,  Seudant.  Marantalus  decrepitans,  D. 

Carbonate  of  manganese,  more  or  less  mixed  with  the  car- 
bonates of  iron  and  lime. 

Buchenberg.  Freyberg.  Nagyag. 

Protox.  of  manganese.. 54-60 52-6 5B-0 

Carbonic  acid 33-75 38-7 38-6 

Oxide  ofiron 1-87 4-5 0-0 

Silica 4-37 0-0 0-0 

Lime 2-60 5-0 5-4 

97-09  Du  Menil.          100-8  Berthier.  100-0  Berthier. 

These  analyses  vary  considerably.    We  obtain  from  the  first 
12*27  atoms  carbonic  acid,  12'13  atoms  protoxide  of  manga- 
nese, or  a  simple  carbonate  of  manganese.     Formula:  MnC. 
Sp.  Gr.  33  — 3-6.     H.  =  35. 


P  on  P 106°  51' 


Primary  form  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  106°  51'.*  Cleav- 
age parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  rhomb.  Surface  of  o  deeply 
streaked  parallel  to  its  edges  of  combination  with  P  ;  this  pro- 
duces lenticular  crystals,  and  when  the  surface  of  P  is  curved, 
those  peculiar  saddle-shaped  lenses  so  common  in  this  species 
are  formed.  It  also  occurs  massive.  Color  rose-red,  and 
translucent;  possesses  a  lamellar  structure ;  scarcely  scratches 
glass,  and  yields  to  the  knife;  fracture  splintery;  lustre  vitre- 
ous, inclining  to  pearly. 

B  B,  its  color  is  changed  into  brown  or  black,  and  it 
decrepitates  strongly,  but  is  infusible  without  addition.  It 
is  readily  soluble  in,  and  colors  borax  or  salt  of  phosphorus 
violet-blue  in  the  oxidating  flame,  becoming,  however,  color- 
less in  the  reducing  flame ;  it  effervesces  rather  briskly  in 
nitric  acid.  On  exposure  to  the  air,  it  becomes  browner  in 
color ;  and  the  bright  rose-red  varieties  lose  their  hue  from 
the  action  of  light. 

This  species  generally  occurs  in  metalliferous  veins  accom- 
panyincr  various  ores  of  silver  and  lead,  both  massive,  and  in 
botryoidal  concretions  coating  cavities.  The  mines  of  Frey- 

*103°  and  77°,  according  to  Beudant. 

34* 


402  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

berg  in  Saxony,  and  those  of  Kapnik,  Offenbanya,  and  Nag- 
yag  in  Transylvania,  are  its  principal  localities.  It  is  apt  to 
be  confounded  with  manganese  spar,  though  its  very  inferior 
degree  of  hardness  is  sufficiently  characteristic. — Allan's 
Manual. 

PELOKONITE. 

Richter.    (Poggendorf's  rfnnalen,  xxi.  590.) 

A  mixture  of  hydrous  oxide  of  manganese,  hydrous  oxide  of 
iron,  oxide  of  copper,  and  silica.  —  Kcrsten. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-5  —  2-57. 

Uncrystallized ;  color  blackish  blue;  streak  liver-brown, 
with  a  low  degree  of  lustre,  and  conchoidal  fracture. 

It  occurs  at  Remolinos  in  Chili,  associated  with  malachite 
and  chrysocolla,  and  derives  its  name  from  TieXos  broicn,  and 
xovis,  powder,  in  allusion  to  the  color  of  its  streak,  from  which 
last  property  it  may  be  distinguished  from  cupreous  manganese. 


HURAULITE. 

Vauquelin.     (Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de  Ph.,  xxx.  30:2.)     Dufresnoy.    (Ibid,  xli.  338.) 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  oxide  of  iron,  oxide  of 
manganese,  and  water. 

Phosphoric  acid 38-00 32-8 

Protoxide  of  iron 1 1  -52  / 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  33-21  \ 47v* 

Water 18-00 20-0 

100-73  Dufresnoy.  100-0  Vauquelin. 

M.  Dufresnoy's  analysis  gives  very  nearly  six  atoms  phos- 
phate of  manganese,  two  atoms  diphosphate  of  iron,  thirteen 
atoms  water.     Formula  :  GMnPlvf  2F2Ph+l3Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-2"?.     II.  above  3'0. 

Primary  form  an  oblique  rhombic  prism  of  117°  30';  in 
minute  translucent  crystals  of  a  reddish-yellow  color ;  fracture 
conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous  lustre ;  heated  in  the  matrass,  it 
yields  water.  Alone  it  fuses  readily  B  B,  affording  a  black 
button,  which  has  a  metallic  lustre. 

Described  by  Dufresnoy,  who  named  it  from  its  locality, 
the  Commune  des  Bureaux  in  the  Haute  Vienne. 

PHOSPHATE   OF    MANGANESE. 

cyoTfcW>.  MMaaSn::ePhPZ^Je^  °f  JJ" *™>* 

Diphosphate  of  Iron,  Thor^on.     Marantalus  quadratus,  D    '  H*****"'    Manganese- 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid  with 'the  protoxides  of  iron 
and  manganese. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  403 

Phosphoric  acid 32-8 7-28  * 

Protoxide  of  iron 31-9 7-08 

Protoxide  of  manganese 32-<> 7-24 

Phosphate  of  Jime 3-2 0-00 

100-5 

It  is  thus  constituted  of  one  atom  acid,  and  one  atom  each 
of  the  bases,  (leaving  out  the  phosphate  of  lime  as  accidental) ; 
or  of  one  atom  diphosphate  of  iron,  one  atom  diphosphate  of 
manganese.  Formula:  Mn2Ph+F2Ph. 

Sp.  Gr.  34  — 38.     H.  =  54. 

Occurs  in  compact  cleavable  masses  of  a  brownish-black 
color;  structure  lamellar,  with  a  brilliant  and  somewhat  ada- 
mantine lustre ;  cleavage  in  three  directions  perpendicular  to 
each  other,  one  of  them  less  distinct  than  the  others,  the  pri- 
mary form  (thus  indicated)  being  a  Rectangular  prism;  frac- 
ture flat  conchoidal ;  opake  in  the  mass,  but  thin  fragments 
are  semi-transparent;  streak  yellowish-grey.  Alone  on  char- 
coal, it  fuses  very  easily  with  brisk  intumescence  into  a  black 
metallic-like  globule,  which  is  magnetic;  with  borax  is  readily 
soluble  into  a  glass,  which  appears  of  an  amethystine  color  in 
the  oxidating  flame,  bottle-green  in  the  reducing;  with  soda 
it  is  insoluble  on  charcoal,  but  on  platina  leaf  exhibits  a  green 
color ;  and  with  boracic  acid  melts  and  forms,  with  iron  wire, 
phosphuret  of  iron.  Is  slowly  soluble,  with  effervescence,  in 
nitric  or  muriatic  acid. 

It  occurs  in  large-grained  granite,  near  Limoges  in  France, 
associated  with  the  beryl  of  that  locality;  also  at  Washington 
in  Connecticut,  with  pulverulent  Diallogite;  and  at  Sterling 
in  Massachusetts,  with  spodumene. 

The  Dufrenite  of  Brogniart,  or  phosphate  defer  mangane- 
sien  vert  of  Beudant,  contains  phosphoric  acid  24-8,  protoxide 
of  iron  5TO,  water  15-0,  peroxide  of  manganese  9*0.  Specific 
gravity  3*227.  Is  of  an  olive  or  dull-green  color;  in  small 
radiated  masses;  slightly  translucent;  and  extremely  fusible, 
melting  even  on  exposure  to  the  candle.  Occurs  at  Anglar 
near  Limoges. 

TRIPHYLINE. 

Fuchs.    (Beridius*  Rapport  Jlnnud,  1835,  p.  212.) 

This  mineral  is  analogous  in  some  of  its  physical  characters 
with  the  last  species,  but  it  occurs  under  a  different  crystal- 
line form,  and  differs  somewhat  in  its  composition.  Its  con- 
stituents, according  to  Fuchs,  are  as  follow : 


404  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

Phosphoric  acid 41-47 

Protoxide  of  iron 48-57 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  4 '70 

Lithium 3-40 

Silica 0-53 

Water 0-68 

9^35 

Answering  to  these  numbers,  Berzelius  has  given  this  for- 
mula: L3'S+6(Fe3Mn3)1>. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-6.     H.  =  5. 

Its  color  is  greenish-grey,  in  some  spots  bluish ;  the  powder 
greyish-white.  Translucent  in  thin  pieces.  Fuses  easily  B  B, 
loses  by  ignition  0'68  per  cent,  of  water.  Dissolves  easily  in 
borax  into  a  greenish  glass.  Is  soluble  in  acids.  It  occurs 
generally  in  a  massive  form,  but  presents  a  coarsely  lamellar 
or  crystalline  structure,  with  cleavages  parallel  with  the  planes 
of  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  M  on  M  about  132°.  The  cleav- 
age parallel  with  P,  more  perfect  than  with  M. 

This  mineral  occurs  so  abundantly  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Bodenmais,  that  it  has  been  suggested  whether  it  could  not  be 
employed  in  the  arts. 

Tetrapliyline  or  Peroicskinite  of  Nordenskiold.  This  mine- 
ral, obviously  very  similar  to  the  above,  has  not  been  fully  in- 
vestigated. It  was  analyzed  by  Berzelius  and  Nordenskiold, 
(Rapport  Annud,  1835,  p.  212),  but  the  great  excess  caused 
them  to  reject  the  analysis.  They  obtained  phosphoric  acid 
42'6,  protoxide  of  iron  38'6,  protoxide  of  manganese  12'1, 
magnesia  1-7,  lithia  82  =  1032.  Its  color  is  yellow  on  the 
fresh  surface,  but  exposed  to  the  air,  it  becomes  gradually 
black.  It  gives,  B  B,  a  strong  manganese  reaction.  It  oc- 
curs at  Keiti  in  Tammela,  Finland. 

Fuchs*  has  also  examined  another  phosphate  of  manganese 
and  iron,  from  Zwizel  in  Bavaria,  in  which  he  found  3'18  per 
cent,  of  fluorine  with  35'60  phosphoric  acid,  35'44  protoxide 
of  iron,  and  20'34  protoxide  of  manganese.  The  protoxide  of 
iron  enters  into  its  composition  in  a  proportion  nearly  ap- 
proaching to  two  atoms  against  one  of  oxide  of  manganese. 
In  designating  these  two  oxides  by  R,  Berzelius  gives  the  fol- 
lowing formula:  RF2+3(3Ro)P2O5. 

The  physical  characters  of  this  mineral  have  not  been  fully 
given.  It  is  said  to  occur  in  a  crystalline  mass  penetrated  by 
considerable  but  imperfect  faces  of  cleavage.  But  they  do 
not  furnish  evidence  sufficiently  marked  by  which  to  deter- 
mine the  crystalline  form.  Its  color  is  olive-brown;  lustre 

*  Journ.  fur  pr.  Chemie,  xvii.  171,  or  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  for  1840,  p.  138. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  405 

greasy;  gives  a  greyish-white  streak;  fracture  irregular,  in 
partconchoidal;  hardness  that  of  apatite;  specific  gravity  3'97. 
B  B,  it  decrepitates,  and  then  melts  with  ebulition  into  a  blu- 
ish-black glass  which  is  attracted  by  the  magnet.  It  presents 
the  reactions  of  phosphoric  acid,  of  iron,  of  manganese  and  of 
fluorine.  It  will  probably  be  admitted  as  a  new  species,  but 
as  yet  no  name  has  been  given  to  it. 

BISULPHURET   OF   MOLYBDENUM.* 

Wasserblei,  W.  Molybdene  Pulfure,  H.  Bt.  Molybdena,!.  Rhombohedral  Molybdena 
Glance,  M.  Molybdenite,  Beudant.  Molybd'<ingknz,  Leonhard.  Bisulphide  of  Molyb- 
denum, Thomson.  Elasmites  hexagonus,  D. 

Combination  of  one  atom  molybdenum  and  two  atoms  sulphur. 

Pennsylvania. 

Sulphur 40-0 40-4 39-68 

Molybdenum 60-0 59-0 59-42 

100-0  Bucholz.         100-0  Brandes.  99-10  Seybert. 

Formula:  Ml  SI2. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-4  —  47.     H.  =  1-0  — 1-5. 

Shutesbury,  Mass. 

Color  nearly  that  of  fresh  cut  metal- 
lic lead.  It  occurs  massive,  with  a 
lamellar  structure;  and  in  very  flat 
hexahedral  tables,  which  are  readily 
divisible  parallel  with  their  terminal 
planes;  or  in  the  form  of  a  regular 
Hexahedral  prism,  which  is  the  primary  form.  The  prisms 
are  more  or  less  deeply  replaced  on  their  terminal  edges  by 
single  planes;  and  sometimes  the  edges  between  a  of  the  an- 
nexed figure  are  truncated.!  Lustre  metallic;  opake ;  sectile; 
highly  flexible;  but  not  elastic;  and  unctuous  to  the  touch. 
On  paper  it  leaves  traces  of  a  metallic-grey  color,  and  on  pot- 
tery or  porcelain  a  greenish  streak.  B  B,  it  gives  out  sulphu- 
rous furnes,  which  are  deposited  on  the  charcoal,  but  neither 
fuses  nor  is  reduced.  It  is  soluble  with  effervescence  in  nitric 
acid,  but  leaves  a  grey  residue;  and  it  deflagrates  with  nitre. 
Molybdena  occurs  in  hexagonal  plates  in  Greenland;  and 
in  flat,  indistinct,  six-sided  prisms  at  Arendal  in  Norway,  and 

*  Molybdena,  from  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  resemblance  in  color  to  lead. 

f  Shepard  hns  figured  two  crystals  of  American  specimen?,  and  the  above  figure  repre- 
sents one  of  them.  It  would  appear  that  perfect  crvstalline  forms  of  this  species  are 
rarely  met  with  at  any  of  the  European  localities.  None  are  referred  to  in  Levy's  Cata- 
iogue  of  the  extensive  collection  formerly  possessed  by  Mr.  Heuland,  and  now  belonging 
to°Mr.  Turner.  "  Schmeisser,  however,  in  the  second  volume  of  his  Mineralogy,  says 
that  he  saw  crystals  of  it  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Raske.  which  were  six-sided  prisms 
terminated  at  both  ends  by  six-sided  pyramids."  [AM.  ED.] 


406  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

Numedahl  in  Sweden.     Generally  it  is   met  with  in  foliated 
masses,  either  imbedded  in  or  disseminated  through  granite, 

fneiss,  syenite,  and  other  primitive  rocks ;  in  Bohemia  and 
axony  with  tin ;  in  Silesia,  in  granite  ;  at  Chessy  in  France, 
in  sienite;  in  grey  granite  near  Mont  Blanc;  also  in  Peru. 
Many  of  the  Cornish  mines  produce  it  in  considerable  quan- 
tity;  and  in  the  granite  of  Caldbeck  Fell,  in  Cumberland,  it 
occurs  associated  with  tungsten,  wolfram,  and  apatite. 

In  the  United  States,  this  mineral  is  by  no  means  unfre- 
querit  in  gneiss  and  granite.  It  is  thus  found  at  Haddam 
and  its  vicinity,  Conn.,  in  crystals  or  hexahedral  tables;  at 
Brunswick,  Me. ;  Chester,  Delaware  county,  Penn. ;  in  the 
Highlands,  at  West  Point,  and  on  New  York  Island,  N.  Y. ; 
Brimfield,  Shutesbury  and  Fitchburg,  Mass.,  in  beautiful  radi- 
ated groups  of  crystals;  also  on  the  islands  in  Blue  Hill  Bay, 
Me.  More  recently  in  the  sienite  of  Sandy  Bay,  Cape  Ann, 
Mass.  At  Westmoreland  arid  LandafT,  N.  H.,  in  regular  tabu- 
lar crystals,  associated  with  crystals  of  phosphate  of  lime,  and 
frequently  encrusted  with  yellow  oxide  of  molybdenum. 

This  species  is  readily  distinguished  from  graphite  by  its 
streak  and  lustre  ;  by  its  specific  gravity,  which  is  much  high- 
er ;  and  by  its  comportment  B  B,  which  is  totally  dissimilar. 


OXIDE  OF  MOLYBDENUM. 

Molybdic  Ochre,  Shcpard.    Molybdena  Ocker,  Karsten. 

Combination  of  one  atom  molybdenum  and  three  atoms 
oxygen  ;  or,  in  parts,  of  molybdenum  (5(5-61,  oxygen  33'39. 

Color  yellow  of  various  shades,  occasionally  greenish  ;  mas- 
sive; composition  impalpable,  pulverulent,  friable  and  dull. 
According  to  Berzelius,  its  characters,  B  B,  resemble  those  of 
pure  molybdic  acid;  but  treated  with  soda  it  sinks  into  the 
charcoal,  leaving  a  residuum  of  protoxide  of  iron  on  the  sur- 
face. With  salt  of  phosphorus  it  affords  a  green  glass. 

It  is  found  in  very  minute  quantities,  incrusting  the  sul- 
phuret  of  molybdena,  at  Numedahl  in  Sweden,  and  in  other 
localities  of  that  species. 

In  the  United  States,  fine  specimens  of  this  oxide  have  been 
found  at  Brunswick,  Me.,  and  at  Westmoreland,  N.  H. 

OXIDE   OF   TIN. 

Zinnstein,  W.    Etain   Oxyde,  H,    Tinstone,  J.    Pyramidal  Tin  Ore,  M.     Stannolite, 
Meeker.    CassUente,  Beudant.    Stream  Tin.     Wood  Tin.     Jovius  quadratus,  D. 

Consists  of  peroxide  of  tin,  sometimes  mixed  with  small 
quantities  of  oxides  of  iron,  manganese,  and  columbium. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  407 

Cornwall.  Finbo.  Cornwall. 

Peroxide  of  tin  .............  99-00  ................  93-6  ................  96-265 

Peroxide  of  iron  ............  0-25  ................  1-4  >  ,  „._ 

Sesquioxide  of  manganese..  0-00  ................  0'8$  ..............  J'ja5 

Oxide  of  columbium  .......  0-00  ................  2-4  ................  0-000 

Silica  .....................  0-75  ................  0-0  ................  6-750 


100-00  Klaproth.  98-2  Berzelius.         100-410  Thomson. 

There   can  be  no   doubt   that  the  purest  crystals  of  this 
mineral  consist  entirely  of  peroxide  of  tin.     Formula:  Sta. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-4  —  6-9.     H.  =  6-0  —  7'0. 

Common  form  a  quadrangular  prism  terminated  by  four- 
sided  pyramids  (fig.  4).  The  primary  is  an  Obtuse  octahedron 
with  a  square  base;  the  angle  over  the  apex  being  112°  10'; 
and  of  a  plane  of  one  pyramid  on  the  adjoining  plane  of  the 
other,  67°  50'.  It  occurs  almost  transparent,  and  either  color- 
less or  of  a  yellowish  tint  ;  hair-brown  or  reddish-brown,  and 
translucent  ;  most  commonly  deep-brown  passing  into  black, 
and  opake  ;  bright-yellow  and  red  colors  are  produced  artifi- 
cially by  exposure  to  heat.  Rarely  occurs  massive,  mostly  in 
crystals  coating  cavities  in  veins,  or  disseminated  ;  also  fibrous 
and  granular,  reniform  and  botryoidal  (Wood  tin).  Cleavage 
with  some  difficulty  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  primary  octa- 
hedron, viz.  with  the  narrow  planes,  which  appear  to  replace 
the  pyramidal  edges  of  fig.  3.*  Externally  the  crystals  are 
splendent  ;  fracture  uneven  or  imperfectly  conchoidal,  with  a 
more  or  less  shining  resinous  lustre  ;  structure  lamellar  ;  streak 
greyish-white.  It  gives  sparks  with  the  steel,  and  is  brittle. 
When  heated  it  decrepitates  strongly  ;  but  is  reducible  when 
exposed  on  charcoal  to  the  continued  action  of  the  blowpipe. 
It  is  insoluble  in  acids. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary,  an  obtuse  octahedron ;  hut  no  crystal  has  been 
found  of  this  form  ;  the  nearest  approach  to  it  is  fig.  2,  which  is  prismatic, 
the  planes  of  the  prism  arising  from  the  replacement  of  the  lateral  solid 
angles  of  the  primary  octahedron  by  six-sided  planes  (see  Zircon,  fig.  1, 
2,  3).  In  fig.  3,  the  angles  formed  by  the  meeting  of  the  terminal  (pri- 
mary) planes  with  the  lateral  planes,  are  each  replaced  by  triangular 
faces;  which  are  complete  in  fig.  4  (the  form  of  the  common  crystal),  on 
which  no  part  of  the  primary  is  visible.  In  fig.  5,  each  solid  angle  formed 

*  The  primary  form  of  this  species  is  now  more  usually  regarded  as  a  Right  square 
prism  to  which  it  yields  cleavage  parallel  with  its  lateral  faces  and  both  diagonals.  The 
evidence  from  cleavage,  renders  the  selection  a  matter  somewhat  arbitrary.  [An.  ED.] 


408 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


by  the  meeting  of  the  lateral  and  terminal  planes  of  a  crystal  similar  to  fig. 
4,  is  replaced  by  two  triangular  planes  ;  which  in  fig.  6  are  considerably 
enlarged,  and  assume  another  form. 


Macles. 


The  large  figure  on  the  left  exhibits  a  combined  view  of  all  the  planes 
hitherto  observed  on  the  crystals  of  oxide  of  tin  ;  /I  and  J  \'  are  those  of 
the  common  pyramid;  e  and  e'  those  of  the  commonly  observed  prism. 

The  uppermost  of  the  figures  on  the  right  represents  the  most  com- 
mon made  of  the  oxide  of  tin,  consisting  of  equal  portions  of  two  simi- 
lar crystals,  the  lower  of  which  is  turned  and  attached  to  the  upper  ;  the 
common  plane  of  their  attachment  being  parallel  to  the  plane  P'  of  the 
upper  half.  The  lines  down  the  planes  e  of  both  halves  represent  the 
striae  always  observable  on  the  prismatic  planes  of  the  crystals,  and  are 
here  represented  in  order  to  show  the  connection  between  this  and  the 
lower  of  the  two  macles,  which  for  the  sake  of  illustration  is  placed  in  a 
different  point  of  view  ;  it  will  be  observed  that  the  lower  made  consists 
only  of  portions  of  the  prisms  of  crystals  attached  together,  if  we  except 
the  small  planes,  which  are  parts  of  P'  and /I:  only  three,  or  at  most 
four,  of  these  sections  are  usually  to  be  seen  thus  attached. 


P  on  P'   

133° 

30' 
10 
2 

20 
45 
30 
20 
55 
30 
00 
00 
38 
45 
5 
30 
56 
32 

/I  on  /I  or/l'on/1') 
over  the  summit       S 
fit 

92° 

121 
144 
142 
161 
154 
136 
119 
159 
118 
155 
153 
146 
90 
135 
112 

55' 

40 
10 
24 
25 
15 
20 
8 
5 
10 
25 
25 
20 
00 
00 
10 

P  on  P  over  the  summit 
P  or  P  on  a  

.  112 
.  146 

.  113 

fo 

.  f-^ 

.  150 

/3 

P  on  i  

.  169 

P  on  kl  or  k'l  

.  137 

kl 

P  on  n  

.  123 

A°     • 

o  

.  140 

90 

kl  on  kl  
klonkl'  
kl  on  e  or  kl1  one'    ... 
n  on  gl  

_     ,.  ,    o-O 

€  or  e'  on  n  

135 

161 

ff2   . 

168 

|2  .:::::::: 

.  171 

/  1  on  fl    .  .      . 

136 

e  on  e'  (lower  macle)   .  . 
e  or  e'  on  n'  ditto    .... 
n'  on  n1       ditto  ..... 

,  165 

e  or/1'  or  e'   ... 

.  133 

METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS.  409 

Tin  belongs  almost  exclusively  to  primitive  mountains,  and 
is  found  in  veins  traversing  granite,  gneiss,  and  mica-slate. 

On  the  European  continent  it  is  met  with  abundantly,  on 
both  the  Bohemian  and  Saxon  sides  of  the  Erzebirge,  particu- 
larly at  Zinnwald  and  Schlackenwald,  where  it  frequently  oc- 
curs in  macled  crystals  of  considerable  magnitude,  weighing 
several  pounds.  It  is  also  found  in  Gallicia  in  Spain;  in 
the  granite  hill  of  Puy  les  Vignes,  Haut  Vienne,  in  France; 
in  Greenland;  in  Sweden;  in  Brittany,  near  Roc  St.  Andre  ; 
in  Asia  on  the  east  coast  of  Sumatra,  in  the  island  of  Banca, 
and  on  the  peninsula  of  Malacca;  in  Mexico;  among  alluvial 
deposits  in  Chili,  &,c.  The  granite  range  which  divides 
Tennasserim  from  Siam,  contains  large  deposits  of  tin,  and 
has  been  explored  by  an  English  scientific  traveller,  Mr. 
Royle,  who  has  obtained  the  mineral  in  fine  crystals. 

The  chief  repository,  however,  of  this  ore  is  in  Cornwall, 
where  it  occurs  in  veins  traversing  granite  and  slate  rocks,* 
accompanied  by  chlorite,  apatite,  fluor,  topaz,  schorl,  arsen- 
ical pyrites,  wolfram,  and  blende;  also  disseminated  in  gran- 
ite, as  in  that  of  St.  Michael's  Mount.  Generally  speaking, 
the  Cornish  varieties  are  not  of  large  size,  though  extremely 
perfect  in  form  and  symmetry,  nor  do  they  so  often  occur 
macled  as  those  of  Bohemia.  The  tin  mines  of  this  country 
are  well  known  to  have  been  worked  at  a  period  anterior  even 
to  the  Romans.  According  to  De  la  Beche,  the  Cornish  tin 
ores  sold  in  1837,  and  obtained  from  about  seventy  mines, 
amounted  to  rising  .£360,000.  The  quantity  of  pure  tin 
made  into  blocks,  was  five  thousand  one  hundred  and  thirty 
tons.  The  average  annual  value  has  been  about  c£300,000. 

In  the  United  States,  the  first  discovery  of  tin  was  by  Prof. 
Hitchcock  at  Goshen,  Mass.  Prof.  Shepard  afterwards  found 
a  few  crystals  at  Beverly.  But  this  metal  was  not  known  to 
occur  in  situ,  until  Dr.  Jackson  discovered  it  in  veins  travers- 
ing granite  and  mica  slate  at  Jackson,  N.  H.,  where  it  is  asso- 
ciated with  wolfram,  and  various  other  substances  that  occur 
in  the  tin  mines  of  Cornwall  and  Saxony.  Prof.  Wm.  B.  Ro- 
gers, has  also  discovered  this  metal,  in  minute  quantities,  asso- 
ciated with  auriferous  quartz,  and  several  other  minerals,  at 
some  of  the  gold  mines  in  Virginia.  A  few  very  perfect  crystals 
were  detected  by  Mohs  in  the  albite  from  the  tourmaline  locali- 

*  These  slates  do  not  possess  the  high  antiquity  which  has  been  imputed  to  them, 
since,  both  in  Cornwall  and  Devon,  they  are  known  to  contain  numerous  fossils  ;  and  Ue 
la  Beche  informs  us  that  one  of  the  richest  tin  mines  now  worked  in  Cornwall,  is  in  a 
fossiliferous  rock  containing  encrinites  and  corals. —  Phil.  Mag.,  united  serifs,  xvii.  p. 
510.  We  are  thus  led  to  suppose  that  this  metal  may  be  discovered  more  frequently 
than  it  has  been,  by  searching  for  it  among  the  newer  rocks.  [AM.  ED.] 

35 


410  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

ty,  Chesterfield,  Mass. ;  and  more  recently  by  Mr.  Teschema- 
cher  in  very  brilliant  obtuse  octahedrons,  formed  by  the  replace- 
ments/on the  primary,  with  their  lateral  solid  angles  replaced 
by  minute  planes  n,  the  measurements  corresponding  with  the 
two  first  and  last,  in  the  second  column  on  page  408. 

FIBROUS  OXIDE  OF  TIN.  WOOD  TIN.  Etain  oxyde  concretionne,  H. 
Contains  from  5  to  9  per  cent,  of  iron.  This  occurs  in  reniform,  globular,  and 
botryoidal  masses,  or  in  wedge-shaped  pieces,  which  have  arisen  from  their 
partial  destruction  ;  the  surfaces  are  generally  water-worn.  It  exhibits 
various  shades  of  brown,  which  sometimes  appear  in  concentric  bands, 
giving  it  a  ligneous  appearance ;  structure  divergingly  fibrous  in  one  di- 
rection, concentric  lamellar  in  the  other  ;  lustre  glimmering  or  silky.  It 
occurs  in  some  of  the  principal  stream  works  of  Cornwall,  frequently  in 
masses  weighing  several  pounds.  The  variety  which  has  received  the 
name  of  toad's  eye  wood  tin  consists  of  minute  spherical  masses,  of  a  silky 
lustre,  and  of  alternate  hair-brown  and  yellowish-white  colors  disposed 
concentrically ;  the  fibres  radiating  1'rom  a  centre.  It  abounds  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Tregurthy  Moor  in  Cornwall. 

STREAM  TIN,  in  quartz  rock,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  the  alluvial  debris 
of  tin  veins  separated  from  the  deposit  of  gravel  by  washing;  it  consists  of 
detached  fragments  which  occur  in  many  of  the  low  grounds  or  marshy 
places  of  Cornwall ;  it  is  sometimes  accompanied  by  grains  of  native  gold  ; 
and  frequently  associated  with  animal  and  vegetable  remains,  such  as  deer- 
horns,  hazel-nuts,  &c.  It  is  a  valuable  ore  of  tin.  Staniferous  gravels, 
according  to  Sir  Stamford  Raffles,  now  furnish  the  tin  from  Banca  and  the 
other  parts  of  the  Malayan  peninsula  and  islands;  and  the  amount  which 
they  supply  is  supposed  to  be  about  three  thousand  tons  per  annum. 

TANTALIFEROUS  OXIDE  OF  TIN,  from  Finbo  in  Sweden,  occurs  in 
small  grains,  imbedded  in  quartz.  It  is  black,  with  a  shade  of  red  or 
reddish-grey  ;  lustre  metallic  ;  fracture  uneven  ;  opake,and  hard  enough 
to  scratch  glass.  Specific  gravity  6-55.  Does  not  alter  B  B.  One  variety 
afforded  Berzelius  upwards  of  12  per  cent,  oxide  of  tantalum. 


SPHENE.* 

Hemi-Prismatic  Titanium  Ore,  M.    Prismatic  Titanium-ore,  J.    Sphen,  Karsten.    Titane 
Siliceo-Calcaire,  H.     Rutilus  obliquus,  D. 

Combination  of  titanic  acid,  silica,  and  lime. 

Passau.  Felberthal.  St.  Gothard. 

Titanic  acid  ........  33-0  ..................  46-0  ..................  33-3 

Sil  ica  ...............  35.0  ..................  26-0  ..................  '28-0 

Lime  ..............  33-0  ..................  16-0  ..................  32-2 

Water  .............  0-0  ..................  1-0  ..................  0-0 

100-0  Klaproth.  99  0  Klaproth.  93-5  Cordier. 

The  most  probable  composition  of  this  mineral,  as  indicated 
by  these  analyses,  is  one  atom  tersilicate  of  lime,  and  one  atom 
titaniate  of  lime.  Formula:  CalS3+CalTt 

Sp.  Gr.  3  49  —  36.     H.  —  50  —  55. 

Color  grey,  yellow,  hyacinth-red,  and  brown,  also  various 
shades  of  green;  streak  greyish-white;  occurs  amorphous, 


sha  ed  eek'  probably  in  allusi°n  to  its  crystals  being  somewhat  wedge- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


411 


and  in  crystals  differing  greatly  in  form ;  the  primary  is  an 
Oblique  rhombic  prism,  of  which  the  lateral  angles  are  alter- 
nately about  133°  30'  and  46°  30';  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
faces  of  this  prisrn,  but  not  easily  observed;  fracture  imper- 
fect conchoid al ;  translucent  on  the  edges  ;  lustre  adamantine, 
sometimes  inclining  to  resinous.  BB,  the  yellow  varieties 
do  not  change  their  color  ;  all  the  rest  become  yellow ;  they 
slightly  intumesce,  and  fuse  on  the  edges  into  a  dark-colored 
enamel,  and  with  borax  afford  a  yellowish-green  diaphanous 
glass.  With  salt  of  phosphorus  it  fuses  slowly  into  a  globule, 
which,  after  a  long  blast,  becomes  opaline  on  cooling;  in  the 
reducing  flame  this  globule  assumes  the  amethystine  tinge 
characteristic  of  titanium.  Is  soluble  in  heated  muriatic  or 
nitric  acid,  leaving  a  siliceous  residue ;  the  fragments,  when 
exposed  to  heat,  exhibit  a  brilliant  white  phosphorescence. 

2.  3. 

Primary. 


MonM'  ..........  133° 

P  on  M  or  M'  .......  121 

-  a  ...........  159 

-  c  ...........  140 

-  e2  or  e2   .......  158 

-  e3  or  e3'  .......  154 

-  e4  or  e4    .......  146 

-  e5  or  e5'  .......  120 

M  or  M'  on  a  .......  139 


—  on  6  or  M'  on  6'  .. 

—  or  M'  on  c 

—  on  e2  or  M'  on  e2>  . 


124 
86 
119 
116 
138 


30' 
50 
44 
52 
18 
20 
30 
2 

30 
35 
20 
35 
42 
42 


M  on  I  or  M'  on  /'....  151°  20' 

c 120  2 

b  on  b' 167  00 

b  or  6  on  c 139  30 

c  on  dl  or  dV 146  44 

e2 145  18 

<?4 154  52 

dlondl' 113  24 

d2  on  d2' 135  60 

d2  on  <?4 152  30 

dl  on  e2 152  45 

el  on  el1 175  42 

e2  on  e2' 136  50 

e\  on  c4' 113  40 


It  occurs  chiefly  in  primitive  rocks. 

The  brown  and  almost  entirely  opake  varieties  of  this  spe- 


412  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

cies  occur  with  augite  in  beds  of  iron  ore  at  Arendal  in  Nor- 
way ;  in  a  granitic  rock  at  Sartut  in  Greenland;  and  with 
scapolite  and  tremolite  in  the  limestone  quarry  of  Malsjo  in 
Werrneland,  Sweden.  The  light-colored  and  frequently  trans- 
parent crystals,  on  the  other  hand,  are  met  with  of  considera- 
ble magnitude,  frequently  macled  in  the  most  fantastic  man- 
ner, and  associated  with  felspar  and  chlorite,  at  Graubinden 
in  the  Orisons;  on  mica  slate  at  St.  Gothard  ;  in  distinctly 
pronounced  brownish  crystals  disposed  on  chlorite  at  the  Val 
Maggia  in  Piedmont;  of  a  yellowish-grey  color  accompanying 
the  rock  crystals  of  Mont  Blanc,  and  elsewhere  among  the 
Alps.  Small  individuals  occur  in  certain  syenites,  as  at 
Strontian  in  Argylshire,  and  Criffle  in  Galloway.  More  rarely 
it  appears  among  volcanic  rocks,  as  at  the  Laacher  See,  and 
Andernach  on  the  Rhine.  —  Allan  s  Manual. 

At  Grenville,  Lower  Canada,  sphene  occurs  associated  with 
table  spar,  augite  and  plumbago.  The  imperfectly  crystal- 
lized masses  are  of  considerable  size,  and  present  broad  folia 
with  brilliant  cleavage  planes.  They  have  been  described  by 
Prof.  Shepard  under  the  name  of  Lcdcritc,  but  they  are  now 
admitted  to  be  only  a  variety  of  sphene. 

In  the  United  States,  small  and  nearly  jet-black  crystals, 
with  a  high  lustre,  accompany  the  cinnamon  stone  and  egeran 
at  Phippsburg,  Me.  These  crystals  are  similar  to  fig.  8,  ex- 
cepting that  the  planes  a  and  c  replacing  the  acute  and  obtuse 
solid  angles,  are  more  extended,  as  shown  in  fig.  4.  A  brown- 
ish variety,  both  crystallized  and  massive,  occurs  \\ith  scapo- 
lite, at  the  lime  quarries  in  Bolton,  Mass. ;  and  Prof.  Hitch- 
cock has  discovered  many  very  beautifully  formed  crystals,  at 
Pelham,  in  the  same  State,  disseminated  in  gneiss  with  augite 
and  actynolite.  At  Rogers'  Rock,  on  Lake  George,  N.  Y., 
crystals  in  the  form  of  fig.  3,  and  with  the  planes  c  and  a 
more  extended,  are  very  abundantly  distributed  in  a  rock  com- 
posed of  hornblende,  felspar  and  foliated  graphite.  At  Mon- 
roe, Orange  county,  according  to  Prof.  Beck,  examples  of  the 
primary  form,  and  of  the  modification  represented  by  fig.  5, 
occur  in  limestone,  associated  with  scapolite  and  zircon.  They 
have  a  dark  chocolate-brown  color,  and  are  of  considerable 
size.  The  piimitive  limestone  at  Gouverneur  and  Hammond, 
St.  Lawrence  county,  has  also  furnished  many  very  beautiful 
crystals  of  this  mineral,  of  a  brownish-black  color,  and  brilliant 
resinous  lustre.  Their  surfaces  are  frequently  much  indented  or 
pitted  by  small  superficial  cavities  or  grooves,  as  if  they  had 
been  impressed  while  in  a  soft  state.  In  New  Jersey,  at 
Franklin  and  Newton,  it  occurs  in  white  limestone  with  spi- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  413 

nelle  and  pyroxene.     In  Bucks  county,  Penn.,  it  is  associated 
with  table  spar  and  plumbago. 

The  Spinthere  of  Haiiy,  found  at  Isere  in  France  on  crys- 
tals of  carbonate  of  lime,  is  only  a  variety  of  sphene. 

WARWICKITE. 

Shepard.    (Amer.  Journ.  of  Science,  xxxiv.  313 ;  xxxvi.  85.) 

This  mineral  was  formerly  known  to  the  mineralogists  of 
the  United  States  as  hypersthene.  It  occurs  at  Warwick  and 
Amity,  N.  Y.,  imbedded  in  a  highly  crystalline  white  dolo- 
mite limestone,  with  Brucite  and  yellow  idocrase.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  results  of  its  analysis,  by  Prof.  Shepard  :  titani- 
um 6471,  iron  2  14,  yttrium  0'80,  fluorine  27'33. 

These  numbers,  as  viewed  by  Prof.  Shepard,  show  the  min- 
eral to  be  a  compound  of  twelve  atoms  difluoride  of  titanium, 
and  one  atom  difluoride  of  iron,  as  thus  expressed  by  the  for- 
mula :  12Tt2FH-F2Fl.  Sp.  Gr.  3-0  —  314.  H.  =  6-0. 

Color  hair-brown,  to  iron-grey.  Lustre  of  the  smallest  crys- 
tals metallic-pearly  in  a  high  degree  on  the  cleavage  faces, 
and  in  other  directions  only  vitreous  in  moderate  degrees. 
Opake,  excepting  in  very  thin  fragments,  when  it  is  translu- 
cent, and  transmits  a  reddish-brown  light.  Streak  dark  choca- 
late-brown.  Some  large  crystals  from  Amity,  N.  Y.,  present 
characters  somewhat  different,  and  in  lustre  resemble  some 
varieties  of  rutile.  Primary  form,  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism, 
M  on  M  =93°  to  94°.  *  In  the  occurring  secondary  forms  of 
the  mineral,  the  obtuse  lateral  edges  of  the  primary  are  trun- 
cated, and  its  acute  edges  beveled  —  the  summits  being 
rounded.  Cleavage  parallel  with  the  longer  diagonal  perfect. 
The  planes  thus  obtained  are  finely  striated  vertically,  and 
exhibit  very  distinct,  oblique  cross  cleavages.  Fracture  un- 
even. Heated  on  charcoal,  B  B,  it  does  not  fuse,  but  simply 
assumes  a  lighter  shade  of  color.  With  borax,  it  dissolves 
with  effervescence,  affording,  while  hot,  a  yellow  semi-opake 
glass,  which  on  cooling  changes  to  a  pale  green  and  becomes 
clear.  It  renders  carbonate  of  soda  opake,  at  the  same  time 
imparting  to  it  a  dull-yellow  tinge.  In  microcosmic  salt,  it 
melts  with  effervescence,  the  globule  being  blood-red  while 
hot,  changing  to  orange-yellow  as  it  cools,  and  finally  becoming 
reddish-grey  and  opake.  Pulverized  and  heated  in  a  glass 
tube,  it  gives  out  hydro-fluoric  acid. 

*  This  measurement,  as  given  by  Dr.  Heck,  varies  from  102°  to  105°.  The  roundish 
surfaces  of  the  planes  P,  and  the  imperfect  finish  of  the  secondary  planes,  have  hitherto 
rendered  it  impossible  to  determine  accurate  measurements  of  a  single  crystal.  We 
have  thus  only  an  imperfect  knowledge  of  this  singularly  constituted  mineral,  the  specific 
character  of  which  is  not  fully  admitted  by  mineralogists.  (AM.  Ep.) 

35* 


414 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


JESCHYNITE. 

^Eschenite,  Brooke.*    Melanophirus  Mcngianus,  D. 

It  contains,  by  the  analysis  of  Hartwall,  the  following  con- 
stituents :  titanic  acid  56*0,  zirconia20'0,  oxide  of  cerium  15'0, 
lime  3'8,  oxide  of  iron  2'6,  oxide  of  tin  0'5. 

This  mineral  is  a  titaniate  of  zirconia  and  the  three  next 
bases,  as  thus  expressed  in  the  formula  by  Dr.  Thomson : 
5Zrtt+2Crtt+CalTt+£FTt. 

Sp.Gr.  5-14  —  55.     H.  =  5'0  — G'O. 

Primary  form,  according  to  Descloizeaux,  a  Right  rhombic 
prism,  M  on  M  129°.  Brooke  supposed  the  primary  form  to 
be  an  oblique  rhombic  prism,  and  gave  the  incidence  of  the 
lateral  faces  127°  and  53°.  The  secondary  form,  as  stated  by 
Phillips,  was  the  primary  prism  terminated  by  a  summit  of 
four  faces.  Levy  first  observed  a  cleavage  perpendicular  to 
the  axis  of  the  prism,  among  the  specimens  in  the  Turner 
collection.  The  accompanying  figures  and  measurements,  have 
been  taken  from  a  paper,  by  Descloizeaux,  in  the  Annalcs  dcs 
Mines,  ii.  p.  349,  for  1842. 


M  on  M 


129°  00' 


M  ont 115 

Pon  c 127 

c  on  c 74 

M  on  c 109 

6  on  b 137 

c  on  i 144 

c  on  6 126 


The  above  angles  were  determined  by  direct  observation 
with  the  common  goniometer,  and  verified  by  calculation.  The 
differences  were  very  slight,  which  is  remarkable  in  the  case 
of  crystals  not  measurable  with  the  reflective  goniometer,  and 
especially,  when  the  faces,  like  b  b,  are  small  and  difficult  to 
measure.  The  incidence  of  M  on  M,  was  determined  with  the 
reflective  goniometer,  these  being  the  only  bright  planes. 

Color  dark  black,  inclining  to  brownish-yellow  when  translu- 
cent ;  lustre  resinous  ;  streak  dark  grey  or  black  ;  fracture  im- 
perfectly conchoidal ;  it  is  translucent  only  on  the  edges,  and 
when  in  thin  fragments.  B  B,  it  yields  in  the  matrass  some  water  ; 
on  charcoal  it  mtumesces,  and  becomes  yellow:  with  borax  fuses 
readily  into  a  dark  yellow  glass,  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus 
forms  a  transparent  colorless  bead,  but  with  soda  is  insoluble. 

*  Edinb.  Journ.  of  Science,  new  series,  iii.  p.  28.     Phil.  Mag.  and  Annals,  x.  p.  188, 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


415 


This  mineral  occurs  in  the  Ilmen  range  near  Miask  in  Si- 
beria, imbedded  in  felspar,  and  associated  with  mica  and  crys- 
tals of  zircon.  The  first  is  an  isolated  crystal,  and  the  other 
attached  to  a  gangue  of  granite  and  rose  colored  felspar. 

POLYMIGNITE.* 

Berzclius.    (Annals  of  Philosophy,  second  series,  xii.  117.)     Melanophseus  rectangulus,  D. 

Berzelius  subjected  10*16  grains  of  this  mineral  to  analysis 
and  obtained  the  following  results  :  titanic  acid  46*30,  zirconia 
14*14,  yttria  11*50,  peroxide  of  iron  12*20,  lime  4*20,  sesqui- 
oxide  of  manganese  2*70,  peroxide  of  cerium  5-00. 

Rammelsberg,  in  omitting  to  give  a  formula  for  this  mineral, 
observes,  that  owing  to  the  small  quantity  of  it  employed,  and 
the  difficulty  of  separating  the  titanic  acid  from  the  zirconia, 
the  analysis  exhibits  a  considerable  loss,  and  therefore  no  cal- 
culation can  be  founded  on  it.t 

Sp.  Gr.  4*77  —  4  85.     H.  =  6*5. 

Primary  form,  according  to  Rose,  a  Rhomboidal  octahedron, 
whose  dihedral  angles  are  136°  28',  116°  22',  and  80°  16'. 
According  to  Levy  and  Brooke,  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  M  on 
M'  1 10°  30'  nearly.  Occurs  in  long  thin  prismatic  crystals,  the 
edges  of  which  are  commonly  replaced.  Color  black  ;  opake ; 
lustre  imperfect  metallic,  but  brilliant;  streak  dark  brown; 
traces  of  cleavage  parallel  to  M  and  M  ;  frac- 
ture perfect  conchoidal,  presenting,  like  the 
surface,  a  brilliancy  almost  metallic.  Sur- 
faces of  the  crystals  deeply  striated  longitudi- 
nally. Per  se,  it  is  infusible,  and  remains  un- 
altered :  with  borax  is  soluble  with  facility 
into  a  glass  colored  yellow  by  iron,  and  with 
salt  of  phosphorus  fuses  into  a  reddish  glass. 
The  measurements  are,  a  on  a'  136°  28', 
Mon  M'  110°  30'. 
Polyrnignite  occurs  in  crystals  sometimes  exceeding  an  inch 
in  length,  imbedded  in  the  syenite  of  Stavern  and  Fredericks- 
warn  in  Norway.  According  to  Shepard,  this  mineral  has 
been  found  at  Beverly,  Mass. 

CERITE. 

Rhombohedral  Cerium  \  Ore,  M.     Cent,  Hisingcr.    Cerium  Oxide  Silicifere,  H.     Cerin- 
stein,  W.     Cererit,  L.     Uncleavable  Cerium  Ore,  J.     Ceritus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Peroxide  of  cerium. 68-59 67-0 

Si  lica 18-00 17-0 

Peroxide  of  iron 2'00 2-0 

Lime 1-25 2-0 

Water  and  carbonic  acid 9-60=99-44  Hisinger.      12-0=100-0  Vauquelin. 

*  From  TtoAvg,  much,  and  .utyvou),  ImLc  :  in  allusion  to  its  numerous  constituents, 
t  Handwbrterbuch,  2nd  part,  p.  69.  J  Cerium,  after  the  planet  Ceres. 


M 


M 


416  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

These  numbers,  divided  by  the  atomic  weights,  approach 
very  nearly  one  atom  silica,  one  of  peroxide  of  iron,  and  one 
of  water,  or  a  simple  hydrous  silicated  peroxide  of  cerium. 
Formula  :  CrS+Aq.  Sp.  Gr.  4'9  —  5'0.  H.  =  55. 

Color  rose-red  or  clove-brown,  passing  into  grey;  streak 
whitish-grey;  it  occurs  massive;  the  fracture  splintery  and 
more  or  less  shining;  opake,  or  slightly  translucent  on  the 
edges ;  scratches  glass ;  gives  sparks  with  the  steel,  arid  is  hard 
and  difficultly  frangible.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  splits,  but  does 
not  fuse;  with  borax  it  melts  slowly,  and  forms  in  the  oxidat- 
ing flame  an  orange-yellow  colored  globule,  which  becomes 
nearly  colorless  on  cooling;  and  in  the  reducing  flame  assumes 
a  feeble  tint  of  iron.  With  salt  of  phosphorus,  in  the  oxidating 
flame,  it  presents  a  deep-red  glass,  which  becomes  as  limpid  as 
water  on  cooling  ;  and  which,  in  the  reducing  flame,  is  colorless. 

It  is  found  only  in  the  copper  mine  of  Bastnaes  near  Riddar- 
hyttan  in  Sweden,  where  it  forms  a  bed  in  gneiss,  accompany- 
ing copper,  molybdena,  bismuth,  mica,  and  hornblende. 

TITAISTIFEROUS  CERiTE.  —  Laugier  describes  a  variety  under  this 
name  from  the  Coromandel  coast,  of  a  blackish-brown  color,  with  a  vitreous 
conchoidal  fracture.  H.  equal  to  that  of  gadolinite.  It  contains  oxide  of 
cerium  36-0,  oxide  of  iron  19-0,  lime  8-0,  alumina  6-0,  water  11-0,  oxide  of 
manganese  1-8,  silica  19-0,  oxide  of  titanium  8-0.  These  quantities  exceed 
100  by  9-55  parts,  an  excess  occasioned  by  the  protoxide  of  cerium  in  the 
mineral  becoming  peroxide  in  the  analysis.  It  intumesces  when  heated, 
and  is  acted  upon  both  by  acids  and  alkalies. 

SILICATE    OF    CERIUM. 

Wollaston.     (Brewster's  Journal,  vi.  357.) 

In  regular  hexagonal  prisms  of  a  pale  yellowish-brown  color  ; 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  prism  ;  translucent. 

Occurs  with  emerald,  in  magnesian  carbonate  of  lime,  at 
Santa  Fe  de  Bogota  in  Peru. 

ALLANITE.* 

Cerine,  Hisinger  and  Berzelius.    Cerium  Oxyde  Siliceux  Noir,  H.     Anorthitic  Melane 
Ure,  IJaidmger.    Prismatic  Cerium  Ore,  J.     Melanophseus  triclinatus,  D. 

Combination  of  silica  with  the  protoxides  of  cerium  and  iron, 
lime  and  alumina. 


Greenland.            Greenland. 
Silica  35-40  33-021  .  .  . 
Protoxide  of  cerium  .31-48  21  600 

Riddarhyttan. 
30-17.... 

OQ.  !Q 

Monroe,  N.  Y.f 
30-50 
24-90 

Protoxide  of  iron  22-86  "!l5-]0l"  .'  .' 
Protoxide  of  mang...  0-00  0-404*.'.* 

•  •••«•*  .xio  i  y  .  •  .  . 
20-72.... 
000  

.".'.'.*.'.*22-27 
0-00 

Alumina  4-10  1-V23G*" 

11-31.... 

11-25 

I'ime  •  9-20  H.QSO*  '  !  ! 
Volatile  mutter  3-98    Water.  .  .  3-000. 
Oxide  of  copper  0-00  0-OUO.. 

9-12.... 
0-00.... 
0-87.... 

9-87 
0-00 
0-00 

107-00  Thomson.  99-432  Stromeyer.  100-38  Hisinger.  98-79  Prof.  Beck. 

*  Na™ed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  in  honor  of  the  late  Thomas  Allan,  of  Edinburgh,  by  whom 
it  was  first  noticed  and  recognised  as  a  distinct  species, 
t  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  p.  440. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.-"'  417 


Dr.  Thomson  has  rejected  his  own  analysis,  and  adopted  the 
second  by  Stromeyer,  according  to  which  the  mineral  consists 
of  simple  silicates,  (silica  16*51  At.,  bases  10  68  At.)  in  the  pro- 
portions thus  shown  by  the  formula  :  2AlS+CrS+FS+CalS. 

The  two  last  analyses,  by  Hisinger  and  Beck,  the  results  of 
which  nearly  coincide,  give  also  an  equality  in  the  atoms  of 
silica  and  bases  ;  but,  compared  with  the  two  first  analyses,  the 
silica  is  differently  apportioned  among  the  bases.  The  formula 
expressing  the  constitution  of  the  mineral,  based  on  these  two 
analyses,  may  be  thus  stated  :  AlS+FS+CrS+£CalS. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-5  —  4-0.     H.  =  6.0. 

Color  brownish-black  ;  streak  greenish-grey.  It  generally 
occurs  massive,  and  rarely  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the 
Doubly  oblique  prism,  its  primary,  according  to  Haidinger. 
They  are  variously  terminated  ;  cleavage  indistinct  parallel  to 
M  and  r  ;  fracture  uneven,  passing  into  small  conchoidal,  with 
an  imperfect  metallic  lustre;  opake,  the  thinnest  fragments 
sometimes  slightly  translucent,  and  of  a  yellowish-brown.  B  B, 
on  charcoal,  it  fuses  readily  with  effervescence  into  a  black  and 
shining  glass;  with  borax  forms  a  black  opake  globule,  which  in 
the  oxidating  flame  appears  blood-red  while  hot,  but  becomes 
deep-yellow  on  cooling.  Gelatinizes  readily  in  nitric  acid.* 


M  on  r 116°  00' c.  g.  —  Haidinger. 

ron  T 129  00 

T  on  M 115  00 

s  on  r 135  30 

s  on  a: 156  45 

t  on  x 164  30 

y  on  x 151  00 

/  't  on  ?/ 166  30 

y  onV 109  00 


Allanite  is  easily  distinguished  from  Gadolinite  and  orthite, 
by  its  difference  in  specific  gravity  and  hardness;  thin  frag- 
ments of  the  Gadolinite  also  are  translucent  on  the  edges  and 
of  a  fine-green  color  ;  Allanite  is  commonly  opake,  rarely  trans- 
lucent, and  of  a  yellowish-brown. 

*The  Allanite,  as  figured  and  described  in  the  third  edition  of  this  treatise,  appears  to 
he  the  same  mineral  which  has  since  been  distinguished  by  Haidinger  as  Fergusonite. 
This  is  shown  by  the  analogy  in  crystalline  form.  Both  minerals  were  brought  from 
Greenland  by  Prof.  Giesecke,  and  for  a  time  they  seem  to  have  been  confounded  with 
each  other—  Phillips  supposing  he  had  given  the  measurements  of  a  crystal  of  the  same 
mineral  which  Dr.  Thomson  had  analyzed.  As  his  measurements,  given  in  the  third 
edition  of  this  treatise,  are  undoubtedly  accurate,  they  should  accompany  the  figure 
under  the  species  Fergusonite  in  this  volume.  Beudant  has  followed  Phillips  in  giving 
the  same  primary  form  to  Allanite,  and  has  added  new  secondary  forms,  f  AM.  ED.] 


418  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Allanite  occurs  imbedded  in  granite  at  Alluk,  near  the 
southern  extremity  of  East  Greenland,  where  it  was  discovered 
by  Professor  Giesecke. 

The  first  discovery  of  this  rare  mineral  in  the  United  States 
was  by  Dr.  Jackson,  in  the  limestone  at  Bolton,  Mass.,  accom- 
panying petalite.  It  has  since  been  found  by  Prof.  Hitchcock, 
at  Athol,  Mass.,  occurring  in  gneiss.  The  prisms  are  rarely 
two  inches  long  and  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick,  truncated 
upon  the  lateral  edges,  so  as  in  fact  to  become  six-sided  prisms; 
but  they  present  no  distinct  terminations.  The  fracture  is 
resinous,  and  all  the  external  characters  of  the  mineral  corres- 
pond with  Allanite  from  Greenland. —  (Final  Report  on  Massa- 
chusetts, ii.  p.  688.)  Prof.  Beck  (Report,  p.  441)  cites  a  locality 
at  Munroe,  Orange  county,  N.  Y.,  where,  however,  it  has  not 
presented  any  regular  crystalline  form.  According  to  Prof. 
Shepard,  it  is  found  in  granitic  gneiss,  in  slender  black  pris- 
matic crystals,  about  an  inch  in  length,  in  the  town  of  North 
Killingsworth,  Conn. 

The  ccrine  of  Berzelius  is  found  associated  with  cerite,  at 
Bastnaes  near  Riddarhyttan  in  Sweden. 


TORRELLITE.* 

Prof.  Renwick.     (J?H?I.  of  the  Lyceum  cfJVat.  His.  ofJVew  York,  i.  37.) 

Consists  of  peroxide  of  cerium  ]2'!J2,  silica  82  (iO,  protoxide 
of  iron  21  00,  alumina  3'08,  lime  24  08,  water  3'5U— Renwick. 
It  is  infusible  per  sc,  but  forms  with  borax  a  glass  which  is 
green  while  hot,  but  which  becomes  colorless  on  cooling.  It 
effervesces  with  acid.  Color  dull  vermilion-red;  streak  rose- 
red;  fracture  granular  ;  affects  the  magnet  slightly.  Resem- 
bles ferruginous  jnsper. 

This  mineral  has  since  been  examined  by  Faraday  and 
Children,  who  discovered  in  it  a  notable  quantity  of  oxide 
of  manganese,  but  failed  to  detect  the  presence  of  oxide  of 
cerium.— (Ann.  of  Phil.,  second  series,  ix.  217  )  It  is  possi- 
ble, however,  that  the  substance  examined  by  these  Chemists, 
may  not  have  been  the  same  with  that  submitted  to  analysis  by 
Prof.  Renwick,  but,  on  the  contrary,  a  silicate  of  manga- 
nese and  iron,  allied  to  Troostite  and  Fowlerite.  But  unfor- 
tunately the  Torrellite  of  Renwick,  is  not  now  recognised  by 
mineralogists,  and  we  are  even  ignorant  of  its  precise  locality. 
The  name  is  deserving  of  some  better  established  species  than 
either  of  those  to  which  it  has  been  applied.  (See  Columbite.) 

*In  honor  of  Prof.  John  Torrey,  of  New  York. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  419 

ORTHITE.* 

MelanopliEUs  acicularis,  D. 

Combination  of  silica,  alumina,  the  oxides  of  iron,  cerium, 
lanthanium,  manganese,  lime,  yttria,  magnesia,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  water. 

Finbo.  Ytterby.  Gottliebsgang.  Fille-Fjeld. 

Protoxide  of  cerium 17-39 4-98 19-44  and  lanthanium  21-43 

Silica 38-25 38-24 32-00 34-93 

Lime 4-89 5-48 7-84 10-42 

Alumina 14-00 8-18 14-80 14-26 

Protoxide  of  iron J 1-42 9-06 12-44 14-90 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  1-30 0-00 3-40 0-86 

Yttria 3-80 29-81 3-44 1-91 

Water 870 459 5-36 0-52 

Magnesia,  potash  and  soda  0-00 1-22 0-00  Mg.  0-85 

97-81  Berzelius.     99-96  Berzelius.  99-43  Berzelius.        100-08| 

Theorthite  which  most  nearly  resembles  Allanite  in  compo- 
sition, as  that  from  Finbo,  is,  according  to  Berzelius,  a  mixture 
of  tersilicates  of  cerium,  alumina  and  iron.  The  variety  from 
Ytterby  is  an  orthite  mixed  with  gadolinite.  That  from  Nor- 
way, according  to  Scheerer,  differs  from  Allanite  only  in  the 
addition  of  yttria  ;  and  he  even  gives  the  same  formula  for  the 
variety  from  Ytterby.  He  has  endeavored  to  show  that 
orthite,  Allanite  and  cerite,  have  together  the  same  expression 
—  2R  Si+3R3Si :  in  which  R  is  alumina  and  peroxide  of  iron, 
and  R,  on  the  contrary,  represents  yttria,  protoxide  of  cerium, 
oxide  of  lanthanium,  protoxide  of  iron  and  of  manganese,  lime 
and  magnesia;  thus  differing  only  as  varieties  in  the  kind  and 
quantity  of  those  ingredients  which  are  considered  isomor- 
phous.| 

Orthite  occurs  either  massive,  or  in  long,  thin  acicular  crys- 
tals, sometimes  two  feet  in  length.  Primary  form  undetermined. 
Color  ash-grey,  inclining  to  black;  opake ;  lustre  vitreous; 
streak  brownish-grey  ;  fracture  conchoidal.  It  resembles  ga- 
dolinite, but  differs  in  fusibility.  Alone  on  charcoal,  B  B,  it 
intumesces,  becomes  yellowish-brown,  and  finally  fuses  to  a 
black  blistery  glass.  In  heated  acid  it  gelatinizes  ;  with  borax 
dissolves  readily  into  a  globule,  which,  when  hot,  is  red  ;  when 
cold,  yellow.  With  fluor  spar,  shows  the  reaction  of  iron, 
with  soda,  that  of  manganese. 

Orthite  occurs  in  acicular  diverging  dark-brown  colored 
prisms  sometimes  exceeding  a  foot  in  length,  imbedded  in 
quartz,  at  Finbo  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden  ;  also  in  black  vitre- 
ous masses,  disseminated  through  granite,  at  Skeppsholm,  one 
of  the  islands  of  Stockholm.  It  has  likewise  been  met  with  at 
Lindenaes  and  Fille-Fjeld,  in  Norway,  and  was  brought  from 
Greenland  by  Giesecke. 

*  From  bq&os,  straight.          f  Scheerer.     Rammelsberg's  Handwb'rterbuch,  ii.  p.  35. 
I  Rammelsberg's  Handwbrterbuch,  ii.  p.  3G. 


420  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

PYRORTHITE.* 

Melanophjeus  flatnmans,  D. 

Berzelius  obtained  protoxide  of  cerium  13'92,  silica  IO43, 
lime  1-81,   alumina  3'59,   protoxide  of  iron  6'08,  protoxide  of 
manganese  1 '39,  yttria  4  87,  water  26'50,  carbon  31'41.     He 
supposes  it  to  be  a  mixture,  containing  carbon  and  water. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-19.     H.  =  2-5. 

Massive;  composition  columnar;  fracture  concboidal, splin- 
tery ;  earthy;  internal  lustre  resinous,  externally  dull ;  color 
brownish-black  ;  becoming  yellowish-brown  by  decomposition  ; 
streak  brownish-black  ;  opake.  If  gently  heated  on  one  side 
it  takes  fire,  and  burns  without  either  flame  or  srnoke;  after 
which  it  becomes  white,  and  melts  into  a  black  enamel.  With 
borax  it  forms  a  transparent  blood-red  glass  when  hot,  which 
changes  into  yellow  on  cooling  ;  and  in  heated  acids  is  soluble, 
with  the  exception  of  a  black  powder;  in  the  matrass  it  yields 
much  water. 

It  accompanies  Gadolinite  in  granite  at  Kararfvet  near  Fah- 
lun  in  Sweden;  and,  except  that  it  is  devoid  of  lustre,  bears 
much  resemblance  to  the  orthite  from  the  same  locality. 

CARBONATE   OF   CERIUM. 

Carbo-cerine,  Beudant,     Carbonate  of  Cerium,  Berzelius.     (Brewslcr's  Journal,  iii.  334.) 
£paniulus  quadratus,  D. 

Contains  oxide  of  cerium  75'7,  carbonic  acid  10'8,  water 
135  —  Berzelius. 

Occurs  in  thin  four-sided  crystalline  plates  of  a  greyish- 
white  color.  Does  not  alter  its  appearance,  though  it  loses  19 
per  cent,  of  its  weight,  when  exposed  to  a  slight  red  heat.  It 
forms  coatings  on  the  cerite  from  Bastnaes  in  Sweden,  and  is 
probably  derived  from  the  decomposition  of  that  mineral.  It 
is  extremely  rare.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

YTTROCERITE.t 

Fluate  of  Yttria  and  Cerium,  BerzcUus.    Cerium  Oxyde  YttriFere,  Beudant.    Spanialus 
rhombicils  D. 

Bolton,  Mass. 

Consists  of  peroxide  of  cerium. .  18-25 13-15 13-30 

i*ime 47-IS3 47-77 34-70 

Fluoric  acid 2.V04 '24-45 19-40 

Y«  t  ria 9-11 14-66 1 5-50 

Silica O'OO 0-00 10-00 

Alumina... 000 0-00...  ..  6-50 


100-00  Berzelius.  100-03  Berzelius.   100-00  CYT.  Jackson. t 


*  From  XVQ,  firr,,  and  ori^oj,  straight. 

|  From  its  consisting  chiefly  of  yttria  and  cerium. 

JThis  specimen  also  exhibited  traces  of  the  presence  of  the  oxide  of  lanthanium. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  421 

According  to  Berzelius,  this  mineral  is  composed  of  neutral 

fluates  of  lime,  cerium  and  yttrium.     The  American  specimen 

approaches  this  composition  in  the  proportions  of  cerium,  fluoric 

acid  and  yttria,  but  there  is  a  deficiency  in  the  quantity  of  lime. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-4—3-5.     H.  between  45  and  7'0. 

The  color  of  this  mineral  is  violet,  or  greyish-red,  often 
mingled  in  the  same  specimen.  It  occurs  in  amorphous 
masses,  varying  from  a  thin  crust  to  half  a  pound  in  weight,  and 
presenting  occasional  traces  of  cleavage  parallel  to  the  sides  of 
an  Oblique  rhombic  prism,  whose  lateral  planes  incline  under 
angles  of  about  108°  30'.  It  is  opake;  lustre  glistening;  the 
American  specimens  pearly.  B  B,  per  sc,  it  loses  its  color 
and  becomes  white,  but  does  not  fuse;  but  on  the  addition  of 
gypsum  it  melts  readily  into  an  opake  globule.  Is  soluble  with 
residue  in  boiling  muriatic  acid. 

The  American  specimen,  as  examined  by  Dr.  Jackson, 
presents  the  following  characters.  B  B,  alone  on  charcoal,  turns 
yellow  and  fuses  into  a  greenish  slag.  With  soda,  in  the 
oxidating  flame,  fuses  into  a  yellow-greenish  opake  enamel. 
In  the  reducing  flame  turns  white  and  remains  opake.  With 
borax,  it  dissolves  readily  into  a  glass,  which  is  reddish-yellow 
while  hot,  but  colorless  when  cold.  With  salt  of  phosphorus, 
it  fuses  into  an  opaline  glass,  which  is  yellow  when  hot,  but 
colorless  when  cold.  In  this  glass  silicic  acid  is  discernible  as  a 
white  skeleton,  or  in  fine  white  particles.  With  gypsum  it  read- 
ily fuses  into  a  greenish-yellow  enamel.  The  powdered  mine- 
ral, placed  in  a  platinum  crucible  and  moistened  with  sulphuric 
acid,  gives  out  hydro-fluoric  acid  on  the  application  of  heat. 

The  foreign  locality  of  this  mineral  is  at  Finbo,  near  Fahlun 
in  Sweden. 

It  has  recently  been  discovered  in  the  United  States,  but 
we  are  ignorant  of  its  exact  locality.  It  was  found  by  Prof. 
Hitchcock  in  Worcester  county,  Mass.,  during  his  Geological 
survey  of  the  State.  As  Allanite  occurs  in  the  town  of  Bol- 
ton,  and  as  the  scapolite  of  Boxboro',  has  recently  been  found 
by  Dr.  Jackson  to  contain  oxide  of  cerium,  it  probably  came 
from  one  of  these  towns.  It  was  supposed  to  be  fluate  of  lime, 
until  Prof.  Hitchcock  inferred  its  true  nature  from  its  resem- 
blance to  the  foreign  mineral,  with  which  the  analysis  of  Dr. 
C.  T.  Jackson,  has  now  fully  identified  it. 

It  forms  a  thin  layer  on  quartz  and  Allanite,  associated  with 
silvery-white  mica  and  red  garnet ;  is  massive,  with  traces  of 
crystalline  structure.  The  color  like  the  foreign  specimens, 
but  passing  into  lilac  or  pink  color.  Thinnest  layers  are 
translucent. 

36 


422 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


MENGITE.     MONAZ1TE. 

onazite,  Breithaup. 

(Jlmer.  Jour,  of  Science,  Ixi.  251.) 


Mengite,  Brooke.     (Phil  Mag.  x.  187.)     Monazite,  Breithaupt.     (Schwa*  gor's  Journal, 
Iv.  301.)     Edwardsite,  Shepar 


Shepard. 

This  mineral,  first  named  and  described  by  Breithaupt,  has 
been  analyzed  by  Kersten,  who  obtained  the  following  results, 
as  shown  in  the  first  column  : 

Edwardsite. 
Peroxide  of  cerium  .......  26-00  ..............  56-53 

Oxide  of  lanthanium  ......  23-40  ..............  0-00 

Thorina  ..................  17-95.  .  .  Alumina.  .  .  4-4-1 

Peroxide  of  tin  ...........  2-10.  ..Zirronia...  .  7-77 

Protoxide  of  manganese...  1-86  ----  Silica  ----  3-33 

Lime  ....................  Hi8  ..............  0-00 

Phosphoric  acid  ..........  28-50  ..............  26-66 

101-49*  98-73  Shepard.  | 

Sp.  Gr.  4-924.      H.  =  5-0.£ 

Primary  form,  according  to  Descloizeaux,  an  Oblique  rhom- 
bic prism,  M  on  M  92°  30',  P  on  M  100°  25'  13".  Brooke, 
from  the  measurement  of  a  crystal  whose  planes  were  too  dull 
for  permitting  the  use  of  the  reflective  goniometer,  gave  the 
inclination  of  M  on  M,  nearly,  95°  30',  P  on  M  100°.§  The 
following  figure  and  measurements  of  monazite,  are  from  a 
paper  by  M.  Descloizeaux,  on  the  primitive  and  secondary  form 
of  this  mineral,  in  the  Ann.  dcs  Mines  for  1842,  tome  ii.  p.  364. 
The  measurements  were  determined  by  the  reflective  goniome- 
ter, and  verified  by  calculation. 

Monazite.  Edwnrdsite. 


M  on  M 92°  30' 

M  on  k 133  30 

M  on  h 136  30 

k  on  h 90  00 

aonh 141  05 


c  on  h  126°  00' 

e  on  k  131  00 

eon  a  127  00 

e  on  c  .  .        117  00 


n  *f?pendorf 's  Annalen,  xlvii.  385.     It  contained  besides  traces  of  titanic  acid  and 

t  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xxxii.  162. 

JEdwardsite,  according  to  Shepard—  Sp.  Gr.  4-6.     H.  =  4-5. 

hiJ^m6  ^Th C°rrectly  *?f?rred  th<>  Primary  form  of  this  mineral  to  the  oblique  rhom- 
mould  hTv'e  SiSTk  ?  he  ori?inal'y  bestowed  upon  it,  in  honor  of  its  discovers, 
should  have  claimed  the  preference,  Imt  Breithaupt's  has  generally  been  adopted.  [AM. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  423 

The  secondary  dominant  form  of  monazite,  according  to 
Descloizeaux,  is  a  square  prism  flattened  on  one  of  its  faces, 
and  terminated  at  each  extremity  by  an  irregular  tetrahedral 
summit.  The  planes  M,  are  always  very  small,  and  in  some 
crystals  entirely  wanting.  The  faces  of  the  crystals  are  not 
equally  brilliant,  those  lettered  e,  especially,  having  a  greasy 
look,  which  prevented  a  rigid  measuring  with  the  reflective 
goniometer ;  and  for  this  reason  the  incidences  of  some  of  the 
faces  measured,  with  those  calculated,  did  not  exactly  agree. 

Color  hyacinth  or  brick-red  ;  translucent  on  the  edges ; 
lustre  vitreous  ;  streak  white.  Heated  to  redness  in  a  glass 
tube,  it  suffers  no  change.  In  the  strongest  heat  of  the  blow- 
pipe, it  only  melts  upon  the  edges,  when  it  becomes  greenish- 
yellow.  Treated  with  soda  or  borax  in  the  reducing  flame,  it 
dissolves  with  effervescence  into  a  light  yellowish  opake  mass. 
Dissolved  in  salt  of  phosphorus,  the  globule  is  yellow  while 
warm,  but  on  cooling,  becomes  yellowish-green  and  opake. 
The  American  variety  exhibits  very  nearly  the  same  character, 
B  B,  but  differs  in  its  behaviour  with  acids,  being  slightly  effect- 
ed by  Aqua  Regia,  while  the  monazite,  according  to  Kersten,  is 
decomposed  by  chlorhydric  acid  with  the  evolution  of  chlorine. 

The  crystals  of  Edwardsite  were  first  described  by  Prof.  Shep- 
ard,  as  oblique  rhombic  prisms  (M  on  M  95°,  P  on  M  100°) 
replaced  on  their  acute  lateral  edges  by  single  planes  inclining 
to  the  adjacent  lateral  faces  under  137°  30'* ;  and  the  very 
minute  crystals  have  their  summits  surmounted  by  four-sided 
pyramids,  whose  faces  correspond  to  the  lateral  edges  of  the 
prism  ;  in  others,  the  replacements  of  the  acute  lateral  edges  is 
so  deep  as  to  cause  them  to  assume  a  flattened  shape.  Cleav- 
age, generally  indistinct  parallel  to  the  oblique  terminal  plane, 
but  very  perfect  parallel  to  the  longer  diagonal.  They  closely 
agree  with  monazite  in  the  measurement  of  their  angles,  as  since 
determined  with  the  reflective  goniometer  by  Prof.  Shepard, 
and  calculated  by  Dana.  M  on  h  in  Edwardsite  gave  136°  30', 
a  on  /*  140°  10',  c  on  h  126°  25',  e  on  k  131°  22'.  In  their 
ordinary  occurring  forms,  and  in  all  their  external  characters, 
there  is  also  a  very  close  resemblance  to  monazite. 

Monazite  is  found  in  the  mountains  about  Ilmensee  in  Sibe- 
ria, associated  with  flesh-red  felspar  in  granite  ;  it  was  first 
described  by  Brooke  under  the  name  of  Mengite,  in  honor  of 
M.  Menge,  by  whom  it  was  discovered. 

Edwardsite  occurs  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  at  the  Falls  of  the 

*  These  were  only  approximate  measurements  obtained  on  an  imperfect  crystal  with 
the  common  goniometer,  and  have  since  been  corrected  by  Prof.  Shepard. 


424  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Yantic,  in  small  brownish  or  hyacinthine-red  crystals,  in  a  red 
felspathic  granite  accompanied  by  Sillimanite.  The  crystals 
are  rarely  above  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  length,  and  one-sixth 
of  an  inch  in  thickness.  A  single  crystal  was  also  noticed  by 
Prof.  Shepard  at  the  locality  of  Sillimanite  in  Chester,  Conn.* 
Edwardsite  was  supposed  to  be  a  new  species  by  Prof. 
Shepard;  but  Prof.  G.  Rose,  from  a  careful  examination  of 
this  mineral,  having  been  led  to  regard  it  as  identical  with 
monazite,t  Prof.  Shepard  has  instituted  a  new  examination  of 
its  characters,  and  has  fully  satisfied  himself  of  the  identity  of 
the  two  minerals.  He  finds  the  oxide  of  cerium  to  be  accom- 
panied by  oxide  of  lanthaniurn,  (a  substance  unknown  to  him 
when  he  made  his  first  analysis,)  as  well  as  by  thorina  and 
oxide  of  tin,  which  at  first  escaped  his  notice.  As  the  tin,  from 
its  minuteness,  is  evidently  accidental,  it  is  not  a  little  remark- 
able that  Rose  should  also  find  it  in  the  American  mineral. 

EREMITE.  —  This  mineral,  the  name  of  which  is  derived  from  «o)(j*/u, 
solitude,  in  allusion  to  its  rare  occurrence,  was  first  noticed  by  Prof.  Shep- 
hard,  in  his  Report  on  the  Geological  Survey  of  Connecticut,  and  after- 
wards in  a  paper  in  the  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  \xxii.341,  where  he  has 
described  its  crystallographical  and  general  physical  characters,  under 
the  designation  of  a  new  species.  In  vol.  xxxiii.  of  the  Amer.  Journal  of 
Science,  J.  D.  Dana  has  given  the  drawings  of  three  crystals  of  this 
mineral,  and  recorded  their  angular  measurements.  His  results  at  first 
led  him  to  coincide  in  the  opinion  of  Prof.  Shepard  ;  but  from  a  subsequent 
examination  and  comparison  of  the  eremite  with  monazite,  as  to  its  hard- 
ness, color,  lustre  and  cleavage,  as  well  as  from  its  agreement  with  the 
angles  of  monazite,  as  stated  by  Descloizeaux,  he  now  regards  these  two 
minerals  as  identical.  The  incidences,  as  determined  by  Dana,  are  M  on 
h  136°  35',  a  on  h  140°  40',  c  on  h  126°  8',  e  on  k  131°  52'4  —  Amer  Jour, 
of  Science,  xlv.  402.  As  described  by  Prof.  Shepard,  the  primary  form  is 
supposed  to  be  a  Right  oblique-angled  prism,  M  on  T  140°  30'  — the  sur- 
faces of  these  planes  being  smooth  and  brilliant.  Fracture  conchoidal  to 
uneven  ;  lustre  resinous  to  vitreous  ;  color  between  clove  and  yellowish- 
brown  ;  semi-transparent;  streak  paler  than  the  color.  B  B,  it  instantly 
becomes  transparent  and  colorless,  but  does  not  suffer  the  slightest  fusion, 
even  in  very  thin  fragments.  Heated  with  carbonate  of  soda,  on  a  platina 
support,  an  opake  white  mass  was  obtained,  stained  in  a  single  spot  of 
cinnamon  brown  color.  With  borax,  fuses  slowly,  attended  by  a  slight 
effervescence,  and  yields  a  transparent  amber-yellow  globule,  which,  by 
flaming,  becomes  paler  and  milky  in  its  clearness.  In  a  glass  tube,  heated 
with  sulphuric  acid,  it  shows  the  presence  of  fluoric  acid. 

This  mineral  was  discovered  by  Mr.  T.  R.  Dutton,  imbedded  in  albitic 
granite,  and  accompanied  by  apatite,  at  Watertown,  Conn  The  crystals  are 
small,  the  largest  not  over  one-fifth  of  an  inch  long;  the  others  varying 
from  one-sixteenth  to  one-twentieth  of  an  inch. 

~ — — . _ 

Ixi*  254P°rt  °"  the  Geological  Survey  of  Connecticut,  p.  123.  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science, 

t  Pogg.  Ann.,  No.  1,  1840. 

J  Compare  these  with  the  corresponding  inclinations  of  Mengite  and  Edwardsite. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  425 

NEUTRAL  FLUATE  OF  CERIUM. 

Deuto-fluate  of  Cerium.    Flucerine,  Beudant.    Spanialus  hexagonus,  D. 

Consists,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  per  and  protoxide  of 
cerium  82'24,  yttria  M2,  fluoric  acid  16  24. 

The  per  and  protoxides  of  cerium,  according  to  Berzelius, 
exist  in  this  mineral  in  the  proportions  of  two  atoms  of  the 
former  to  one  of  the  latter  ;  whence,  as  it  is  a  simple  fluate  of 
cerium,  it  consists  of  one  atom  fluated  protoxide,  and  two  atoms 
fluated  peroxide  of  cerium.  Formula  :  CrFl+Cr2Fl. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-7.  H.  about  40. 

Occurs  in  six-sided  prisms,  in  plates,  and  in  amorphous 
masses,  of  a  reddish  or  wax-yellow  color.  Dull  ;  translucent 
in  extremely  thin  fragments  ;  and  having  an  uneven  fracture. 
B  B,  on  charcoal  it  does  not  fuse,  but  merely  becomes  slightly 
brown  ;  with  borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus,  it  gives  in  the 
oxidating  flame,  a  red  or  orange  colored  globule,  which  becomes 
pale  on  cooling  ;  in  the  reducing  flame  it  loses  its  color  entirely. 
Heated  in  a  tube  it  corrodes  the  glass. 

This  mineral  has  hitherto  only  been  found  at  Finbo  and 
Broddbo  near  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  in  very  small  quantities  ;  it 
occurs  imbedded  in  granite,  and  associated  with  pyrophysalite, 
orthite,  &c. 

DOUBLE  FLUATE  OF  CERIUM  AND  YTTRIA.  —  This  is  an  earthy 
mineral  found  at  Finbo  in  Sweden  ;  it  is  much  more  common  than  the 
preceding,  but  its  size  seldom  exceeds  that  of  a  pea.  It  is  usually  of  a 
pale-red  color,  but  occurs  deep-red,  yellow,  and  even  white.  It  is  very 
soft,  and  may  easily  be  scratched  by  the  nail.  According  to  Berzelius,  it 
is  a  mechanical  mixture  of  the  fluate  of  yttria,  with  rluate  of  cerium,  and 
silica.  It  presents  nearly  the  same  re-actions  as  the  Neutral  Fluate. 

SUBSESQUIFLUATE   OF  CERIUM. 

Basi-cerine,  Beudant.     Spanialua  dodecahedrus,  D. 

This  is  the  sub-fluate  of  cerium,  or  fluate  of  cerium  with 
excess  of  base,  of  Berzelius,  and  is  composed,  according  to  his 
analysis,  of  peroxide  of  cerium  84!20,  fluoric  acid  10-85,  water 
4-95.  These  numbers  give  very  nearly  one  and  a  half  atom 
peroxide  of  iron,  to  every  atom  of  fluoric  acid,  united  with  a 
half  atom  of  water.  It  is  therefore  a  hydrous  subsesquifluated 
peroxide  of  cerium,  as  described  by  Dr.  Thomson.  Formula  : 


This  mineral  differs  from  the  above  in  containing  rather  a 
larger  proportion  of  the  oxide  of  cerium  —  in  the  absence  of 
yttria  —  and  in  the  presence  of  a  variable  quantity  of  water. 
It  possesses  considerable  resemblance  to  porcelain-jasper. 
Color  yellow  ;  with  occasional  slight  traces  of  crystallization, 
36* 


426  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

approaching  to  rhombic  dodecahedrons.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  is 
infusible,  becomes  black  at  an  incipient  redness,  but  on  cool- 
ing, assumes  successively  dark-brown,  red,  and  orange  tints. 

It  occurs  in  minute  quantities,  accompanying  Allanite,  at 
Bastnaes  near  Riddarhyttan  in  Sweden. 

Dr.  Jackson  has  recently  discovered  this  substance  encrust- 
ing the  pink  scapolite  from  Boxboro',  Mass.,  and  also  contained 
in  the  small  cavities  of  the  scapoiite  rock.  He  regards  it  as  a 
Hydrated  Basic-fluoride  of  Cerium.  It  is  of  a  fine  sulphur- 
yellow  color,  and  pulverulent,  or  in  minute  yellow  scales.  B  B, 
it  is  infusible,  and  turns  dark  brown  at  a  red  heat.  With 
borax,  it  forms  a  glass  which  is  orange  colored  while  hot,  and 
nearly  colorless,  or  of  a  delicate  green  tinge  when  cold.  It 
forms  a  lemon-yellow  solution  in  chlorohydric  acid,  from 
which  crystals  of  sulphate  of  potash,  precipitate  a  white  powder, 
which  is  sulphate  of  cerium  and  potash. 


PITCH-BLENDE. 

Peche-blende,   Pecherz,  W.      Urano   Oxydule,   H.      Uranpocberz,  L.      Uncleavable 
Uranium  Ore,  J.  M.     Uranius  amorphous,  D. 

Protoxide  of  uranium 86-5 84-52 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-5 8-24 

Silica 5-0 2-1)2 

Sulplmret  of  lead (i-0 4-20 

Oxide  of  cobalt 0-0...  ..   1-42 


100-0  Klaproth.        100-46  Pfaff. 

The  several  analyses  which  have  been  made  of  this  mineral 
rather  indicate  it  to  be  a  mechanical  mixture,  than  a  chemical 
compound.  It  has  been  regarded  by  some  as  a  silicate  of 
uranium  ;  but  the  ratio  of  the  silica  to  the  oxide  of  uranium, 
differs  so  much  as  to  render  this  view  of  it  very  improbable. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-05  —  7-05.  H.  —  55. 

Color  greyish-black,  brownish-black,  and  iron-black  ;  and 
occurs  globular,  reniform,  massive,  disseminated,  and  pulveru- 
lent ;  form  and  crystalline  structure  unknown  ;  fracture  uneven, 
or  small  conchoidal ;  lustre  dull  or  imperfect  metallic  ;  in  the 
former  case  frequently  presenting  iridescent  colors  superficial- 
ly;  itisopake;  very  brittle,  but  sometimes  scratches  glass. 
Per  set  it  is  infusible  B  B ;  but  with  borax  it  yields  a  deep 
yellow  colored  glass,  which  becomes  of  a  dirty  green  in  the 
reducing  flame,  and  when  saturated  to  a  certain  point,  turns 
black  on  flaming.  If  reduced  to  powder  it  is  slowly  soluble  in 
nitric  acid,  with  effervescence  and  a  disengagement  of  nitrous 
gas.  Does  not  act  on  the  magnet. 

It  occurs  in  botryoidal  masses,  accompanying  various  ores 
of  silver  and  lead,  at  Marienberg,  Schneeberg,  and  Johann- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  427 

georgenstadt  in  Saxony ;  at  Joachimsthal  and  Przibram  in 
Bohemia;  at  Rezbanya  in  Hungary;  and  with  uranite  in 
several  of  the  Cornish  mines.  It  is  a  valuable  ore  to  the  por- 
celain painter,  yielding  a  fine  orange  color  in  the  enamelling 
fire,  and  a  black  one  in  that  in  which  the  porcelain  itself  is 
baked.  —  Allan's  Manual. 


URANITE. 

CALCAREO-PHOSPHATE    OF    URANIUM. 

Phosphate  of  Uranium.  Uran  Glimmer,  W.  Urane  Oxide,  H.  Urane  Micace,  Br. 
Uran-Mica,  J.  Pyramidal  Euchlore  Mica,  Al.  Calcareo-phosphate  of  Uranium. 
Thomson*  Uranalus  quadratus,  1). 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  lime,  oxide  of  uranium, 
and  water,  with  other  accidental  mixtures. 

Autun.  Autun. 

Peroxide  of  uranium  ...............  59-37  ..............  55-0 

Phosphoric  acid  .........  .  .........  14-63  ..............  14-5 

Lime  ............................  5-b'6  ..............  4-6 

Magnesia  and  oxide  of  manganese..  0-19  ..............  0-0 

Silica  and  oxide  of  iron  ............  2*5  ..............  3-0 

Barytes  ...........................  1-51  ..............  0-0 

Water  ............................  14-90  ..............  21-0 

Fluoric  acid  and  ammonia  .........  traces  ..............  0-0 

09-17  Berzeli  us.        98-1  Laugier. 

The  constitution  of  this  species,  as  deduced  from  the  first 
analysis,  is  one  and  a  half  atom  lime,  two  atoms  peroxide  of 
uranium,  three  atoms  phosphoric  acid,  and  twelve  atoms  water. 
Consequently,  the  phosphoric  acid  is  combined  with  peroxide 
of  uranium  as  a  simple  phosphate,  and  with  the  lime  as  a  sub- 
sesquiphosphate,  as  thus  expressed  by  the  formula  :  2UPh+ 


Sp.  Gr.  3-12.     H.  =  2  25. 

Color  lemon-yellow,  the  same  crystal  being  sometimes  yellow 
at  one  end,  green  at  the  other  ;  it  becomes  brownish  and  dull  by 
decomposition.  It  is  found  crystallized  in  quadrangular 
prisms,  in  four-,  six-,  and  eight-sided  tables,  rarely  in  acute 
and  obtuse  octahedrons  ;  the  structure  is  lamellar,  and  it  is 
mechanically  divisible  parallel  to  all,  and  with  remarkable  ease 
to  the  terminal  planes  (P)  of  a  Right  square  prism  —  the  form 
of  the  primary  crystal.  Transparent,  translucent,  or  opake  ; 
the  lustre  shining,  pearly  upon  the  face  P  j  it  yields  easily  to 
the  knife,  and  is  brittle.  It  decrepitates  violently  on  charcoal 
B  B,  and  loses  about  33  per  cent,  by  ignition;  with  borax  and 
salt  of  phosphorus,  the  glass  obtained  in  the  reducing  flame 
remains  green  after  cooling;  with  soda  the  assay  yields  no 
metallic  particles.  Its  solution  in  nitric  acid  is  yellow,  and  in 
ammonia  white. 


428 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 
2.  4.  5. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  ;  a  right  square  prism.  Fig.  2,  a  tabular  crystal  of 
a  quadrangular  form;  these  occur  of  various  lengths.  Fig.  3;  in  this  the 
solid  angles  of  the  preceding  are  replaced,  producing  a  six-sided  tabular 
crystal ;  these  are  commonly  very  long.  Fig.  4  ;  in  this  all  the  terminal 
edges  of  the  quadrangular  prism  are  replaced,  tending  to  produce  an  octa- 
hedron, which  sometimes  occurs.  Jn  fig.  5,  the  solid  angles  of  the  prism 
(fig.  1)  are  replaced  by  triangular  planes.  In  fig.  6,  all  the  edges  and 
solid  angles  of  the  quadrangular  prism  are  replaced. 


P  on  M  or  M'  . 
M  on  M'  .... 

.  .  .  90°00'c.£. 
.  .  .  90  00 

P  on  cl  or  el'  .  . 
c2  or  c2'  .  . 
c3  or  c3'  .  . 
c4  or  c4'  .  . 
a2  

.  .  145  32 

.  .  140  40 
.  .  137  10 
.  .  Ill  50 
.  .  134  00 

c4  on  c4'  . 

,  97  32 

It  occurs  in  veins  in  granite  at  St.  Symphorien  near  Autun, 
at  St.  Yrieux  near  Limoges  in  France,  and  in  several  places  in 
Saxony. 

Two  localities  of  this  rare  mineral  have  been  found  in  the 
United  States,  occurring  under  very  similar  circumstances, 
one  at  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  the  other  at  Paris,  Me.,  in  minute 
laminae  in  granite  with  Cleavelandite,  rubellite,  and  green 
tourmaline.  Mr.  Teschemacher,  who  first  discovered  the  for- 
mer, obtained  several  perfect  crystals  from  two  to  three  lines 
in  diameter,  and  of  a  straw-yellow  color.  They  sometimes 
occupy  minute  cavities  in  the  crystals  of  tourmaline.*  The 
mineral  also  forms  thin  laminae  in  the  seams  of  the  albite. 


CHALCOLITE.! 
CUPREO-PHOSPIIATE    OF    URANIUM. 

Uran  Glimmer  (in  part),  W.    Pyramidal  Euchlore  Mica  (in  part},  J.  M.     Chalkolite, 
Beudant.     Gruner  Uranerz.     Uranalus  quadratus,  D. 

Combination  of  phosphoric  acid,  the  oxides  of  uranium  and 
copper,  and  of  water. 


*  Journal  of  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History,  iv.  36. 
j  From  x^xo?)  copper,  and  Aifioc,  a  stone. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  429 

Cornwall.  Cornwall. 

Peroxide  of  uranium 00-25 60-0 

Phosphoric  acid 15-56 l(j-l) 

Oxide  of  copper 8-44 9-0 

Water 15-05 14-5 

Stony  matter 0-70 0-5 

100-00  Berzelius.      100-0  R.  Phillips. 

These  results  lead  to  the  same  atomic  composition  with 
the  last,  described  species,  excepting  that  oxide  of  copper  is 
substituted  for  lime.  The  formula  is,  therefore,  thus  stated; 
SUPh+Cp'iPh+lSAq. 

Sp.  Gr.  333.     H.  =  20  — 2'5. 

This  species  corresponds  with  the  preceding  in  crystalline 
form,  and  in  all  other  points  except  in  the  following. — Its 
color  is  emerald-green  or  grass-green;  its  solution  in  ammo- 
nia is  blue  ;  B  B,  with  borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus,  the  glass 
obtained  in  the  reducing  flame  becomes,  on  cooling,  red  and 
opake.  With  soda  the  chalcolite  of  Cornwall  is  reduced  into 
white  metallic  grains. 

Beautiful  varieties  of  this  species  have  been  found  in  Corn- 
wall, particularly  in  the  veins  of  Tin  Croft  Mine,  and  Huel 
Buller  near  Redruth,  with  red  copper  and  arseniate  of  iron  in 
Huel  Gorland  and  Huel  Unity,  at  the  Tolcarn  mine,  and  in 
Gunnislake  mine  near  Callington.  This  species  might  some- 
times be  confounded  with  green  mica,  but  the  laminae  of  mica 
are  flexible  and  elastic,  while  those  of  uranium  are  brittle,  and 
do  not  bend  ;  mica,  moreover,  is  not  soluble  in  nitric  acid.* 

CARBONATE    OF    URANIUM. 

Uran-BIoom,  Uran-Bliithe,  Zippe.     Uraconiso,  Beudant.     Uranalus  ochraceus,  D. 

In  crystalline  flakes  of  a  small  size,  devoid  of  distinct 
form.  Color  bright  yellow,  between  lemon-  and  sulphur-yel- 
low ;  opake,  with  little  lustre.  When  slightly  heated  B  B, 
its  color  becomes  orange-yellow.  It  is  soluble  with  efferves- 
cence in  acid,  yielding  a  yellow  solution,  which  affords  a 
brown  precipitate  with  prussiate  of  potash,  thus  demonstrating 
it  to  be  a  carbonate  of  uranium. 

Professor  Zippe  of  Prague,  distinguished  this  substance  from 
uran-ochre,  and  the  yellow  oxide  of  uranium,  chiefly  from  its 
want  of  lustre  and  more  brilliant  color.  It  occurs  in  silver 
veins  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia,  with  pitch-blende,  uran- 
ochre,  and  pharmacolite  ;  and  apparently  is  derived  from  the 
decomposition  of  the  pitch-blende,  on  which  it  commonly 
forms  a  coating. 


*  The  crystals  of  this  species  lose  their  transparency,  and  assume  a  yellowish-green 
color,  at  the  temperature  even  of  80°  :  a  change  probably  owing  to  the  loss  of  a  portion  of 
their  essentially  combined  water.  [Am.  ED.] 


430  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

JOHANNITE.t 

UraneSulfate,  Neckcr.   Johannite,  Haiiliitycr.    Uran  Vitriol,  John    Sulfate  Vcrtd'Urane, 
Beudunt.     Vitriolum  Uranicum,  I). 

Hydrous  sulphate  of  uranium,  mixed  with  sulphate  of  copper. 

Sp.  Gr.  3  19.     II.  =  2-0  —  25. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism.     Secondary,  ac- 
cording to  Haidinger, 


a  on  a'  ...  Ill  00' 

a  on  b     ...  118  00 

a'  on  c   ...     87  28 

b  on  c  .  .      .  123  32 


In  very  minute  crystals.  Color  deep  grass-green  ;  translu- 
cent; lustre  vitreous  ;  streak  pale  siskin-green  ;  taste  slightly 
bitter;  cleavage  traces  parallel  to  a,  and  to  a  face  which  bev- 
els the  edge  between  b  and  c.  Fracture  imperfect  conchoidal. 
Partially  soluble  in  water.  Heated  in  the  matrass  it  yields 
much  moisture,  leaving  a  dark  blackish-brown  mass.  Fused 
upon  charcoal  with  soda,  and  then  laid  on  a  piece  of  silver 
and  moistened,  it  blackens  the  metallic  surface.  In  the  re- 
ducing flame  with  soda,  a  bead  of  copper  is  obtained.  With 
borax  it  forms  a  fine  green  glass,  as  well  in  the  oxidating  as  in 
the  reducing  flame;  in  the  latter  it  becomes  red  and  opake  on 
cooling,  exhibiting  the  presence  of  oxide  of  copper.  With 
salt  of  phosphorus,  only  green  colors  are  produced,  that  of  the 
oxidating  flame  having  rather  the  appearance  of  copper,  the 
reducing  more  of  uranium.  It  therefore  contains  water,  sul- 
phuric acid,  and  the  oxides  of  copper  and  uranium,  but  in 
what  proportion  has  not  been  determined. 

The  sulphate  of  uranium  occurs  in  extremely  small  crys- 
tals at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia.  It  is  a  species  as  beautiful 
as  it  is  rare,  having  only  been  observed  in  one  mine,  and  that 
in  the  year  1809.  —  Allan's  Manual 


SULPHURET   OF   TIN. 

Zinnkies,  W.     Etaine  Sulfure,  H.    Tin  Pyrites,  J.     Hexahedral  Copper  Glance,  M. 
Cyprites  cubicus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuret  of  tin  and  sulphuret  of  copper. 

34-0  ..................  26-5 


36-0  ..............  30-0 

Jro.n.  ..................  2-0  ..................  12-0 

Sulphur  ...............  25-0  ..................  30-5 

97-0  Klaproth.  99-0  Klaproth. 

Haiding°r  in  conjPl«nent  to  his  Imperial  Highness  the  Archduke  John  of 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  431 

These  results  are  very  discordant,  and  it  is  not  improbable 
that  the  mineral  is  a  mechanical  mixture  of  sulphuret  of  tin, 
with  iron  and  copper  pyrites.  Berzelius  and  Beudant  from 
the  last  analysis,  have  stated  the  formula  thus:  StaSl+Cp2Sl 
+FS12. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-35  —  4-76.     H.  =  4-0. 

Massive ;  of  a  steel-grey  color  when  pure,  often  yellowish 
from  an  admixture  of  copper  pyrites;  and  these  colors  are 
sometimes  intermingled  in  the  same  specimen,  imparting  to 
the  mass,  somewhat  the  aspect  of  bell-metal,  whence  bdl-metal 
ore;  fracture  granular  and  uneven,  passing  into  flat  conchoi- 
dal,  with  a  shining  metallic  lustre;  opake  and  brittle.  B  B, 
sulphur  is  driven  off,  after  which  it  fuses  readily  into  a  black 
scoria.  It  is  soluble  in  nitro-muriatic  acid,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  sulphur,  which  is  precipitated. 

It  occurs  only  in  Cornwall,  and  that  principally  at  Huel 
Rock  in  the  parish  of  St.  Agnes,  accompanying  blende,  py- 
rites, and  other  minerals.  Crystals  have  been  noticed  appa- 
rently in  the  form  of  regular  hexahedrons,  and  traces  of  cleav- 
age seemed  to  be  parallel  with  this  form,  and  at  the  same  time 
parallel  to  the  dodecahedron. 


OXIDE   OF   TUNGSTEN. 

Native  Yellow  Oxide  of  Tungsten,  Silliman.    Tungstic  Ochre,  Shepard. 

Soft.     Sp.  Gr.  6-0. 

This  mineral  varies  in  color  from  orange-  or  chrome-yellow 
to  yellowish-grey.  It  occurs  massive;  composition  impalpa- 
ble; earthy  and  pulverulent;  is  inodorous  ;  tasteless;  assumes 
a  greenish  hue  under  the  blowpipe;  is  insoluble  in  acids,  but 
by  digestion  in  nitric  acid,  the  powder,  which  is  greyish, 
assumes  a  brilliant  yellow  color,  and  would  probably  afford  a 
fine  pigment.  It  is  readily  soluble  in  warm  liquid  ammonia; 
and  is  precipitated  white  by  acids,  the  precipitate  by  standing, 
re-acquiring  a  yellow  color. 

For  our  earliest  knowledge  of  this  mineral  we  are  indebted 
to  Prof.  Silliman,  by  whom  it  was  discovered  about  the  year 
1820.*  It  has  not  been  analyzed,  but  its  analogy  to  the  yel- 
low oxide  as  artificially  prepared,  leads  us  to  suppose  it  to  be 
pure  tungstic  acid,  consisting  according  to  Berzelius,  of  oxy- 
gen 20-23,  tungsten  79'77. 

It  occurs  in  quartz,  associated  with  wolfram  and  tungsten, 
in  minute  veins  or  thin  coatings,  at  Lane's  mine,  Monroe 
county,  Conn. 

*  Amor.  Journ.  of  Science,  iv.  52. 


432 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


ANATASE.* 

Pyramidal  Titanium  Ore,  M.    Oktaedrite,  W.     Titane  Anatase,  II.  Bt.     Octahedritc,  J. 
Rutilus  pyramidulis,  D. 

It  is  supposed  to  consist  of  nearly  pure  titanic  acid  —  Tt. 
Sp.  Gr.  385.     H.  =  55  —  G'O. 

This  mineral  represents  various  shades  of  brown,  indigo- 
blue,  or  steel-grey;  by  transmitted  light  it  is  greenish-yellow. 
It  occurs  in  small  crystals,  having  the  general  form  of  an 
Acute  octahedron  with  equal  and  similar  isosceles  triangular 
faces,  which  is  the  form  of  the  primary  crystal ;  the  crystals 
exhibit  the  planes  of  several  modifications ;  structure  lamellar  ; 
cleavage  both  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  octahedron,  and  per- 
pendicular to  the  axis;  lustre  of  the  fragments  splendent  and 
adamantine;  varies  from  semi-transparent  to  opake;  streak 
white;  arid  is  brittle.  When  heated,  it  exhibits  a  reddish- 
yellow  phosphorescent  light;  and  acquires  resinous  electricity 
by  friction.  B  B,  it  is  infusible  without  addition  ;  with  soda  it 
forms  a  dull  yellow  globule,  which  becomes  white  on  cooling. 


P  on  P,  or  P'  on  P'  .  136°  47' 

P  on  P'  or  P  on  P' .  98  5 

For  P' on  a    ....  Ill  17 

P'  on  &1     131  22 

d  or  d    ....  132  5 

6  on  a 160  24 

d    .                  .166  30 


The  principal  locality  of  anatase  is  Oisans  in  Dauphine, 
where  it  occurs  in  veins  in  granite  and  mica-slate,  accompa- 
nying felspar,  axinite,  rock-crystal,  chlorite,  &c.  Is  also 
found  disposed  in  mica-slate,  in  the  Grisons ;  at  Tavatsch  in 
the  Tyrol ;  and  in  Brazil,  where  the  crystals  are  so  brilliant 
that  they  frequently  pass  for  diamonds. 

OXIDE  OF  CHROME.t 

Chrome-Ochre.    Chrome  Oxyde. 

It  is  pure  oxide  of  chromium,  consisting  of  chromium  70'11, 
oxy gen  29-89  — Ch. 

*  Anatase,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  elevated,  in  allusion  to  the  height  of  the  pyramids 
of  the  octahedral  crystals  ;  Octahedrite,  from  its  occurring  in  octahedrons, 
t  Meaning  a  coloring  substance  ;  probably  in  allusion  to  its  preparation  as  a  pigment. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  433 

Occurs  in  a  pulverulent  state,  and  of  a  green  color  more 
or  less  intense,  at  Ecouchets  in  Burgundy.  B  B,  it  is  infusi- 
ble, but  changes  to  a  lighter  green.  With  borax  it  forms  a 
fine  green -colored  globule.  It  is  mentioned  as  occurring  in 
the  Isle  of  Unst  in  Shetland,  and  in  serpentine  rocks  in  Savoy 
and  Piedmont. 


NATIVE  BISMUTH. 

Octahedral  Bismuth,  J.  M.    Gediegen  Bismuth,  W.     Bismuth    Natif,  H.     Bismutum 
octahedrum,  D. 

This  is  the  pure  metal,  Bs,  occasionally  mixed  with  small 
quantities  of  arsenic  and  sulphur. 

Sp.  Gr.  96  —  98.     H.  =  2-0  —  2-0. 

Its  color  is  silver-white  tinged  with  red,  presenting  gene- 
rally an  external  tarnish;  it  occurs  feathery,  reticulated, 
amorphous,  and  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the  Regular  octa- 
hedron, which  is  its  primary  form  ;  structure  lamellar,  with 
joints  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  octahedron,  and  probably 
also  in  other  directions;  lustre  metallic;  soft,  sectile,  and  not 
very  frangible.  When  cold,  brittle;  but,  on  being  heated, 
may  be  hammered  into  plates.  Fuses  readily  at  the  compara- 
tively low  temperature  of  476°.  It  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid, 
but  the  solution  yields  a  white  precipitate  if  diluted.  After 
fusion  it  crystallizes,  on  slow  cooling,  in  regular  cubes.  On 
friction  it  presents  resinous  electricity.  When  placed  on  live 
coal,  or  exposed  to  the  candle,  it  melts;  B  B,  it  is  volatilized 
in  the  form  of  white  vapor,  which  forms  a  yellow  coating  on 
the  charcoal,  emitting  at  the  same  time  an  arsenical  odor, 
from  an  accidental  admixture  of  arsenic. 

Bismuth  chiefly  occurs  in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains, 
accompanying  various  ores  of  silver,  cobalt,  lead,  and  zinc. 

Its  principal  localities  are  Johanngeorgenstadt  and  Schnee- 
berg  in  Saxony,  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia;  Modum  in  Nor- 
way ;  Transylvania,  Suabia,  France,  and  Sweden. 

In  Cornwall  it  occurs  in  feathery  masses,  with  arsenical 
cobalt,  at  Huel  Sparnon,  near  Bedruth ;  and  in  Herland  mine 
near  St.  Ives.  At  Schneeberg  it  forms  arborescent  delinea- 
tions disseminated  in  brown  jasper,  which  appear  very  dis- 
tinctly when  the  mass  is  cut  into  slabs  and  polished. 

Its  great  fusibility  renders  bismuth  a  useful  compound  in 
the  formation  of  several  metallic  alloys,  as  in  the  fabrication 
of  printers'  types,  pewter,  and  solder. 

The  only  locality  of  this  metal  at  present  known  in  the 
37 


434 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


United  States,  is  Munroe,  Conn.,  where  it  occurs  dissemina- 
ted in  quartz  with  iron  pyrites,  wolfram,  and  galena.  Prof. 
Emmons  found  a  single  specimen  in  Essex  county,  N.  Y. 


SULPHURET   OF   BISMUTH. 

Wisniuthglan/,  W.     Bismuth  Sulfuree,  H.  Bt.     Bismuth  Glance,  J.     Prismatic  Bismuth 
Glance,  M.     Bismuthine,  Beudant.     Bismites  rectangulus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphur  and  bismuth  in  the  following  pro- 
portions : 


Bismuth. 
Sulphur. 


Ridderhyttan. 

80-98 

...18-72 


99-70  II.  Rose. 

It  is  a  simple  sulphuret  of  bismuth.     Formula:  BsSl. 
Sp.  Gr.  65.     H.  =2-0  — 2-5. 

Color  between  tin-white  and  lead-grey,  but  is  sometimes 
yellowish-white,  with  a  metallic  lustre;  it  occurs  in  acicular 
prisms,  and  in  minute  crystals  deeply  striated  longitudinally, 
in  cavities;  also  massive,  in  which  case  it  presents  sometimes 
a  foliated  structure  like  galena,  sometimes  a  fibrous  one  like 
antimony;  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  P  and/of  the  fol- 
lowing figure,  and  at  right  angles  to  the  latter;  the  principal 
one  parallel  to/!  The  artificial  crystals  of  sulphuret  of  bis- 
muth, according  to  W.  Phillips,  are  rhombic  prisms  of  91°  and 
89°.  It  is  soft  and  brittle.  It  melts  in  the  flame  of  a  candle; 
and,  B  B,  is  for  the  most  part  volatilized  with  a  sulphureous 
odor,  emitting  numerous  small  drops  in  an  incandescent 
state,  covering  the  charcoal  with  a  yellow  areola,  and  leaving 
a  residue  which  is  reducible  with  difficulty  to  the  metallic 
state.  In  nitric  acid  it  is  readily  soluble,  the  solution  yield- 
ing a  white  precipitate  when  farther  diluted. 


The  lines  parallel  to  the  plane  / 
represent  the  striae  constantly  ob- 
served on. the  crystals,  hut  which 
in  reality  are  a  series  of  planes. 


Pon/ 


910  30>_Necker. 


Its  localities  are  pretty  much  the  same  as  those  of  native 
bismuth,  but  it  occurs  in  small  quantities.  At  Caldbeckfell 
in  Cumberland  it  accompanies  molybdena  and  apatite,  in  fo- 
liated masses;  in  Cornwall  it  is  found  in  small  brilliant  tin- 
white  crystals  in  Huel  Sparnon  near  Redruth,  and  of  a  yellow- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  435 

ish-white  color  disseminated  in  jasper,  at  Botallack  near  the 
Land's  End ;  massive,  imbedded  in  limestone,  at  Johanngeor- 
genstadt;  foliated  and  granular  at  Magurka  in  Hungary; 
with  cerite  at  Bastnaes  in  Sweden ;  and  elsewhere.  Accord- 
ing to  Prof.  Shepard,  sulphuret  of  bismuth  in  very  small  quan- 
tity, has  been  detected  in  the  granite  vein  which  contains 
chrysoberyl  at  Haddam,  Conn. 

CUPREOUS    BISMUTH. 

Cupriferious  Sulphuret  of  Bismuth.    Kupferwismutherz,  W.    Bismuth  Sulfure  Cuprifere, 
JVccfccr.    Uuivre  Sulfure  Bismutifere,  Benelius. 

Combination  of  sulphuret  of  copper  and  sulphuret  of  bis- 
muth. Sulphur  12-58,  bismuth  47'24,  copper  34  66.  —  Klap- 
roth.  It  does  not  appear  that  these  constituents  are  united  in 
atomic  proportions. 

It  is  of  a  lead-grey,  steel-grey,  or  tin-white  color,  speedily 
acquiring  a  yellowish  or  reddish  tarnish  from  exposure;  and 
occurs  very  indistinctly  crystallized,  massive,  disseminated, 
and  acicular;  fracture  small  grained  and  uneven;  sectile ; 
lustre  metallic :  streak  white.  Partly  soluble  in  nitric  acid, 
the  sulphur  being  left. 

It  occurs  in  certain  mines  near  Wittichen  in  Furstenberg, 
in  veins  traversing  granite,  with  barytes,  native  bismuth,  and 
copper  pyrites. 


NEEDLE  ORE. 

Acicular  Bismuth  Glance,  J.    Plumbo  Cupriferous  Sulphuret  of  Bismuth.    Nadelerz,  W. 
Bismuth  Sulfure  Plumbo  Cuprifere,  H.    Bismites  acicularis,  D. 

Composed  essentially  of  sulphurets  of  bismuth,  lead  and 
copper. 

Ekatherineburg.  Ekatherineburg. 

Bismuth  ...................  43-20  ....................  36-45 

Sulphur  ...................  11-58  ....................  16-61 

Lead  ......................  24  32  ....................  36-05 

Copper.,  ...................  12-10  ....................  10-59 

Nickel  ....................  1-58  ....................  0-00 

Tellurium  ................     1-32  ....................  0-00 

94-10  John.  99-77  Frick. 

The  loss  of  about  6  per  cent,  in  the  first  analysis,  must  destroy 
all  confidence  in  the  formula  which  has  been  founded  upon  it. 
Rammelsberg  thus  gives  the  formula  answering  to  the  last. 


Sp.  Gr.  6-1  —  6-15.     H.  =  2-0  —2-5. 

Occurs  in  imbedded  acicular  four-  or  six-sided  prisms,  in- 
distinctly terminated,  and  striated  longitudinally  ;  structure 


436  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

lamellar;  cleavage  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  prism;  the  cross 
fracture  small  grained  and  uneven,  with  a  shining  metallic 
lustre.  Color,  when  first  broken,  steel-grey  or  blackish  lead- 
grey,  soon  acquiring  a  yellowish  tarnish.  B  B,  it  partly  vola- 
tilizes and  deposits^  on  the  charcoal  a  yellow  powder,  after 
which  there  remains  a  red  globule,  enclosing  a  grain  of  metal- 
lic lead.  Soluble  with  brisk  effervescence,  and  the  disen- 
gagement of  red  fumes  in  nitric  acid,  which  it  colors  green; 
ammonia  precipitates  the  copper  of  this  solution. 

It  has  only  been  found  near  Ekatherineburg  in  Siberia,  im- 
bedded in  quartz,  and  accompanying  galena  and  gold. 

OXIDE    OF   BISMUTH. 

Bismuth  Ochre.    Wismuthocher,  VV.    Bismuth  Oxydc,  II.  Bt.    Bismutalus  ochraceus,  D. 

This  mineral  was  supposed  to  be  pure  oxide  of  bismuth,  but 
an  analysis  by  Lampadius  shows  it  to  contain  besides  oxide  of 
iron,  carbonic  acid  and  water.  But  these  are  not  in  atomic 
combination,  so  that  the  mineral,  when  pure,  is  Bs,  consisting 
of  one  atom  oxygen,  and  one  atom  bismuth. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-36. 

Color  straw-yellow  or  yellowish-grey;  occurs  massive  and 
disseminated  ;  the  structure  sometimes  lamellar,  with  a  shining 
lustre ;  sometimes  fine-grained  or  earthy,  and  dull ;  it  is  opake, 
soft,  and  often  friable.  On  charcoal,  B  B,  it  is  easily  reduced 
to  the  metallic  state.  In  nitric  acid  it  is  soluble,  the  solution 
throwing  down  a  white  precipitate  on  the  addition  of  water. 

It  has  been  found  in  small  quantities,  upon  the  ores  of  bis- 
muth, cobalt,  and  nickel,  at  Schneeberg  and  Johanngeorgen- 
stadt  in  Saxony,  at  Joachimstal  in  Bohemia,  and  with  plumbo- 
cupriferous  sulphuret  of  bismuth  and  native  gold  at  Beresof  in 
Siberia.  Prof.  Wm.  B.  Rogers  has  discovered  small  portions 
of  oxide  of  bismuth  at  the  gold  mines  in  Virginia. 


CARBONATE  OF   BISMUTH. 

This  substance  was  mentioned  in  the  third  edition  of  this 
work,  but  was  omitted  by  Allan,  probably  from  its  existence 
being  doubtful.  We  have  no  perfect  analysis  of  it,  but  Mr. 
Gregor  found  it  to  consist  principally  of  carbonic  acid  and 
bismuth,  mixed  with  oxide  of  iron  and  earthy  matter.  It  has 
the  appearance  of  an  earthy  substance,  and  somewhat  resem- 
bles steatite.  It  was  first  noticed  in  Sowcrby's  English  Min- 
eralogy. It  may  prove  to  be  bismuth  ochre.  It  was  found  at 
St.  Agnes  in  Cornwall.  Breithaupt  has  more  recently  (Pogg. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  437 

Ann.  liii.  627)  described  a  carbonated  bismuth  from  the  iron 
mine  of  Arme  Hiilfe  near  Hirschberg  in  Reusse,  where  it  is 
found  with  compact  hydrate  of  iron,  and  is  accompanied  by 
native  bismuth,  sulphuret  of  bismuth,  copper  pyrites,  &c.  It 
is  massive  and  sometimes  forms  small  acicular  crystals.  It  is 
yellow  or  greenish  ;  is  opake,  excepting  on  the  edges ;  has  a 
feeble  vitreous  lustre;  its  fracture  is  conchoidal  and  earthy  ; 
very  brittle;  hardness  between  5  to  5^.  Sp.  Gr.  about  7. 


SILICATE   OF    BISMUTH. 

Bismuth-Blende,  Breithaupt.     Arsenical  Bismuth.    Arsenik-Wismuth,  W.    Kiesel-Wis- 
inutli,  L.     Hismutalus  dodecahedrus,  D. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  and  named  by  Breithaupt.* 
It  was  afterwards  analyzed  by  Kersten,  with  the  following 
results : 

Schneeberg. 

Oxide  of  bismuth <>9-38 

Silica 2-2-23 

Oxide  of  iron 2-40 

Oxide  of  manganese 0-30 

Phosphoric  acid 3*31 

Water 1-01 

98-63 

The  atoms  of  oxide  of  bismuth  are  to  those  of  silica,  very 
nearly  as  1  to  T5,  whence  the  formula  is,  BsS1*.  It  is  there- 
fore a  sesquisilicate  of  bismuth.  This  supposes  the  phospho- 
ric acid  and  oxide  of  iron  to  be  accidental. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-9  —  60.     H.  =  3'5  —  4'0. 

In  minute  dodecahedral  crystals,  presenting  according  to 
Breithaupt,  cleavages  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  Rhombic  do- 
decahedron, its  primary  form.  It  occurs  also  in  tetrahedrons, 
and  in  implanted  globular  masses.  Color  dark  hair-brown 
or  wax-yellow ;  streak  yellowish-grey ;  semi-transparent  or 
opake;  lustre  resinous  or  adamantine;  fracture  uneven; 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  dodecahedron,  imperfect ; 
rather  brittle.  Decrepitates  briskly  B  B,  emits  an  arsenical 
odor,  and  is  ultimately  converted  into  a  glass  which  effervesces 
with  borax. 

This  species  accompanies  cobalt  and  native  bismuth,  at 
Schneeberg  in  Saxony ;  its  general  appearance  is  that  of  im- 
planted globules,  which  rarely  exceed  the  size  of  a  pin-head, 
and  are  of  a  dark-brown  color. 


*  PoggendorPs  Annalen,  ix.  275 

37* 


438  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

TELLURET  OF   BISMUTH. 

Molybdena  Silver,  J.  and  A.      Molybdan  Silber,    Werner.      Tellur-Wismuth,  Leonhard. 
Bornine,  Beudant.     Rhomboheclral  Bismuth  Glance,  M.     Bismitea  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Composed  of  tellurium,  bismuth,  and  selenium,  according  to 
the  following  analyses : 

Bismuth .r,9-84 58.30 

Tellurium 35-24 3tH)5 

Sulphur 4-9Q 4-32 

Earthy  matter  . .  0-00 0-75 

100-00  Wehrle.       99-4:2  Berzelius. 

Its  composition  appears  to  be  one  atom  sulphuret  of  bismuth, 
and  two  atoms  bitelluret  of  bismuth.  Formula:  BsSl-f-2BsTel2. 
Sp.  Gr.  7*2  —  8-0.  Soft. 

Of  a  light  steel-grey  inclining  to  lead-grey,  with  a  metallic 
lustre  ;  occurs  in  crystalline  masses,  or  six-sided  prisms,  which 
are  divisible  into  thin  laminae  parallel  to  the  terminal  planes, 
but  not  so  easily  as  mica  ;  elastic,  and  when  reduced  to  powder, 
is  of  an  iron-black.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  melts  on  the  first  im- 
pression of  the  point  of  the  flame,  into  small  globules,  which 
become  of  a  yellow  color,  and  somewhat  tarnished,  disengaging 
at  the  same  time  vapors  of  selenium.  When  pulverized,  it  is 
soluble  in  nitric  acid,  with  the  exception  of  the  sulphur. 

It  occurs  with  brown  spar  and  iron-flint  at  Pilsen,  and  near 
Schernowitz  on  the  Gran  in  Hungary;  but  it  is  an  extremely 
rare  mineral. 

Von  Kobell  has  detected  this  rare  mineral  in  specimens  of 
the  ores  from  San  Jose  in  Brazil,  attached  to  granular  lime- 
stone. Berzelius  has  also  recognised  it  in  a  specimen  from 
Riddarhyttan. 

FERRUGINOUS    ARSENIET    OF    BISMUTH. 

Dr.  Thomson.     (Outlines,  &.C.,  i.  590.) 

This  mineral  occurs  at  Schneeberg  in  Saxony.  Its  consti- 
tuents, according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  are  arsenic  38-092,  bismuth 
55  913,  iron  G'321.  These  numbers  give  four  atoms  arsenic, 
three  atoms  bismuth,  one  atom  iron.  The  mineral,  therefore, 
consists  of  three  atoms  arseniet  of  bismuth,  one  atom  arseniet 
of  iron.  Formula:  3BsAs+FAs. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-694.  '  H.  =  5'5. 

Color  externally,  dark  hair-brown;  internally,  brownish- 
yellow.  Massive,  composed  of  thin  plates  or  columns  applied 
to  each  other.  Lustre  resinous;  brittle.  It  decrepitates 
briskly  B  B,  emits  an  arsenical  odor,  and  burns  with  a  blue 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  439 

flame,  being  either  dissipated  or  fused  into  a  metallic  globule, 
according  to  circumstances.  Soluble  in  nitric  or  muriatic 
acids. 


NATIVE  ARSENIC. 

Gediegen  Arsenic,  W.     Arsenic  Natif,  H.     Native  Arsenic,  J.    Rhombohedral  Arsenic, 
M.     Arsenium  rbombohedrum,  D. 

It  consists  of  pure  metallic  arsenic,  As,  usually  mixed  with 
a  small  portion  of  other  metals.  Two  specimens  from  Joa- 
chimsthal,  yielded  the  following  : 

Arsenic 96  0 97.0 

Antimony 3-0 2-0 

Irou  and  water 1-0 1-0 

100-0  John.  100-0  John. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-75.     H.  =  3-5. 

When  fresh  broken,  it  presents  a  lead-grey  color,  inclining  to 
tin-white,  but  is  generally  greyish-black,  becoming  dull  on 
exposure  ;  it  occurs  reniform,  botryoidal,  arid  in  flat  mammil- 
lary  masses:  is  not  found  crystallized,  although  indications  of 
a  rhomb  of  114°  26'  and  65°  34'  have  been  noticed  ;  cleavage 
occasionally  observable  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  this  rhomb  ; 
fracture  fine-grained  and  uneven,  occasionally  with  a  slight 
appearance  of  fibrous  structure ;  it  yields  to  the  knife,  and  is 
easily  frangible.  B  B,  it  fuses  readily :  burns  with  a  bluish 
flame  and  a  dense  white  arsenical  vapor ;  and  is,  when  pure, 
entirely  volatilized.  Acquires  resinous  electricity  from  friction. 

Arsenic  occurs  chiefly  in  the  veins  of  primitive  rocks, 
accompanying  ores  of  silver,  cobalt,  and  copper.  It  is  com- 
mon in  the  Saxon  silver  mines  of  Freyberg,  Annaberg,  and 
Schneeberg  ;  also  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia,  at  Andreasberg 
in  the  Hartz,  at  Kapnick  in  Transylvania,  at  Orawitza  in  the 
Bannat,  at  Zmeoff  in  Siberia  in  large  masses,  at  Wittichen  in 
Suabia,  and  at  St.  Marie  aux  Mines  in  Alsace.  It  is  at  once 
distinguished  by  the  facility  with  which  it  volatilizes,  as  well 
as  by  the  odor  and  copious  white  fumes  it  emits  when  exposed 
to  the  blowpipe,  or  thrown  upon  ignited  charcoal.  This  odor 
is  also  distinctly  perceptible  when  the  specimen  is  struck  with 
a  hammer.  The  effects  of  arsenic  as  a  violent  poison  are  well 
known;  it  is  notwithstanding  made  use  of  in  several  pharma- 
ceutical preparations,  and  is  variously  employed  in  metallurgi- 
cal processes.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

Native  arsenic,  according  to  Dr.  Jackson,  occurs  in  argilla- 
ceous slate  at  Haverhill,  N.  H. 


440  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

ARSENOUS  ACID. 

Oxide  of  Arsenic,  J.      Octahedral  Arsenic  Acid,  M.      Arsenikbliithe,  Karsten.     Arsenic 
Oxide,  II.     Acide  Arsenieux,  BcudanL.      Aciduin  Arsenosum,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  Berzelius,  of  arsenic  75'82,  oxygen 

24-18.     Formula:  As. 

Sp.  Gr.  36  — 371.     H.=  l-5. 

Color  snow-white,  sometimes  tinged  accidentally  reddish, 
yellowish,  or  greenish.  It  occurs  earthy,  capillary,  investing 
other  substances,  in  stalactites,  and  also  in  tabular  and  pris- 
matic crystals.  Cleavage  octahedral ;  semi-transparent  or 
opake  ;  lustre  vitreous  ;  fracture  conchoidal  ;  taste  astringent. 
Soluble  in  hot  water.  Exposed  to  a  high  temperature  it  is 
volatilized  without  any  odor,  but  when  heated  on  charcoal,  B  B, 
the  acid  is  decomposed,  and  the  strong  garlic  smell  which  cha- 
racterizes metallic  arsenic  is  emitted. 

It  occurs  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  with  the  ores  of 
silver,  arsenic,  and  lead,  from  the  decomposition  of  some  of 
which  it  probably  arises;  also  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia; 
and  at  Bieber  in  Hanau.  It  resembles  the  pharmacolite,  and 
is  often  confounded  with  it :  but  that  substance  is  not  soluble 
in  water,  which  the  oxide  of  arsenic  is. 

In  some  of  the  Hartz  furnaces  it  has  been  obtained  by  sub- 
limation, and  in  that  case  it  presents  large  distinct  octahedral 
crystals. 

SULPHURET  OF  ARSENIC. 

REALGAR. 

Hemi-prismatic  Sulphur,  M.   Red  Orpiment,  or  Ruby  Fulphur,  J.    Rother  Rauschgelb,  W. 
Realgar  Rouge,  Brochant.    Arsenic  Sulfure  Rouge,  H.    Euchroa  rubella,  D. 

Arsenic 69-57 fi9-0 

Sulphur 30-43 31.0 

100-00  Laugier.         100-0  Klaproth. 

The  numbers  give  one  atom  arsenic,  and  one  atom  sulphur. 
Symbols:  AsSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  33  —  36. 

Of  a  brilliant  red  color,  passing  into  scarlet,  sometimes  with  a 
tinge  of  orange ;  translucent,  rarely  transparent.  It  occurs 
massive,  disseminated,  investing,  acicular,  and  crystallized; 
the  crystals  usually  assume  the  prismatic  form,  and  are  exter- 
nally very  brilliant.  It  cleaves  indistinctly  parallel  to  all  the 
planes  of  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism,  whose  lateral  planes  are 
74°  15'  and  105°  45'  by  the  reflective  goniometer,  the  terminal 
on  a  lateral  plane  being  about  104°  6' ;  the  declination  of  the 
terminal  plane  is  from  one  acute  angle  of  the  prism  to  its  oppo- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


441 


site.  Fracture  conchoidal,  with  a  splendent  vitreous  lustre  ; 
streak  orange-yellow  or  aurora-red ;  yields  to  the  pressure  of 
the  nail.  It  becomes  electric  by  friction,  acquiring  the  resi- 
nous or  negative  electricity ;  B  B,  alone,  on  charcoal,  it  burns 
with  a  pale  yellow  flame.  Loses  its  color  in  nitric  acid. 


Primary. 


M  on  M'  ..........  74°  15' 

P  on  M  or  M'  .......  104  6 

-  &  or  6  .........  149  12 

-  c2  ...........  80  0 

-  el  or  el'    .......  156  30 

-  e2  or  e2'    .......  138  22 

-  c3  or  e&    .......  126  50 

-  k    ...........  90  0 

M  on  6  or  M'  on  b>   ....  133 

M  or  M'  on  cl  .......  99 

--  c2  .......  115 


M'  on  dl  ..........  119 

-  d'2  ..........  131 

-  e'l  ..........  122 


2 

30 
52 
30 
34 
50 


M'  on  e'2 135°  2' 

e'B 141  20 

tl 172  6 

i2 160  42 

k 142  42 

/ 163  85 

cl  on  c2     150  38 

dl 155  10 

d'2 137  20 

</3 125  41 

k 90  00 

c2  on  d4 161 


20 


t2orii2' 112    55 


Felsobanya  in  Upper  Hungary,  and  Kapnik  and  Nagyag  in 
Transylvania,  are  the  most  noted  localities  of  this  beautiful 
mineral  ;  it  also  occurs  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz  ;  in  dolo- 
mite on  St.  Gothard  ;  in  Bohemia;  in  Saxony;  and  in  minute 
crystals  in  the  vicinity  of  active  volcanoes,  as  Vesuvius,  the 
Solfatara,  &c. 


SESQUISULPHURET    OF    ARSENIC. 

ORPIMENT. 

Prismatoidal  Sulphur,  M.     Prismatoidnl^uJpliuror  Yellow  Orpiment,  J.     Gelbes  Rausch- 
gelb,  W.     Arsenic  Sulfuie  Jaune,  II.     Eucliroa  aurea,  D. 

Orpiment  consists  of  sulphur   and   arsenic  in  the  following 
proportions  : 

Arsenic 62-0 fiI-86 

Sulphur 38-0 33-14 

100-0  Klaproth.        100-00  Laugier. 


442  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

These  numbers  answer  to  one  and  a  half  atom  sulphur,  one 
atom  arsenic.  Symbols  :  AsSl1*.  Or  we  may  double  these 
numbers,  and  regard  it  as  a  compound  of  three  atoms  sulphur 
and  two  atoms  arsenic. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-45. 

Color  bright  lemon-yellow,  passing  into  gold  yellow.*  Oc- 
curs disseminated,  reniform,  in  stalactites,  investing,  and  also, 
though  rarely,  in  minute  crystals.  The  primary  form  appears 
to  be  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  100°  and  80°,  but  the  crystals 
yield  to  cleavage  parallel  only  to  the  greater  diagonal  of  the 
prism;  namely,  parallel  to  the  plane  f  of  the  following  figure. 
Semi-transparent,  or  translucent  only  on  the  edges;  lustre  me- 
tallic ;  pearly  upon  the  perfect  faces  of  cleavage,  the  rest  resi- 
nous; streak  yellow,  somewhat  paler  than  the  color  ;  sectile, 
thin  lamina?  flexible,  but  not  elastic.  B  B,  its  comportment 
corresponds  with  that  of  realgar ;  it  burns,  however,  with  a 
bluish-colored  flame. 


M  on  M 100°    0' 

M  on  c  or  M  on  c'l    ....  120  ?   0 

M  or  M'  on/ 140      0 

g 177    54 

M'  on  i 162    38 

c  on  c' 83    30 

b.                      145    50 


Yellow  orpiment  has  been  found  in  small  crystals  imbedded 
in  blue  clay  at  Tajowa,  near  Neusohl  in  Lower  Hungary.  Most 
frequently,  however,  it  forms  foliated  and  fibrous  masses,  and 
in  that  state  is  met  with  at  Kapnik  in  Transylvania,  at  Moldawa 
in  the  Bannat,  and  Felsobanya  in  Upper  Hungary,  where  it 
accompanies  realgar  and  native  arsenic  in  metalliferous  veins. 


ARSENICAL   PYRITES. 

Axotomous  Arsenical  Pyrites,  M.    Prismatic  Arsenical  Pyrites,  J.     Arsenical  Pyrites,  A. 
Arsenik  Eisen,  L.     Leucopyrite.      Arnyrites  acrotomus,  D. 

Reichenstein.  Schlndming.  Fossum. 

Contains  Arsenic 65-99 60-41 70-23 

Sulphur 1-94 5-2o"    128 

Iron 28-06 13-49 28-14 

Nickel 000 13-37 0-00 

Cobalt 0-00 5-K) 0-00 

98-16  Hoffmann.        98-55  Hoffmann.        99-64  Scheerer. 

*  Whence  orpiment,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  gold  yellow.  But  it  is  supposed  to  have 
been  so  called  not  merely  from  its  golden  color,  but  because  the  ancients  thought  it  really 
contained  gold.  —  Moore's  Ancient  Mineralogy. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  443 

A  considerable  variation  is  observed  in  the  results  of  these 
three  analyses.  The  constitution  of  the  mineral  as  deduced 
from  the  last,  is  very  nearly  two  atoms  arsenic,  one  atom  iron. 
Symbols:  FAs2. 

Sp.  Gr.  7-1  — 7-4.     H.=:5-0  — 5-5. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  122°  26'  and  57°  34'. 
Seldom  occurs  crystallized,  generally  in  masses  of  a  silver- 
white  or  steel-grey  color  ;  lustre  metallic  ;  streak  greyish-black ; 
cleavage  distinct  perpendicular  to  the  axis;  fracture  uneven; 
brittle.  The  measurements  are,  o  on  o  over  the  apex  51°  20', 
d  on  </122°  26'. 

This  mineral  is  found  associated  with 
copper  nickel  at  Schladming  in  Styria; 
with  serpentine  at  Reichenstein  in  Silesia ; 
and  in  a  bed  of  sparry  iron,  along  with 
bismuth  and  scorodite,  at  Loling  near 
Huttenberg  in  Carinthia ;  also  at  Fossum 
in  Norway.  It  occurs,  however,  only  in 
small  quantities,  and  is  a  rare  species. 

Jordan*  has  described  a  variety  of  this  species  from  near 
Andreasberg,  which  is  in  white  brilliant  needleform  crystals. 

Dana  mentions,  that  a  crystal,  weighing  two  or  three  ounces, 
has  been  found  in  Bedford  county,  Penn.  ;  also,  a  mass  in 
Randolph  county,  N.  C.,  weighing  nearly  two  pounds. 


BRIGHT  WHITE  COBALT. 

C<-b  iltine,  Beudant.  Glanz  Kobalt,  W.  Cobalt  Gris,  H.  Cobalt  Eclatant,  Br.  White 
Cobult,  A.  Octahedral  Cobalt  Pyrites,  J.  Hexahcdral  Cobalt  Pyrites,  M.  Sulpho- 
Arsenide  of  Cobalt,  Thomson.  Argy  rites  hemi-cubicus,  D. 

Combination  in  nearly  equal  volumes  of  the  sulphuret  and 
the  arseniuret  of  cobalt. 

Skuttorud.  Tunaherg.  Tunaberg. 

Cobalt 33-10 36-66 44-00 

Arsenic 43-47 49  00 55-00 

Sulphur 20-08 6-66 0-50 

Iron 3-23 5-G6. 0-00 

99-88  Stromeyer.      97-98  Tessaret.       99-50  Klaproth. 

The  first  analysis  gives  one  atom  cobalt,  one  atom  arsenic, 
and  one  atom  sulphur.  By  doubling  these  numbers,  and  sup- 
posing the  sulphur  to  be  in  combination  with  both  arsenic  and 
cobalt,  we  obtain  one  atom  disulphuret  of  cobalt,  one  atom 
disulphuret  of  arsenic  ;  the  latter  being,  according  to  Dr.  Thom- 
son, a  sulphur  acid.  Formula :  As2Sl-hCb2Si.  Berzelius 


*  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1843,  p.  211. 


444 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


supposes  it  to  be  a  bisulphuret  and  biarseniate  of  cobalt,  CbSl2 
+CbAs2,  and  this  may  be  thought  to  be  the  most  correct  view 
of  its  composition. 

Sp.  Gr.  6  23.     H.  =  55. 

Color  silver-  or  yellowish-white,  with  a  tinge  of  red.  It  oc- 
curs in  the  cube  and  its  varieties  —  its  crystalline  forms  resem- 
bling those  of  iron  pyrites ;  the  planes  of  the  cube  are  gene- 
rally striated,  those  of  the  modifications  smooth  ;  structure 
lamellar,  yielding  readily  to  cleavage  parallel  with  all  the 
planes  of  the  Cube,  which  therefore  is  the  primary  form  ;  frac- 
ture fine  grained  ;  streak  greyish-black  ;  it  also  occurs  arbo- 
rescent, stalactitic,  botryoidal,  and  amorphous  ;  it  yields  with 
difficulty  to  the  knife,  and  is  not  very  frangible.  B  B,  on  char- 
coal, it  disengages  copious  arsenical  fumes,  and,  after  being 
roasted  for  some  time,  melts  into  a  metallic  globule  of  a  dull 
black  externally,  which  attracts  the  magnet,  but  which  is  not 
malleable  ;  it  tinges  borax  of  a  deep-blue  color  ;  and  effervesces 
in  heated  nitric  acid. 

1.  2.  3.  4. 


(3) 


5  (a). 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  the  solid 
angles  are  replaced  by  triangular  planes;  which  in  fig.  3  are  so  greatly 
increased  as  to  reduce  the  primary  planes  to  small  squares;  and  are  com- 
plete  in  fig.  4,  the  regular  octahedron.  Fig.  5,  the  cube  ;  of  which  each 
edge  is  replaced  by  an  irregularly  six-sided  plane,  alternately  placed  in 
different  directions.  In  fig.  6,  these  planes  are  complete,  forming  the 
pentagonal  dodecahedron.  In  fig.  7,  they  are  in  connection  with  the 
planes  of  the  octahedron,  which  are  increased  in  fig.  8  ;  reducing  the 
irregularly  six-sided  planes  of  fig.  5  to  small  triangles. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


445 


Fig.  5  (6)  represents  a  crystal  of  bright  white  cobalt  of  the  natural  size 
from  Tunaberg  in  Sweden.  Some  of  its  faces  are  disproportionately  ex- 
tended, but  it  possesses  great  symmetry  and  beauty  of  finish,  for  a  crystal 
of  such  dimensions  ;  and  it  is  not  easy  to  discover  the  surface  by  which  it 
was  connected  with  the  matrix.  It  is  valued  at  £50. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 90°  00-'  H. 

a  on  a'  or  a" 109  28  — 

PP'  or  P"  on  a 125  15  — 

Poii  £1,  P'on&l' 166  30 

P  on  k2,  P'  on  k2' 153  26  H. 

o  or  a'  on  k2 140  46  — 

a  on  t 163  27 

7c2'  on  kZ'    .  .  126  52   H. 


At  Tunaberg  and  Hokensbo  in  Sweden,  this  species  is  met 
with  in  large  resplendent,  distinctly-pronounced  crystals,  which 
are  generally  combinations  of  the  cube  and  pentagonal  dodeca- 
hedron, as  in  fig.  5.  It  also  occurs  abundantly  in  mica-slate  at 
Wehna  in  Sweden,  and  at  Modum  and  Skutterud  in  Norway  ; 
less  so  at  Querbach  in  Silesia,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Just 
in  Cornwall.  From  the  following  species  it  may  be  distin- 
guished by  its  inferior  specific  gravity  arid  reddish  hue,  also  by 
its  lamellar  structure,  its  more  distinct  cleavage,  and  by  its 
requiring  considerably  greater  heat  to  drive  off  the  arsenic. 

TIN-WHITE   COBALT. 

Octahedral  Cobalt  Pyrites,  M.  Octahedral  Cobalt  Pyrites,  J.  Grauer  Spieskobold,  W. 
Cobalt  Arsenical,  JVecker.  Tin-White  Cobalt,  L.  Grey  Cobalt,  A.  Binarseniet  of 
Cobalt,  Thomson.  Smultine.  Argy rites  octahedrus,  D. 

Union  of  cobalt  and  arsenic,  in  which  the  latter  preponde- 
rates ;  sometimes  containing  small  quantities  of  copper  and  iron. 


Cobalt 

Arsenic 

Iron 

Copper 

Sulphur 


Riechelsdorf. 

....20-31 

74-21 

....  3-42 

0-15 

0-88 


Schneeberg. 

28-00 

65-76 

0-00 

6-25 

..  0-00 


98-97  Stromeyer.      100-00  John. 

Dr.  Thomson  (adopting  the  first  analysis)  observes  that  if 
we  admit  that  the  copper,  and  a.  portion  of  the  arsenic,  are  in 
the  state  of  sulphurets,  then  this  mineral  will  consist  of  binar- 
seniates  ;  viz.  six  and  a  half  atoms  binarseniate  of  cobalt,  one 
atom  biarseniate  of  iron.  Formula:  6^CbAs2+FAs2. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-4  —  7-7.     H.  =  55. 

Color  tin-white,  inclining,  when  massive,  to  steel-grey.     It 
38 


446  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

occurs  in  cubes,  Octahedrons,  and  in  crystals  which  form  the 
passage  of  the  one  into  the  other  (see  Bright  White  Cobalt,  fig. 
1,  2,  3,  4)  ;  but  it  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  crystals  of 
this  variety  differ  from  the  preceding,  in  exhibiting  only  the 
regular  planes  of  modification  belonging  to  the  cube.  The 
crystals  are  often  cracked  or  rent  in  various  directions,  and 
their  planes  are  commonly  more  or  less  convex.  Cleavage 
parallel  to  the  faces  both  of  the  octahedron  and  cube.  It  also 
occurs  arborescent,  reticulated,  botryoidal,  stalactitic,  and 
amorphous.  The  fracture  is  fine-grained  and  uneven,  with  a 
glistening  metallic  lustre  ;  it  yields  with  difficulty  to  the  knife, 
and  is  brittle  and  hard.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  gives  out  a  copi- 
ous arsenical  vapor  on  the  first  impression  of  the  heat  ;  it 
fuses,  however,  only  partially,  and  that  with  difficulty  ;  to  borax 
and  other  fluxes  it  imparts  a  deep  blue  color  ;  and  in  nitric 
acid  affords  a  pink  solution. 


P  on  P'  on  P" 90°  00' 

P  P'  or  P"  on  a 125  16 

P  on  b,  P'  on  b,  or  P"  on  b  .  155  10 

P  or  P'  one 135  5 

a  on  a'  or  a" 109  28 

a  on  &,  b,  or  b 151  30 

a  or  a'  on  e 144  55 

e  on  e' 120  00 

It  occurs  chiefly  in  primitive  rocks,  accompanying  ores  of 
silver,  bismuth,  and  copper,  as  at  Freyberg,  Annaberg,  and 
particularly  at  Schneeberg,  in  Saxony ;  at  Joachimsthal  in 
Bohemia  ;  and  at  Huel  Sparnon  in  Cornwall.  At  Riechelsdorf 
in  Hessia  its  veins  are  included  in  cupriferous  shale  ;  and  the 
reticulated  variety  from  Joachimsthal  is  frequently  imbedded 
in  calcareous  spar.  This  mineral  was  formerly  found  in  con- 
siderable quantity  at  Chatham,  Conn.,  in  veins  traversing 
gneiss,  and  associated  with  mispickel  and  copper  nickel. 

TERARSENIET   OF   COBALT. 

Bismuth  Cobalt  Ore,  Phillips.    Kersten.  (.*„«.  drs  Mines,  second  scries,  i.  548.)    Argyritcs 
Kersteni,  D. 

Atoms. 

£™e™c 77-9602 16-41 

Cobalt 9.88/ifi 3-04 

J,r.on 4-7C95 1-36 

Bismuth 3-88(i6 0-46 

Copper 1-3030 0-3-2 

£"';kel 1-1003 0-34 

Sulphur 1-0160 0-51 

99-9^82  Kerstcn. 

If  we  suppose  the  bismuth  and  sulphur  to  be  united,  the 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  44,7 

atoms  of  which  are  nearly  equal,  it  is  evident  that  the  other 
constituents  are  in  the  state  of  terarseniets,  and  the  mineral 
consists,  as  stated  by  Dr.  Thomson,  of  nine  atoms  terarseniet 
of  Cb.,  four  atoms  terarseniet  of  F.,  one  atom  terarseniet  of 
Gp.,  one  atom  terarseniet  of  Nk.  If  the  two  last  be  regarded 
as  accidental,  the  composition  is  thus  expressed  :  9CbAs3+4 
FAs3. 

Occurs  massive,  with  a  radiated  and  porous-like  structure. 
Color  intermediate  between  lead-grey  and  steel-grey,  with  a 
glistening  or  glimmering  metallic  lustre;  streak  dull,  same 
color  as  the  mineral.  B  B,  it  emits  copious  fumes  of  arsenious 
acid,  and  deposits  on  the  charcoal  a  yellow  crust,  the  assay  at 
the  same  time  assuming  a  brown  color.  When  well  roasted, 
it  communicates  to  borax  a  smalt  blue  color. 

This  mineral  has  hitherto  only  been  found  at  Schneeberg  in 
Saxony. 

SULPHURET    OF  COBALT. 

Kobalt-Kies,  J.  Koboldine,  Beudant.  Schwefel  Kobalt,  Berzelius.  Isometric  Cobalt 
Pyrites,  M.  Cobalt  Sulfure,  Lucas.  Cobalt  Kies,  L.  Cobalt  Pyriteux,  JVec/cer. 
Argyrites  cubicus,  D. 

Sulphuret  of  cobalt,  mixed  with  the  sulphurets  of  iron  and 
copper. 

Ridderhyttan.  Mussen.  Musscn. 

Cobalt 43-20 43-86 53-35 

Copper 14-40 4-10 0-97 

Iron 3-53 5-34 2-30 

Sulphur 38-50 41-00 -12-52 

99-63  Hiainger.  94<30  Wernekink.         98*7  Wernekink. 

The  first  analysis,  throwing  out  the  copper  and  iron  as  acci- 
dental impurities,  gives  one  and  a  half  atom  sulphur  to  one 
atom  cobalt.  It  is  therefore  a  sesquisulphuret  of  cobalt.  For- 
mula: CbSl1*.  Rammelsberg  gives  the  same  atomic  con- 
stitution from  the  last  analysis  by  Wernekink. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-3  —  6-4.  H.  =  5-5. 

Color  steel-grey,  or  whitish  with  a  tinge  of  yellow  ;  massive, 
with  an  uneven  fracture,  presenting  a  granular  surface ;  and 
botryoidal.  Lustre  metallic  ;  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
the  cube,  imperfect  ;  fracture  uneven  or  imperfect  conchoidal. 
On  charcoal  alone  B  B,  it  fuses  after  roasting  into  a  grey  me- 
tallic globule,  from  which  it  is  difficult  to  drive  off  the  last 
portions  of  sulphur ;  with  the  fluxes  the  effects  of  the  cobalt 
predominate  so  much  that  it  is  impossible  to  distinguish  those 
of  iron  or  copper.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid,  with  the  disengage- 
ment of  nitron  gas,  leaving  a  whitish  residue.  Neither  in  the 
analysis,  nor  B  B,  does  it  exhibit  the  slightest  indication  of 
arsenic. 


448  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

It   is  found   at  Bastnaes   near  Riddarhyttan  in  Sweden,  in 

fneiss,  associated  with  copper  pyrites  and  hornblende ;   and  at 
lussen  in  Prussia,  with  barytes  and  carbonate  of  iron. 


EARTHY    COBALT. 

Black  Cobalt  Ochre,  A.      Oxide  of  Cobalt.      Enlkobolcl,  W.      Cobalt  Oxyde  Noir,  H. 
Cobalt  Ochre,  J.     Manganus  cobaltitbrus,  D. 

It  has  been  analyzed  by  Klaproth  and  Dobereiner,  but  with 
very  different  results.  According  to  the  latter,  it  consists  es- 
sentially of  oxide  of  cobalt  and  protoxide  of  manganese,  united 
with  about  23  per  cent,  of  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-10  —  2-42.      Soft. 

Color  various  shades  of  brown,  bluish-black,  and  black. 
Occurs  massive,  mamillary,  botryoidal,  investing,  and  pulveru- 
lent ;  the  fracture  of  the  massive  is  earthy,  and  it  is  dull,  but 
acquires  a  polish  by  friction;  yields  easily  to  the  knife.  JB  B, 
on  charcoal  it  exhales  a  slight  arsenical  odor,  but  does  not  fuse  ; 
with  borax  it  forms  a  deep  cobalt-blue  colored  globule. 

It  occurs  in  sandstone,  with  yellow  copper,  at  Alderley  Edge, 
in  Cheshire;  at  Nertschinsk  in  Siberia;  and  at  Riechelsdorf 
in  Hessia  ;  at  Saalfeld  in  Thuringia,  associated  with  several 
species  of  cobalt  pyrites;  in  the  Tyrol,  Bohemia,  Saxony,  and 
elsewhere.  In  Ireland,  of  a  blue  color,  investing  fissures  in 
slate-clay  in  the  peninsula  of  Howth  near  Dublin.  The  bril- 
liancy which  its  surface  attains  when  streaked  with,  or  rubbed 
against  a  hard  body,  is  perfectly  characteristic. 


COBALT-BLOOM. 

Bother  Erdkobold,  W.  Cobalt  Arseniate,  H.  Red  Cobalt  Ochre,  J.  Prismatic  Cobalt 
Mica,  M.  DiatomousEuclasHaloide,  Haidirtger.  Arseniate  of  Cobalt.  KobaltBliithe, 
Hauxmger.  Erythrine,  Beudant.  Cobaltalus  rubellus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide,  of  cobalt,  and  water. 

Eic^elsdorf. 

Oxide  of  cobalt 39-2 

Arsenic  acid 37'9 

Water 2;2-9 

100-0  Bucholz. 

These  results  approach  very  nearly  one  atom  diarseniate  of 
cobalt,  and  four  atoms  water.     Formula:  Cb2+As+4Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  29  — 3-1.     H.  =  2-0  —  2-6. 

Color  crimson  and  peach-blossom  red,  sometimes  whitish, 
or  greyish-white,  or  green.  Is  found  in  small  botryoidal 
masses,  and  short  acicular  diverging  crystals,  modified  on  the 
edges,  whose  form  is  a  Right  oblique  angled  prism.  The 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  449 

crystals,  which  possess  most  nearly  the  characters  of  regular 
form,  are  translucent  and  shining,  the  other  varieties  are 
glimmering  or  dull,  and  nearly  opake;  it  is  soft,  light,  and 
flexible;  translucent;  the  red  tints  very  brilliant  by  strong 
transmitted  light;  lustre  pearly,  on  some  faces  inclining  to 
vitreous;  streak  corresponding  to  the  color,  though  a  little 
paler.  When  crushed  in  a  dry  state,  the  powder  possesses  a 
lavender-blue  tinge,  which  is  not  the  case  if  moistened.  Cleav- 
age perfect,  in  the  direction  of  the  prism.  BB,  on  charcoal, 
it  fumes  abundantly,  emitting  an  arsenical  odor,  and  melts  in 
the  reducing  flame  into  a  bead  of  arseniuret  of  cobalt.  With 
borax  and  other  fluxes  it  yields  a  fine  blue-colored  glass;  and 
is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  to  which  it  communicates  a  red 
tinge. 


M  on  T  ....  124°  0'  —  Brooke. 


It  occurs  in  primitive  and  secondary  rocks,  with  other  ores 
of  cobalt;  either  in  micaceous  scales  radiating  from  a  centre, 
as  at  Schneeberg  in  Saxony ;  in  minute  aggregated  crystals, 
as  at  Saalfeld  in  Thuringia,  and  Riegelsdorf  in  Ilessia ;  or 
coating  other  minerals  in  the  state  of  a  peach-blossom  red- 
powder.  This  last  is  met  with  in  Dauphine,  in  Cornwall,  at 
the  lead  mine  of  Tyne  Bottom  near  Alston  in  Cumberland, 
and  in  many  other  places.  A  perfectly  green  variety  occurs 
at  Flatten  in  Bohemia;  and  sometimes  red  and  green  tinges 
appear  on  the  same  crystal. 

ROSELITE. 

Levy.     (Annals  of  Philosophy,  viii.  439.)    Gypsalus  Cobalticus,  D. 

Contains  oxide  of  cobalt,  arsenic  acid,  water,  lime,  and 
magnesia,  according  to  Children. 

H.  =  30. 

Lustre  vitreous;  translucent;  streak  white;  cleavage  dis- 
tinct, and  brilliant  parallel  to  P.  The  primary  form  is  a  Right 
rhombic  prism,  M  on  M'  125°  7'. —  Brooke.  B  B,  it  gives  off 
water  and  blackens.  It  imparts  a  blue  color  to  borax  and  salt 
of  phosphorus;  and  is  entirely  soluble  in  muriatic  acid.  This 
species  resembles  the  last  in  color,  though  quite  distinct  in 
crystalline  form. 
38* 


450 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


a  on  a  over  P.  ...  47°  12'  — Levy. 


This  extremely  rare  mineral  occurs  in  small  deep  rose-red 
colored  twin  crystals,  associated  with  cobalt  bloom,  at  Schnee- 
berg  in  Saxony.  It  was  noticed  by  Levy,  who  named  it  in  com- 
pliment to  Dr.  Gustavus  Rose  of  Berlin.  —  Allan's  Manual. 


SULPHATE    OF   COBALT. 

Red  Vitriol,!.    Kodak  Vitriol,  Kappe.    Rhodhalcse,  Bcudant.    Vitriolum  Cobalticum,D. 

The  constituents  of  this  mineral  have  been  variously  deter- 
mined as  follows : 

Bieber.  Bieber.  Bieber. 

Sulphuric  acid 30-2 19-7-1 29-053 

Oxide  of  cobalt 28-7 38-71 19-909 

Oxideofiron 0-9 0-00 0-000 

Water 41-2 4J  -55 46-830 

Alumina O.O....  ..  0-00 3-864 


19-156  \Vinkelblech. 


101-0  Beudant.        100  00  Koppe. 

Beudant's  analysis  gives  three  atoms  sulphuric  acid,  one 
atom  oxide  of  cobalt,  and  six  atoms  water.  It  is  therefore  a 
hydrous  tersulphate  of  cobalt.  Formula:  CbSl3+6Aq.  The 
numbers  obtained  by  Koppe,  approach  nearly  to  a  disulphate. 

Primitive  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  97°  35',  and  82° 
25',  whose  base  is  inclined  to  its  lateral  planes  at  about  108°  and 
82°.  —  Beudant.  Color  rose-  or  flesh-red.  Occurs  investing 
other  minerals,  in  small  friable  masses,  and  in  stalactites; 
the  masses  are  semi-transparent  and  crystalline  ;  lustre  pearly  ; 
streak  yellow;  taste  styptic  and  bitter.  B  B,  in  the  matrass 
it  gives  off  water,  and  assumes  a  brighter  color;  with  borax  it 
forms  a  blue  glass.  It  is  soluble  in  water. 

It  occurs  in  the  mining  heaps  of  Bieber  near  Hanau,  with 
lamellar  heavy  spar,  earthy  and  grey  cobalt;  also  at  Leogang 
in  Saltzburg. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  451 

SULPHURET    OF    NICKEL. 

Native  Nickel,  M.J.    Schwefel-Nickel,  L.    Banrkies,  VV.    Capillary  Pyrites,  H.    Nickel 
Sulfure,  Levy.     Pyrites  capillaris,  D. 

Analyses  by  Arfvedson. 

Nickel 64-76 65-35 

Sulphur 35-24 34-26 

100-00  99-61 

These  numbers  approach  very  nearly  to  one  atom  of  each 

constituent  —  NkSl,  or  Ni,  as  stated  by  Rammelsberg. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-45.     H.  about  4. 

It  occurs  in  capillary  and  sometimes  diverging  filaments  of 
a  yellowish  color,  inclining  to  steel-grey.  Primary  form  the 
Cube;  flexible;  opake,  with  a  metallic  lustre;  not  magnetic. 
B  B,  on  charcoal,  with  a  good  heat,  it  fuses  into  a  globule 
which  is  metallic,  malleable,  and  magnetic,  and  consists 
wholly  of  nickel ;  but  in  the  open  tube  it  exhales  the  odor 
of  sulphurous  acid.  With  nitric  acid,  it  forms  a  greenish 
solution. 

It  is  found  at  Joahnngeorgenstadt  in  Saxony,  at  Joachim- 
sthal  in  Bohemia,  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  Myrthyr  Ty ci- 
vil in  Wales,  in  Cornwall  and  other  places,  in  thin  capillary 
filaments,  filling  the  cavities,  and  dispersed  among  the  crys- 
tals of  other  minerals. 


ANTIMONIAL    NICKEL. 

Antimoniet  of  Nickel,  Thomson.    Argyrited  hexagonus,  D. 

This  mineral  has  been  twice  analyzed  by  Stromeyer,  who 
obtained  the  following  results : 

Nickel 28-946 27-054 

Antimony 63.734 59-706 

Iron 0-886 0-842 

Sulphuretoflead  ....  6-437 1*357 

99-983  99-959 

The  constituents  approach  pretty  nearly  to  one  atom  nickel 
and  one  atom  antimony,  there  being  a  slight  excess  in  the 
quantity  of  nickel.  Formula:  NkSt. 

Its  specific  gravity  has  not  been  determined ;  its  hardness  is 
about  that  of  copper  nickel.  Color  in  the  fresh  fracture  light 
copper-red,  inclining  strongly  to  violet ;  powder  reddish-brown. 
Occurs  crystallized  in  short  six-sided  prisms,  which  appear  to 
be  regular  ;  sometimes  they  are  terminated  in  six-sided  pyra- 
mids. Fracture  uneven,  passing  into  small  conchoidal.  Lus- 
tre metallic,  splendent.  Brittle.  Not  acted  upon  by  the 
magnet.  B  B,  some  antimony  sublimes.  This  mineral  was 


452  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

discovered  by  M.  Volkmar  in  the  Andreasberg  mountains, 
associated  with  sulphuret  oflead  and  speiss  copper.  It  resem- 
bles copper  nickel. 

SULPHO-ANTIMONIAL   NICKEL. 

Nickeliferoua  Grey  Antimony,  J.  and  A.  Eutomous  Cobalt  Pyrites,  M.  Nickelspies- 
glaserz,  Haussmann.  Nickel  Arsenical  Antimonifere,  Antimoine  Sulfure  Nickelifere, 
Antimon-nickel,  Beudant.  Argyrites  eutomus,  D. 

Combination  of  nickel,  sulphur,  and  antimony,  sometimes 
with  arsenic. 


Sicken. 
Nickel  28~-U4.. 
Sulphur  1555.. 
Antimony...  54-47.. 
Arsenic  0-00.. 

Sieijnn, 
2736. 
15-98. 
55-76. 
0-00. 

Altenkirchen. 
2.1-33  
14-16  
61-68  
0-00  

Sirgen. 
..'26-10.. 
..16-40.. 
..47-56.. 
..  9-94.. 

Freussberg. 
25-25 
15-25 
47-75 
11-75 
;  Klan- 

93-06  H.  Rose.   99-10  H.  Rose.    99-17  John.        100-00  Ullman.  100-00  {  roth 

The  constitution  of  this  mineral  from  the  three  first  analy- 
ses, is  two  atoms  nickel,  one  atom  sulphur,  and  one  atom  anti- 
mony. The  nickel  is  thus  supposed  to  be  in  the  state  of  a 
sulphuret  and  antimoniet.  Formula  :  NkSl+NkSt.  Beudant 
includes  the  arsenic  with  the  antimony,  and  thereby  obtains 
the  same  formula  from  the  other  two  analyses. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-45  —  G  5.     H.  =  5-0  —  5*5. 

Primary  form  the  Cube.  In  masses  which  have  a  granular 
composition,  and  possess  a  steel-grey  or  silver-white  color; 
lustre  metallic;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the 
cube;  brittle.  B  B,  it  is  partly  volatilized,  disengaging  va- 
pors of  antimony,  and  sometimes  of  arsenic,  and  ultimately 
melts  into  a  metallic  globule,  which  communicates  a  blue 
color  to  glass  of  borax.  It  is  acted  upon  by  nitric  acid,  form- 
ing an  immediate  precipitate,  and  coloring  the  solution  green. 

It  occurs  in  several  of  the  mines  near  Freussberg  in  the 
principality  of  Nassau,  with  sparry-iron,  galena,  and  copper 
pyrites. 

ARSENICAL    NICKEL. 

Kupfernickel,  W.   Nickel  Arsenical,  H.    Prismatic  Nickel  Pyrites,  M.    Copper  Nickel,  J. 
Argyrites  cupricolor,  D. 

A  combination  of  nickel  and  arsenic. 


Nickel.... 

Riejrelsdorf. 
44-20... 

Riegelsdorf. 
48-90  

Allamont. 
48-80 

Arsenic.. 

54-72... 

46-42  

39-94 

Iron  

0-33... 

0-34  

0-00 

Lead  

0-32... 

0-56  

o-oo 

Antimony 

0-00... 

0-00  

8-00 

Kobalt.  .  . 

0-00... 

0-00  

0-16 

Sulphur.. 

0-40... 

0-80  

2-00 

100-00  Stromeyer.  97-02  Pfaff.  99  90  Berthier. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  453 

Stromeyer's  specimen,  which  seems  to  have  been  the  purest, 
shows  nearly   an   equality  in  the  atoms  of  the  constituents, 
whence  the  mineral  is  a  simple  arseniet  of  nickel  —  NkAs. 
Sp.  Gr.  66  —  7-6     H.  =  5'0  —  55. 

Of  a  copper  or  yellowish-red  color,  but  acquiring  a  grey  or 
blackish  tarnish  by  exposure.  It  occurs  reticulated,  dendritic, 
and  botryoidal,  but  more  commonly  massive;  never  crystal- 
lized; streak  pale  brownish-black.  The  fracture  is  imper- 
fectly conchoidal,  or  fine-grained  and  uneven,  with  a  glisten- 
ing or  shining  metallic  lustre;  it  yields  to  the  knife  with  diffi- 
culty, and  is  brittle.  B  B,  it  gives  out  an  arsenical  vapor,  and 
then  fuses,  though  not  very  easily,  into  a  white  metallic  glo- 
bule. After  roasting,  it  usually  colors  glass  of  a  borax  blue, 
indicating  the  presence  of  a  certain  quantity  of  cobalt.  In 
nitric  acid  it  assumes  a  green  coating,  and  in  nitro-muriatic 
acid  is  dissolved. 

It  usually  accompanies  the  ores  of  cobalt,  silver,  and  cop- 
per ;  and  is  found  in  the  veins  of  primitive  rocks  at  Schnee- 
berg  and  Annaberg,  Johanngeorgenstadt  and  Freyberg  in 
Saxony  ;  at  Schladming  in  Styria  ;  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia; 
at  Allemont  in  France,  and  the  Bannat;  in  transition  rocks  in 
the  Hartz;  at  Saalfeld  in  Thuringia;  at  Riegelsdorf  in  Hes- 
sia ;  and,  though  less  frequently,  in  Cornwall. 


BINARSENIET  OF   NICKEL. 

White  Nickel.     Argyrites  Hoffmanni,  D. 

This  mineral  has  been  described  and  analyzed  by  Hoffman. 
—  Pogg.  Ann.,  xxv.  302.  He  obtained  the  following  con- 
stituents : 

Arsenic 71-30 

Nickel 28-14 

Sulphur 0-14 

Bisui   th 2-19 

Copper 0-50 

102-27 

The  atoms  of  arsenic  are  so  nearly  double  those  of  the 
nickel,  that,  supposing  the  other  constituents  to  be  accidental, 
it  is  obvious  that  the  mineral  is  composed  of  two  atoms  arsenic, 
and  one  atom  of  nickel.  Formula:  NkAs2. 

Its  color  is  tin-white;  lustre  metallic;  opake;  massive,  and 
riot  described  as  crystallized ;  surface  often  mixed  with  small 
concretions  of  quartz;  fracture  uneven.  It  is  often  covered 
with  a  thin  coating  of  diarseniate  of  nickel.  It  occurs  at 
Schneeberg. 

A  variety  of  this  species,  differing  from  it  in  containing  a 


454  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

small  portion  of  cobalt,  is  found  crystallized  in  regular  hexa- 
hedrons at  Rietjelsdorf  in  Hesse.  It  contains  by  the  analysis 
of  Booth,  arsenic  72  04,  nickel  20  74,  iron  3  25,  cobalt  3  37. 

NICKEL   GLANCE. 

Sulpho-Arscnide  of  Nickel,  Thomson.     Nickclgl.mz.     Argyriics  decrepitans,  D. 

Berzelius  has  subjected  this  mineral  to  four  different  analy- 
ses, and  his  results  are  as  below  stated.  It  has  also  been 
analyzed  by  Pfaff  and  Ilammelsberg. 

Loos  in  Sweden.  Loos  in  Sweden.  Moan.         Atoms. 

Arsenic 55-5  > f>3-32 4M)(i 45-37 5',)-5ti 10-64 

fulplmr 12-117 14-40 19-29 19-34 ]  li-42 8-21 

Nickel 28-17 27-00 ;jn*0 WJ-94 28  <> 8-91 

Iron 3-G3 5-2!) 2-99 4-11 4-00 1-14 

Copper  with  colnilt. .  0-00 0-00 0-00 0-'J2 

Silica 0-61 0  OU 1-00 0-90 

10U-53  10JM1  102-14  100-58 

The  mean  numbers  of  these  analyses  lead  to  one  atom  each 
of  the  three  first  constituents,  if  we  suppose,  with  Dr.  Thom- 
son, that  the  excess  of  arsenic  is  in  combination  in  the  mine- 
ral with  the  iron,  and  is  accidental.  By  doubling  these  atoms, 
and  supposing  the  sulphur  to  be  united  with  each  of  the  bases, 
he  obtains  one  atom  disulphide  of  arsenic,  and  one  atom  disul- 
phuret  of  nickel.  Formula:  As2Sl+Nk2Sl. 

Il.'ttipisfn.  Atoms. 

Nickel 31-819 9.79 

A  rsenic 48-022 10-11 

Sulphur 2 .).  159 lu-07 

100-00  Rammelaberg.* 

The  numbers  thus  obtained  by  Rammelsberg,  who  seems  to 
have  operated  on  a  very  pure  specimen,  conduct  almost  ex- 
actly to  one  atom  each  of  the  constituents.  Doubling  the 
atoms,  he  views  the  mineral,  with  Berzelius,  as  composed  of 
one  atom  bisulphuret  of  nickel,  and  one  atom  biarseniet  of 
nickel ;  or  NkSP+NkAs2. 

Sp.  Gr.  about  5.     H.  =  6'129. 

Color  tin-white;  streak  similar.  Massive;  texture  granu- 
lar. In  one  variety  the  grains  are  rounder,  in  another  they 
are  less  equal.  Lustre  shining,  metallic;  opake.  When 
heated  it  decrepitates  with  great  violence.  When  ignited  in 
a  glass  tube,  it  leaves  a  matter  similar  to  copper  nickel,  while 
sulphide  of  arsenic  sublimes.  Another  variety,  when  heated 
in  the  same  way,  leaves  a  silver-white  mass,  and  gives  out  also 
sulphide  of  arsenic. 

It  occurs  at  Loos  in  Sweden,  at  Hamsdorf  and  Haueisen. 

*  Handwbi  terbuch,  ii.  14. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  455 

NICKEL  OCHRE. 

Nickel  Bliithe,  Nickel  Ocher,  W.     Nickel  Oxide,  H.  Bt.    Nickel  Arseniate,  Berthier. 
Niccalus  prasinus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide  of  nickel,  and  water. 

Arsenic  acid 26  97 36-8 

Protoxide  of  nickel 37-35 36-2 

Water 24-3-2 24-5 

Protoxide  of  cobalt 0-OU 2-5 

98-04  Stromeyer.  100-0  Berthier. 

Dr.  Thomson  unites  the  oxides  of  nickel  and  cobalt,  which 
together  make  two  atoms  against  one  atom  arsenic  acid.  The 
water  amounts  to  four  atoms.  The  mineral  is  therefore  a  hy- 
drous diarseniate  of  nickel.  Formula:  Nk2As+4Aq. 

This  substance  is  found  adhering  to  or  coating  arsenical 
nickel,  and  is  considered  to  be  derived  from  its  decomposi- 
tion. It  is  sometimes  compact,  of  a  fine  apple-green  color; 
and  generally  filamentous  or  friable.  By  calcination  it  as- 
sumes a  yellowish  hue,  and  loses  somewhat  less  than  a  fourth 
part  of  its  weight  of  water,  without  emitting  any  odor.  It 
dissolves  readily  and  completely  in  acids,  without  efferves- 
cence, the  solution  becoming  violet  on  the  addition  of  am- 
monia; and  B  B,  on  charcoal  exhales  a  strong  arsenical  smell ; 
fusing  in  the  interior  flame  into  a  globule  of  arseriiferous 
nickel.  It  is  found  adhering  to  arsenical  nickel  at  Allernont, 
and  other  places. 

PI  M  ELITE. 

Pimelit,  W.  Br.     Nickel  Oxyde,  Bt.     Pimelitc,  J. 

Oxide  of  nickel  15'G2,  silica  35*00,  alumina  5*10,  water 
37'91,  magnesia  2*25,  lime  0*40.  —  Klaproth.  Rammelsberg 
has  given  no  formula  for  this  mineral. 

Of  an  apple-green  or  yellowish-green  color;  occurs  invest- 
ing other  minerals,  and  massive;  is  earthy  and  dull;  opake, 
and  devoid  of  lustre;  soft,  and  greasy  to  the  feel.  It  is  infusi- 
ble B  B,  but  loses  part  of  its  weight,  and  assumes  a  dark-grey 
hue.  With  borax  it  forms  a  violet-colored  globule,  in  which 
the  nickel  is  reduced. 

It  occurs  at  Kosemiitz,  and  Glassendorf  in  Silesia,  in  veins 
traversing  serpentine,  and  associated  with  chrysoprase,  of 
which  nickel  is  supposed  to  be  the  coloring  matter. 

NATIVE  SILVER. 

Gndiegan  Silber,  W.    Argent  Natif,  H.  Br.     Hexahedral  Silver,  M.  and  J.    Argentum 
octahedium,  D. 

Pure  silver,  with  occasional  minute  admixture  of  copper, 
arsenic,  antimony,  and  iron,  which  renders  it  less  malleable 


456  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

than  the  fused  metal.  That  from  Curey,  analyzed  by  Berthier, 
was  composed  of  silver  90,  copper  10,  or  two  and  a  half  atoms 
silver  to  one  atom  copper.  Formula:  Ag2>Cp. 

Sp.  Gr.  10-47.      H.  =  2'5. 

Color  pure  white,  with  a  shining  metallic  lustre,  but  gene- 
rally tarnished  externally  of  a  greyish-black,  probably  owing  to 
the  presence  of  sulphur.  Occurs  crystallized  in  the  Cube  and 
Regular  octahedron  ;  but  as  it  does  not  possess  a  lamellar 
structure,  either  of  these  solids  may  be  considered  as  the  pri- 
mary form;  in  the  following  figure  the  cube  is  assumed,  as 
being  the  most  simple.  It  also  occurs  capillary,  ramose,  and 
reticulated,  but  a  close  inspection  will  discover,  by  the  assist- 
ance of  a  microscope,  that  these  varieties  consist  of  a  congeries 
of  elongated  crystals,  or  of  minute  cubes  or  octahedrons  closely 
aggregated,  and  disposed  perpendicularly  in  straight  rows. 
Flexible,  ductile,  and  malleable  ;  acquires  vitreous  electricity 
when  isolated  and  rubbed.  It  is  fusible,  B  B,  into  a  globule, 
which  is  not  altered  by  continuing  the  heat,  although,  on  cool- 
ing, it  presents  a  crystalline  form,  in  which  the  faces  of  the 
octahedron,  cube,  and  dodecahedron  may  be  distinguished. 
It  is  soluble  in  cold  nitric,  and  in  heated  sulphuric  acid. 


P  on  P  or  P 90°  00'  H. 

P  on  a  or  a' 125     15 

a'  on  a  or  a    .  .  109     28 


Virgin  or  native  silver  generally  occurs  in  veins  of  calcare- 
ous spar  or  quartz,  traversing  gneiss,  slate,  and  other  primitive 
rocks;  occasionally  also  in  selenite  and  clay.  Magnificent 
specimens,  presenting  crystals  half  an  inch  in  diameter,  used 
to  be  found  in  the  mines  of  Kongsberg  in  Norway;  Freyberg, 
Schneeberg,  and  Johanngeorgenstadt  are  its  principal  Saxon 
localities;  Przibram,  Joachimsthal,  and  Ratiborzitz,  its  chief 
Bohemian  ones.  It  is  also  met  with  in  smaller  quantities  at 
Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  in  Svvabia,  Hungary,  at  Allemont 
in  Dauphine,  and  in  some  of  the  Cornish  mines,  as  at  Wheal 
Duchey,  near  Callington,  in  grauwacke.  The  most  celebra- 
ted localities,  however,  of  native  silver,  are  those  of  South 
America,  and  particularly  the  mines  of  Peru.  The  largest 
mass  of  pure  native  silver  ever  discovered  was  met  with  in  the 
mines  of  Kongsberg,  in  1834.*  It  weighed  eight  hundred  and 

*  Berzelius'  Jahres-Bericht,  1835,  p.  215. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  457 

forty  pounds.  Specimens  brought  from  the  celebrated  Pasco 
mine,  in  Peru,  as  described  by  Prof.  Sillirnan,  are  of  the  most 
perfect  whiteness  without  tarnish,  and  with  the  lustre  of  the 
highly  polished  metal ;  their  numerous  crystals  adhering  in 
rich  groups  of  many  hundreds,  and  being  also  interspersed 
through  brilliant  white  calc-spar,  make  a  very  splendid  ap- 
pearance. The  figures  are  between  the  cube  and  the  octa- 
hedron—  usually  the  cubo-octahedron.  Specimens  of  native 
silver  have  been  sent  to  the  United  States,  by  the  American 
missionaries  from  Western  Asia,  concerning  the  mineralogy  of 
which  but  little  is  known.  At  Madden,  south-east  of  Trebizond, 
a  valuable  mine  of  native  silver  is  wrought  by  the  Greeks.* 

In  the  United  States,  native  silver  was  found  by  Dr.  Hough- 
ton,  in  the  trap  rocks  of  Michigan,  associated  with  native 
copper.  It  is  found  also  at  King's  lead  mine,  Davidson  county, 
North  Carolina. 

The  employment  of  silver  in  coinage,  and  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  plate  and  articles  of  luxury,  is  well  known ;  but  it  is 
not  from  this  ore  alone  that  the  fused  metal  is  obtained. 

AURIFEROUS  NATIVE  SILVER.  Guldisches  gediegen  silber,  W. 
Argent  natif  aurifere,  Br. 

Gold 64-0 74-0 76-41 28-0 

Silver 34-0 26-0 22-12 72-0 

98-0  Klaproth.        100-0  Boussingault.  98-53  Rose.  100-0  Fordyce. 

The  gold  is  thus  united  in  very  variable  proportions,  and  in  some  speci- 
mens should  rather  be  regarded  as  native  gold.  Specific  gravity  14-0  -  - 17-0. 

Of  a  color  between  silver-white  and  brass-yellow;  disseminated,  capil- 
lary, and  crystallized  in  cubes. 

It  occurs  in  veins  at  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  at  Rauris  in  Salzburg,  and 
at  Schlangenberg  in  Siberia. 


ANTIMONIAL    SILVER. 

Prismatic  Antimony,  M.     Octahedral  Antimony,  J.     Antimon-silber,  Leonhard.     Spies- 
glassilber,  W.     Argent  Antimonial,  H.  Br.     Stibium  rhombicum,  D. 

A  specimen  from  Wolfach,  yielded  to  Klaproth,  silver  76, 
antimony  24.     Another  by  Vauquelin,  from  Andreasberg,  gave 
silver  78'0,  antimony  22'0.     The  mineral  appears,  from  these 
analyses,  to  be  a  diantimoniet  of  silver.     Formula  :  Ag2St. 
Sp.  Gr.  9  44  —  98.     H.  =  3  5. 

Color  between  silver-white  and  tin-white,  often  externally 
tarnished  yellow  or  reddish.  Generally  occurs  massive  or  in 
grains,  but  has  been  observed  also  indistinctly  crystallized. 

*  Prof.  Hitchcock  on  the  Geology  of  Western  India,  vol.  i.  p.  398,  of  the  Reports  of  the 
Association  of  American  Geologists. 

39 


458  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Primary  form  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  109°  28'  and  70°  32'.  - 
Ncckcr.  The  faces  somewhat  convex,  and  deeply  striated 
longitudinally.  Structure  lamellar,  with  a  shining  metallic 
lustre,  and  the  cross  fracture  flat  conchoidal ;  easily  frangible  ; 
soft;  and  possessing  a  slight  degree  of  malleability.  B  B,  on 
charcoal  it  melts  into  a  grey  metallic  globule,  which  is  not 
malleable,  the  antimony  being  at  the  same  time  driven  off  in 
white  vapor;  on  continuing  the  blast  a  bead  of  pure  silver  is 
produced.  In  nitric  acid  it  becomes  soon  covered  with  a 
bluish  coating,  which  is  the  oxide  of  antimony. 

It  occurs  with  native  arsenic  and  other  ores  of  silver,  in 
granite,  at  Wittichen  and  Altwolfach  in  Baden;  in  clay-slate 
at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz ;  also  at  Casalla  near  Guadal- 
canal in  Spain;  in  Salzburg;  and  at  Allemont  in  France.  It 
is  a  rare  mineral. 

ARSENICAL  ANTIMONIAL  SILVER.  Arsenical  Silver,  A.  Argent 
antimonial  ferro-arsenifere,  H.  Argent  arsenical,  Br.  Antimonial  silver, 
mixed  with  arsenic  and  iron.  A  specimen  from  Andreasberg  yielded  to 
Klaproth,  silver  12-75,  antimony  4-00,  iron  44-25,  arsenic  35-00.  Another 
specimen  gave  very  different  results,  tending  to  show  that  the  mineral  is  a 
mechanical  mixture  of  its  constituents.  Specific  gravity  94  ;  hardness  40. 

Nearly  of  the  same  color  as  native  silver,  but  commonly  tarnished  yel- 
low or  blackish  ;  it  occurs  mammillated,  or  in  small  globular  and  reniform 
masses,  sometimes  investing  other  substances  ;  structure  lamellar,  with  a 
shining  or  glimmering  metallic  lustre.  It  is  harder  than  antimonial  sil- 
ver, but  is  sectile,  brittle,  easily  frangible,  and  heavy.  B  B,  the  arsenic 
and  antimony  are  volatilized,  emitting  at  same  time  a  powerful  alliaceous 
odor,  and  leaving  a  globule  of  impure  silver. 

Its  localities  and  associations  are  nearly  the  same  as  those  of  antimonial 
silver ;  it  is  best  known  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  where  it  accompa- 
nies native  arsenic. 


TELLURIC   SILVER. 

Tellur-silber,  Rose.    Argent  Tellure,  JVec&er.    Lunites  Telluricus,  D. 

Contains  Silver 62-42 62-32 

Tellurium 36-96 36-89 

Iron 0-24 0-50 


99-62  G.  Rose  99-71  G.  Rose. 

The  atoms  of  tellurium  deduced  from  these  numbers,  are 
twice  those  of  the  silver,  showing  it  to  be  a  bitelluret  of  silver. 
Formula:  AgTl2. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-4 1  —  8-56.     H.  =  2  25. 

Uncrystallized;  in  coarse  grained  masses;  color  between 
steel-grey  and  lead-grey;  lustre  metallic;  soft,  and  partially 
malleable.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  fuses  into  a  black  mass,  which 
on  cooling  appears  covered  with  numerous  minute  specks  of 
metallic  silver ;  in  the  matrass  it  fuses,  and  colors  the  glass 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  459 

yellow;  and  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  especially  if  heated. 
From  the  silver  mines  of  Savodinski  in  the  Altai  mountains, 
Siberia. 


SULPHURET    OF    SILVER. 

Vitreous  Silver.     Glaserz,  W.     Argent  Sulfure,  H.  Bt.     Argent  Vitreuse,  Br.    Hexahe- 
dral  Silver  Glance,  M.    Silver  Glance,  J.    Lunites  dodecahedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  silver  and  sulphur. 

Freyberg.  Atoms. 

Silver 85-0 fH8 

Sulphur 15-0 7-5 


100-0  Klaproth. 

The  only  published  analysis  of  this  mineral  appears  to  be 
that  by  Klaproth.  —  Beitrage,  i.  158.  Rammelsberg  gives  no 
other.  The  numbers  do  not  exactly  correspond  with  one  atom 

silver  and  one  of  sulphur  ;  though  such  is  undoubtedly  the  true 

/ 
constitution  of  the  mineral.     Formula:  Ag  or  AgSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  6  9  —  7-2.     H.  =  2^—  2-5. 

Of  a  dark  lead-grey  color,  with  occasionally  a  superficial 
iridescent  tarnish.  Primary  form  the  Cube ;  also  found  in  oc- 
tahedrons and  rhombic  dodecahedrons,  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
which,  traces  of  cleavage  are  sometimes  observable ;  fracture, 
fine  grained  and  uneven,  sometimes  small  and  flat  conchoidal, 
with  a  more  or  less  shining  metallic  lustre;  malleable  and 
sectile,  yielding  readily  to  the  knife.  In  the  flame  of  a  taper, 
or  B  B,  it  intumesces,  the  sulphur  flies  off,  and  on  continuing 
the  blast  a  bead  of  pure  silver  remains.  Soluble  in  dilute 
nitric  acid ;  and,  when  isolated  and  rubbed,  acquires  a  resinous 
electricity. 

P 

P  on  P'  or  P" 90°  00'  H. 

PP'  or  P"  on  a 125     15 

P  or  P'  on  e 135     00 

a  on  a'  or  a" 109     28 

a  or  a'  on  e,  or  )  -\A\A\ 

a  or  a"  one"    $ 144    44 

e  on  e>  or  e" 120    00 


This  species  occurs  both  crystallized  and  massive,  assum- 
ing also  various  reticulated,  filiform,  arborescent,  and  capil- 
lary shapes.  It  is  subject  to  tarnish  from  exposure,  loses  its 
lustre,  and  becomes  covered  with  a  black  earthy-like  coating. 
It  occurs  in  gneiss  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  accompanying 
other  ores  of  silver ;  in  mica-slate  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohe- 
mia ;  in  grey wacke  in  the  Hartz ;  occasionally  in  Devon  and 


460 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


Cornwall  in  grauvvacke  with  native  silver  and  arsenical  silver  ; 
but  in  great  abundance  only  in  Mexico,  most  of  the  silver  ob- 
tained at  the  celebrated  mines  of  Guanaxuato  in  that  country 
being  extracted  from  this  ore.  It  occurs  also  in  Peru. 

BLACK  SULPHTJRET  OF  SILVER.  Silberschwartze,  W.  Earthy  sil- 
ver glance,  J.  Is  a  decomposed  and  almost  triable  variety  of  the  preced- 
ing. It  is  dark  lead-grey,  inclining  to  black,  and  without  lustre,  or  only 
feebly  glimmering  ;  it  occurs  massive  and  pulverulent,  sometimes  invest- 
ing other  ores  of  silver,  and  filling  up  cavities  in  them  ;  fracture  uneven  , 
is  more  or  less  sectile;  and  gives  a  shining  metallic  streak.  B  B,  it  is 
converted  into  a  slaggy  mass,  containing  globules  of  impure  silver.  It 
occurs  in  the  veins  of  primitive  mountains  with  other  ores,  as  at  Cremnitz 
and  Schemnitz  in  Hungary  ;  at  Chalanches  near  Allcmont  in  Dauphine  ; 
at  Kongsberg  in  Norway  ,*  and  at  Schlangenberg  in  Siberia. 


FLEXIBLE   SULPHURET    OF    SILVER. 

Argent  Sulfure  Flexible,  Bournon.    Biegsamer  Silberglanz,  L.   Ferro-sulphuret  of  Silver, 

Thomson. 

Consists,  according  to  Wollaston,  of  silver,  sulphur,  and  a 
little  iron ;  but  no  complete  analysis  has  been  given. 

Externally  of  a  dark  color,  approaching  to  black ;  occurs 
both  massive  and  in  small  tabular  crystals,  which  appear  to 
be  Right  oblique-angled  prisms,  whose  lateral  planes  are  alter- 
nately 125°  and  55°.  Flexible  when  in  thin  laminae,  and 
readily  separable  into  them.  Cleavage  parallel  with  the  ter- 
minal planes;  very  soft,  yielding  readily  to  the  knife;  lustre 
metallic,  but  less  brilliant  than  that  of  sulphuret  of  silver. 

M  on  T    .  .  .         .  125°  00' 


P  on  M  or  T  .  . 

.  90 

00 

cl  

.  134 

45 

c2  

.  Ill 

30 

d2  

.  138 

15 

d3  

.  119 

15 

M  on  rfl  or  dl'  . 

.  114 

00 

d2  or  d2>  .  . 

.  131 

45 

d3  or  d3  .  . 

.  150 

30 

e  

146 

10 

T  on  cl  or  cl'  .  . 

.  135 

00 

c2  

,  153 

20 

e  

,  159 

00 

This  rare  mineral  has  hitherto  been  met  with  only  in  Hun- 
gary, and  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  and  even  at  these  localities 
in  very  small  quantity.  The  crystal  figured  is  from  the  Him- 
melsfurst  mine  at  Freyberg. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  461 

STERNBERGITE.* 

Haidingcr.     (Edinb.  Phil.  Traits.,  xi.  1.)     Elasmites  rhombicus,  D. 

Contains,  according  to  Zippe  : 

Atoms. 

Silver 33-2 2-41  ...1-00 

Iron 36-0 10-28. . .  .4-26 

Sulphur 30-0 15-00. . .  .6-22 

99^2 

The  composition,  as  indicated  by  these  numbers,  is  four  and 
a  half  atoms  sulphuret  of  iron,  one  atom  bisulphuret  of  silver. 
Formula  :  4FSl+AgSl2. 

Sp.  Gr.  42  —  4-25.    H.  =  1-0  — 15. 

Primary  form  a  Rhombic  octahedron  of  118°,  84°  28',  and 
128°  49'.  The  annexed  figure  exhibits  one  of  the  common 
secondary  forms.  It  occurs  also  in  compressed,  but  regular 
hexahedral  tables,  with  two  angles  of  119£°,  and  four  of  120£°, 
and  these  are  sometimes  united  in  twins. 


/on/  ....  118°  00'.  — Haidinger. 


Occurs  generally  in  implanted  crystals,  attached  to  the  ma- 
trix laterally  so  as  to  form  rose-like  aggregations ;  sometimes 
they  are  macled.    Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  a.     Color  pinch- 
beck-brown, with  an  occasional  superficial  violet-blue  tarnish 
on  the  faces/;  high  degrees  of  metallic  lustre  on  the  broad  faces 
«,  not  so  bright  on  the  others ;  streak  black;  flexible  in  thin 
lamina? ;  and,  after  being  bent,  may  be  smoothed  down  again 
with  the  nail,  like  tinfoil.     B  B,  it  burns,  per  se,  with  a  blue 
flame,   emits  powerful  sulphurous  vapors,  and  fuses    into    a 
globule,  which  is  generally  hollow,  has  a  crystalline  surface, 
and  is  covered  with  metallic  silver.     This  globule  acts  pow- 
erfully on  the  magnet,  and  communicates  to  fluxes  the  ordi- 
nary colors  produced  by   iron.     Borax  readily  removes  the 
iron,  and  leaves  a  button  of  metallic  silver.     In  the  matrass  it 
loses  its  lustre,  and  becomes  dark-grey,  and  friable.     It  leaves 
traces   on  paper  like   graphite,  which  may  be  removed   by 
caoutchouc. 

Sternbergite  occurs  with  ores  of  silver,  particularly  the  red 
and  brittle  silvers,  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia;  but  it  is  a 
very  rare  species. 

*  In  honor  of  Count  Caspar  Sternberg  of  Prague. 

39* 


462  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

BRITTLE    SULPHURET   OF    SILVER. 

Sprod-Glassrz,  W.     Argent  Antimonie  Sulfure  Noir,  II.     Prismatic  Melnne  Glance,  M. 
Brittle  Silver  Glance,  J.    Schwarz  Giiltigerz,  L.    Lunites  rhombicus,  D. 

Freyberg.  Freyberg. 

It  contains  Silver 60-5 (W-54 

Sulphur 12-0 16-42 

Antimony 10-0 14-68 

Iron 5-0 0-00 

Copper 0-5 0-64 

94-0  Klaproth.  100-28  H.  Rose. 

This  mineral  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  is  a  trisulplwanti- 
moniate  of  silver,  thus  expressed  by  the  formula  :  StSl2-f3AgSl. 
It  is  singular  that  an  analysis  of  the  same  mineral  by  Brandes, 
gave  not  a  trace  of  antimony.* 

Sp.  Gr.  59  —  6-4.     H.  =  2-0  —  3-0. 

Color  dark  lead  or  bluish-grey,  passing 
into  iron-black  ;  when  pulverized,  dark-grey 
or  brownish.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhom- 
bic prism  of  107°  47'  and  72°  13'.  The 
measurements  are  as  follow :  P  on  P  over  o 
104°  19',  o  on  adjoining  o  115°  39',  d  on  d 
over  P  107°  47'. 

Crystals  most  frequently  macled ;  cleavage 
in  the  directions  of  o  and  P ;  the  structure 
sometimes  distinctly  lamellar,  but  the  fracture  commonly  con- 
choidal,  with  a  shining  metallic  lustre;  soft,  and  brittle.  B  B, 
it  melts,  the  sulphur,  antimony,  and  arsenic  fly  off,  and  there 
remains  a  dark-colored  metallic  globule,  which  may  be  reduced 
on  continuing  the  blast,  or  adding  soda.  Soluble  in  dilute 
nitric  acid. 

It  occurs  principally  in  veins  traversing  primitive  rocks, 
and  associated  with  other  ores  of  silver,  as  at  Schneeberg  and 
Freyberg  in  Saxony ;  Przibram  and  Ratieborzitz  in  Bohe- 
mia; Cremnitz  and  Schemnitz  in  Hungary;  in  Siberia;  and 
in  Mexico.  It  is  the  compact  and  massive  variety  of  this  spe- 
cies to  which  the  name  of  Schwarz-gultigerz  particularly  ap- 
plies; that  termed  Weiss-giiltigerz,  on  the  other  hand,  is 
merely  a  mechanical  mixture  of  this  species,  galena,  and  grey 
antimony.  The  richer  it  is  in  silver,  the  nearer  it  approaches 
the  brittle  sulphuret,  while,  in  the  contrary  case,  it  resembles 
compact  galena  or  antimony ;  evidently  therefore  it  cannot  be 
considered  a  distinct  species. 

*  See  Rammelsberg's  Handwbrterbuch,  ii.  172. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 


463 


SULPHURET  OF  SILVER  AND  ANTIMONY. 

Peritomous ^Antimony  Glance,  M.     Schwefel-Silber  und  Antimon,  L.    Argent  Sulfur6 


QilLVlUWWl      CBUfcUUUUJ      VlttllVOj      AM.  *          kJUU  \V  C  J  C  l-OHUt?  T      UI1U      /lUlIIIlOn.      J_J. 

Antimonifere  et  Cuprifere,  Levy.     Schwefel  Schilfglazerz,  Freisleben. 
tomus,  D. 


Lunites  peri- 


No  complete  analysis  has  hitherto  been  given  of  this  mineral ; 
but  its  elements  are  supposed  to  be  sulphur,  silver  and  anti- 
mony, united  with  accidental  portions  of  copper. 
Sp.  Gr.  5-5  —  5-6.     H.  =  2'0  —  25. 

It  occurs  in  small  crystals,  sometimes  irregularly  associated, 
more  often  separate ;  externally  they  are  shining  and  splendent, 
of  a  color  approaching  to  silver-white ;  and  deeply  striated  lon- 
gitudinally ;  the  striae  however  are  for  the  most  part  only  a 
series  of  planes  modifying  the  obtuse  edges  of  the  prism,  as  in 
the  following  figure.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M ;  extremely 
brittle,  yielding  readily  to  mechanical  division  parallel  to  the 
planes  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  100°  and  80°,  and  probably 
also  in  other  directions.  B  B,  it  emits  copious  white  vapors, 
accompanied  by  a  slight  sulphurous  odor,  a  small  white  bead, 
apparently  of  silver,  remaining. 


M  on  M' 100°  00' 


2} 

2 

^ 

3 

/ 

r 
3 

-A 
2 

\ 

M  or  M'  on  a  or  a'  .  .  135    15 
y       M  on  cl  or  M'  on  cl'  .110    00 
\       gl  or  g\<  .     70    10 
\      #2  or  #2  .     60    30 
/,       £3  or  gB'  .  146    30 
a  or  cl  or  cl'   120    12 
cl  on  cl'  130      8 

c2  .  .  .  .            .  145    24 

c3  143    25 

,        c3  on  c3  122    15 

X 

-—  ^ 

S- 

x 

[/ 

It  occurs  in  the  Himmelsfurst  mine  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony, 
accompanying  sulphuret  of  silver,  blende,  carbonate  of  iron, 
and  galena;  occasionally  also  at  Kapnik  in  Transylvania. 

SlTLPHITRET  OF  SlLVER,  LEAD  AND  ANTIMONY.  —  M.  Wohler  has 

analyzed,  and  M.  Hausmann  has  given  a  mineralogical  description  of  a 
mineral  of  this  composition,  consisting  of  silver  22-93,  lead  30-27,  antimony 
27-38,  sulphur  18-74. —  Eerzelius'  Rapport  Annudfor  1840,  p.  122.  It 
crystallizes  in  six-sided  prisms  terminated  by  a  six-sided  plane,  or  by  two 
planes;  also  in  quadrangular  oblique  prisms,  the  inclination  of  the  sides  of 
which  is  91°  89',  and  of  which  two  of  the  opposite  edges  are  replaced  by 
faces  which  make  with  the  faces  of  the  inclined  plane  an  angle  of  146°. 
It  is  of  a  lead  or  steel-grey  color  ;  opake,  and  has  a  metallic  lustre.  The 
faces  of  cleavage  are  indistinct ;  its  fracture  imperfectly  conchoidal.  Spe- 
cific gravity,  6-194 ;  hardness,  by  Mohs'  scale,  between  2  and  25.  B  B, 
it  gives  the  reaction  of  sulphur,  of  antimony,  and  of  lead  and  silver. 

We  could  probably  regard  this  mineral  as  only  a  variety  of  the  preced- 
ing, in  which  lead  had  replaced  a  part  of  the  silver,  were  there  not  a  wide 


464  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

difference  in  the  crystalline  forms  of  the  two,  giving  to  each  a  specific  cha- 
racter. According  to  the  observation  of  Zinker,  the  Schilfglazerz  from 
Ratiborschitz,  in  Bohemia,  contains  bismuth. 

POLY13ASITE.* 

Kobell.    H.  Rose.     (Poggendorf's  rfnnalen,  xv.  575.)     Lunites  rhombohedrus,  D. 
Mexico.  Freyberg. 

Silver 6-1-^J 65-50 

Sulphur 17-04 19-40 

Antimony 5-09 0-00 

Arsenic 3-74 3-30 

Copper 9-9M 3-75 

Iron 0-OC 5-46 


100-15  H.  Rose.      97-41  Brandes. 

Formula  given  by  Dr.  Thomson  from  the  first  analysis  : 


Sp.  Gr.  62 14.      H.  =  2'0  —  30. 

Primary  form  a  Rhomboid. t  Occurs  in  tabular-shaped  six- 
sided  prisms.  The  planes  of  the  prism  are  striated  parallel  to 
its  base,  and  the  terminal  faces  parallel  to  the  sides  of  an 
inscribed  equilateral  triangle,  indicative  of  the  rhomboid  being 
its  primary  form.  Color  iron-black;  opake  ;  lustre  metallic: 
streak  black  ;  cleavage  not  observable ;  fracture  uneven  ;  sus- 
ceptible of  being  cut  with  a  knife.  From  Guanaxuato  in 
Mexico.  It  occurs  also  at  Guansamez  in  Durango,  with  calc- 
spar  and  copper  pyrites. 

RED   SILVER. 

Ruby  Silver.  Rhombohedral  Ruby  Blende,  M.  Rhomboidal  Ruby  Blende,  J.  Aerosite. 
Braardite.  Rotbgultigerz,  W.  Argent  Antimonie  Sulfure,  H.  Argent  Rouge,  Br.  Bt. 
Silber-blende,  Brcithaupt.  Argentum  Rubrum,  Linn.  Rubella  rhombohedra,  D. 

This  species  is  subdivided  into, 

1.  The  sulphuret  of  silver  and  antimony  (Argyrythrose,  Beu- 
dant.   Antimon  silber-blende,  Breit.    Argent  rouge  antimonie, 
NecJcer.)     Subsesquisulpho-antimoniate  of  Silver,  Thomson. 

2.  The  sulphuret  of  silver  and  arsenic  (Proustite,  Beudant. 
Arsen   silber-blende,    Breit haupt.       Argent   rouge    arsenic, 
Necker.)    Subsesqui-sulphoarseniate  of  Silver,  Thomson.    Ru- 
bella florida,  D. 

The  former  refers  to  the  dark-red  variety,  which  contains 

Andreasberg.  Mexico. 

Silver 58-94 60-2 

Antimony 22-84 21-8 

Sulphur 16-61 18-0 

98-49  Bonsdorff.      100-0  Wohler. 

The  latter  refers  to  the  light  red  variety,  of  which  the  follow- 
ing analyses  have  been  made. 

*  From  TTO\V$,  many,  and  §«Jt£,  a  base. 

t  According  to  Haidinger,  the  primary  form  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism  M  on  Bl'  111°  &. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS. 


465 


Joachimsthal. 

Silver 6467 

Arsenic 15-09 

Sulphur.... 19-51 
Antimony...  0-69 


Sulphuret  of  silver 74-35 

Sulphuret  of  arsenic 25-00 


99-35  Proust. 


99-96  H.  Rose. 


These  two  varieties  also  differ  considerably  in  specific  gravi- 
ty, the  light-red  seldom  exceeding  5'4  —  5*6,  while  that  of  the 
dark-red  amounts  to  5-8  —  5'9.  They  however  correspond  so 
entirely  in  their  crystalline  form,  and,  with  the  above  excep- 
tion, so  perfect  an  analogy  exists  in  all  their  physical  charac- 
ters, that  mineralogists  do  not  generally  concur  in  separating 
them  into  distinct  species.  They  have  not  been  separated  by 
Mohs  or  Brooke.  The  chemical  formula  given  by  Bonsdorff, 
answering  to  his  own  analysis,  is  3AgSl2+2StSl3.  Rammels- 
berg  includes  the  analysis  by  Rose  under  the  same  species,  and, 
supposing  the  isomorphic  replacement  of  the  antimony  by  the 
arsenic,  gives  a  formula  which  includes  both  varieties. 

It  occurs  crystallized  in  a  great  variety  of  forms,  also  den- 
dritic, massive,  and  micaceous ;  structure  lamellar ;  mechani- 
cally divisible  into  an  obtuse  rhomboid  of  108°  30'  and  71°  30', 
—  the  primary  form,  —  but  its  extreme  brittleness  renders  this 
difficult. 


Primary. 


The  above  figure  represents  a  crystal  in  the  possession  of  H.  J.  Brooke, 
Esq.    This  crystal,  perhaps  one  of  the  most  complex  that  has  been  observed, 


d'2on 

d5  on 
do  on 

b  .  . 
dl  or 
d2  or 
i4  or 
/3or 
/4  or 
o  or 
d2  . 
d2>  . 
r?5 

P'  on  dl' 

d2' 

74'    . 

13'  . 

/4'  . 

oi 

.  172 
.   164 
.  167 
.  141 
.  163 
.  158 
.  126 
.  164 
132 

Oc. 
15 
43 
50 
0 
22 
10 
50 
55 
Oc. 
0 

j  ?3  on 
i'4  on 
!/l  on 
i/2on 
/2on 
/3  on 
/4on 
15  on 
g.  o  on  ( 
i 

g    
?3 

.   168 
.   lol 

/4     , 

.   .   134 

/2  , 

,   .   178 

/3 

.   179 

12  

,   .   148 

/3  

.   153 
.   141 

/4 

/5      . 

173 

.   155 
.   125 

9  or  o1  

.  .  120 

do', 

466  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

tends  to  confirm  the  observation  already  annexed  to  the  rhomboid al  figure 
accompanying  the  notice  of  calcareous  spar,  viz.  that  the  modifications  to 
which  the  rhomboid  is  liable,  are  almost  endless.  The  planes  b  of  the  above 
figure  tend,  by  their  extension,  to  produce  a  rhomboid  more  obtuse  than 
the  primary,  the  planes  g to  acute  rhomboids:  the  planes  dl,  2,  3,  4,  and  5, 
to  the  production  of  obtuse  dodecahedrons  ;  all  the  planes  i  and  /  to  acute 
dodecahedrons  :  o  o  and  ff  to  regular  six-sided  prisms. 

157°  20' 

10 
15 
40 
50 
0 

32 
17 
20 
30 
0 

It  varies  by  reflected  light  from  lead-grey  to  iron-black,  by 
transmitted  light  from  brilliant  to  dark  red  ;  semi-transparent 
or  opake ;  lustre  imperfect-metallic  in  dark-colored  varieties, 
adamantine  in  such  as  are  light;  streak  different  shades  of 
cochirieal-red,  according  to  the  color;  cross  fracture  conchoi- 
dal,  with  a  shining  lustre;  sectile,  yielding  readily  to  the  knife. 
B  B  on  charcoal  it  first  decrepitates,  fuses,  emits  fumes  of  sul- 
phur and  antimony,  and  ultimately  leaves  a  globule  of  silver. 
Soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid. 

This  very  beautiful  mineral  is  confined  to  a  small  number  of 
localities,  though  in  some  of  them  it  is  of  pretty  frequent  occur- 
rence. The  light-red  varieties,  which  exhibit  by  transmitted 
light  the  most  splendid  cochineal  hues,  are  met  with  principally 
in  the  Saxon  and  Bohemian  mining  districts  of  the  Erzgebirge, 
particularly  at  Marienberg,  Annaberg,  and  Johanngeorgenstadt, 
in  Saxony,  and  at  Joachimsthal  in  Bohemia,  usually  associated 
with  other  ores  of  silver,  galena,  blende,  pyrites,  and  arsenic ; 
while  the  dark-red  ones  occur  chiefly  with  calcareous  spar, 
native  arsenic,  and  galena,  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz. 
Freyberg  in  Saxony,  Schemnitz  and  Nagybanya  in  Hungary, 
Guadalcanal  in  Spain,  Kongsberg  in  Norway,  and  St.  Marie  aux 
Mines  in  France,  are  also  well-known  localities  of  this  species. 

It  was  formerly  found  at  Huel  Duchy  in  Cornwall ;  and 
from  the  produce  of  some  of  the  Mexican  mines,  vast  quanti- 
ties of  the  precious  metal  have  been  obtained.  Red  silver, 
from  its  color,  may  sometimes  be  mistaken  for  red  orpiment. ; 
but  the  yellow  streak  of  the  latter  is  sufficiently  characteristic, 
and  its  specific  gravity  is  also  lower.  Cinnabar  volatilizes  B  B, 
whilst  red  silver  forms  a  metallic  globule.  As  an  ore,  it  has 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  467 

been  observed  that  the  dark  yield  a  larger  proportion  of  silver 
than  the  light  varieties,  but  both  of  them  are  highly  valuable  to 
the  smelter. 

MIARGYRITE.* 

Hemi  Prismatic  Ruby-Blende,  M.     Miargyrite,  Prof.  H.  Rose.    Bisulpho-antimoniate  of 
Silver,  Thomson.      Rubella  obliqua,  D. 

Combination  of  silver,  antimony,  and  sulphur,  in  proportions 
different  from  those  of  the  preceding  species. 

Braunsdorff. 

Silver 36-40 

Antimony 39-14 

Sulphur 21-95 

Copper 1-06 

Iron 0-62 


99-17  H.  Rose. 

The  formula  from  this  analysis,  as  given  by  Rammelsberg, 

is  AgSb.     This  requires  35'66  Ag,  42  79  St,  21-35  SI. 
Sp.  Gr.  52  —  54.     H.  =  2  — -  2  5. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  93°  56',  and  86° 
4',  and  whose  base  is  inclined  to  its  axis  at  an  angle  of  101°  6'. 
Imperfectly  cleavable  in  the  direction  of  the  larger  diagonal  of 
the  base.  Color  iron-black;  opake,  except  when  viewed  by 
transmitted  light,  in  which  case  thin  fragments  present  a  deep 
blood-red  hue ;  lustre  intermediate  between  metallic  and  ada- 
mantine; streak  dark  cherry-red;  fracture  imperfect  conchoi- 
dal ;  surfaces  of  the  crystals  deeply  striated  ;  very  sectile.  B  B, 
alone  on  charcoal  it  fuses  with  abundant  white  vapors,  which 
have  occasionally  a  slight  alliaceous  odor,  leaving  a  globule  of 
silver.  It  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  with  an  immediate  white 
antimonial  precipitate. 

This  very  rare  mineral  used  to  be  comprised  among  the 
varieties  of  dark-red  silver,  until  distinguished  by  reason  of  its 
form,  and  described  by  Mohs.  It  occurs  with  argentiferous 
arsenical  pyrites,  in  one  of  the  mines  of  Braunsdorff,  near  Frey- 
berg  in  Saxony. 

STROMEYERITE. 

Sulphuret  of  Silver  and  Copper.  Argent  etCuivre  Sulfure,  Bournon.  Silberkupferglanz, 
Stromeyer.  Stromeyeiine,  Beudant.  Argentiferous  Copper  Glance,  J.  Argentiferous 
Sulphuret  of  Copper,  A.  Cuivre  Sulfure  Argentifere,  Levy.  Sulpho-cuprite  of  Silver, 
Thomson.  Lunites  Cupricus,  D. 

This  mineral  consists  of  copper,  silver  and  sulphur,  in  the 
following  proportions : 

*  From  instwv,  less,  and  aoyrQogy  silver,  because  it  contains  less  silver  than  some  of 
the  analogous  ores. 


468  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Schlangenberg.          Atoms. 

Copper 30-473 7-62 

Silver .52-272 3-80 

Sulphur 15-782 7-84 

Iron 0-333 0-00 

98-8G5  Stromeyer. 

The  atoms  of  copper  are  twice  as  numerous  as  those  of  sil- 
ver, and  it  is  thus  obvious  that  the  mineral  is  composed  of  one 
atom  sulphuret  of  silver,  two  atoms  disulphuret  of  copper. 
Formula:  AgSl+2Cp2Sl. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-25.     H.  =  30  —  4'0. 

Crystalline  form  unknown.  Occurs  compact ;  color  steel- 
grey,  with  a  metallic  lustre  ;  the  surface  produced  by  fracture 
being  brilliant,  granular,  and  partially  conchoidal ;  very  brittle, 
and  readily  fusible  B  B,  emitting  sulphuric  acid  fumes,  and 
forming  a  grey  globule  with  a  metallic  lustre.  With  the  fluxes 
it  exhibits  the  re-action  of  copper,  and  on  the  cupola  yields  a 
large  globule  of  silver. 

It  occurs  associated  with  copper  pyrites,  calcareous  spar, 
and  hornblende,  at  Schlangenberg  near  Colivan  in  Siberia.  It 
is  a  very  rare  mineral,  and  was  first  examined  and  recognised 
as  a  peculiar  species,  by  Stromeyer,  from  specimens  in  the 
museum  of  Gottingen. 

BISMUTHIC   SILVER. 

Wismuth  Silbererz,  Selb.    Bismuthic  Silver,  J.  A.     Bismuth  SulfurePlumbo-Argentifcre. 
Levy.     Bismutum  Argenticum,  D. 

Consists  of  bismuth  27'0,  lead  33'0,  silver  15'0,  iron  4'3, 
copper  0'9,  sulphur  16'3  —  Klaproth.  No  formula  given  by 
Rammelsberg,  and  the  mineral  seems  to  have  been  but  once 
analyzed.  The  specimen  analyzed  was  probably  a  mere  mixture. 

Of  a  light  lead-grey  color,  but  subject  to  tarnish  on  exposure. 
It  occurs  disseminated  or  in  amorphous  masses,  rarely  acicu- 
lar ;  fracture  fine-grained  and  uneven,  with  a  glistening  metallic 
lustre  ;  it  is  soft,  sectile,  and  somewhat  brittle  ;  opake.  B  B, 
it  fuses  readily  into  a  silver  button,  at  same  time  covering  the 
charcoal  with  an  areola  of  the  oxides  of  lead  and  bismuth. 

It  accompanies  pyrites  and  galena  at  Schapbach  in  the  val- 
ley of  Kinzig,  Baden. 

SELENIURET  OF   SILVER. 

Selen-sillier.    Seleniure  d'  Argent,  Bcudant.    Seleniet  of  Silver,  Thomson. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  and  analyzed  by  Prof.  G. 
Rose.*  Its  constituents  are:  silver  65'56,  lead*  4*91,  sele- 
nium 29'53. 

*Poggendorf's  Annalen,  xiv.  471. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  469 

The  constitution,   as  given  by  Rammelsberg,  is  one  atom 
silver,  and  one  atom  selenium,  or  AgSel. 
Sp.  Gr.  8-0.     H.  =  2-5. 

Occurs  in  very  thin  veins  traversing  seleniuret  of  lead,  at 
Tilkerode  in  the  Hartz,  from  which  mineral  it  is  distinguished 
by  its  being  of  a  darker  hue.  Possesses  three  cleavages  per- 
pendicular to  one  another. 

Color  iron-black ;  streak  unaltered  ;  lustre  metallic,  splen- 
dent ;  opake.  Structure  foliated.  It  exhibits  three  cleavages 
perpendicular  to  each  other,  so  that  its  primary  form  is  the 
Cube.  The  thin-plates  are  covered  with  a  brass-yellow  metallic 
substance,  which  seems  to  be  copper  pyrites.  Malleable,  but 
not  so  much  so  as  sulphuret  of  silver.  When  heated  in  a  glass 
tube  it  melts,  and  gives  off  a  small  sublimate,  consisting  partly 
of  selenium  and  partly  of  selenic  acid.  It  gives  out  a  strong 
smell  of  selenium.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  melts  silently  in  the 
exterior  flame,  with  frothing  in  the  interior  flame.  It  glows, 
on  cooling,  almost  as  distinctly  as  magnetic  pyrites.  With 
carbonate  of  soda  on  charcoal  it  is  reduced.  The  globule  is 
shining  as  long  as  it  is  hot,  but  on  cooling  becomes  covered 
with  a  black  coating;  if  borax  be  added,  it  retains  the  metallic 
lustre  after  cooling.  It  is  silver-white,  very  malleable,  and 
behaves  like  pure  silver.  Very  soluble  in  smoking  nitric  acid, 
but  it  dissolves  with  difficulty  in  dilute  nitric  acid. 


EUKAIRITE/ 

Seleniuret  of  Silver  and  Copper.     Selen  Kupfersilber,  L.     Cuivre  Seleni6  Argental,  H. 
Pelenio-cuprate  of  Silver,  Thomson.    Lunites  Selenicus,  D. 

It  is  a  compound  of  seleniuret  of  silver  arid  copper : 

Atoms. 

Selenium 26-00 5-2  . . .  .1-84 

Copper 23-05 5-61. . .  .1-98 

Silver 38  93 2-83. . . .  1-00 

Earthy  matter 8-90 

96-88  Berzelius. 

These  numbers  give  very  nearly  two  atoms  selenium,  two 
atoms  copper,  one  atom  silver  ;  or  one  atom  disileniuret  of 
copper,  one  atom  seleniuret  of  silver.  Formula,  according  to 
Berzelius:  Cp2Sel-hAgSel. 

Color  shining  lead-grey,  texture  granular ;  massive ;  dis- 
posed in  thin  superficial-  black  metallic  films,  staining  the  cal- 
careous spar  in  which  it  is  contained.  B  B,  it  exhales  a  strong 
odor  of  selenium,  and  on  charcoal  fuses  readily  into  a  grey 

*  Eukairite,  from  the  Greek,  signifying  opportune  ;    in  allusion  to  its  discovery  just  as 
Berzelius  had  completed  his  examination  of  selenium. 

40 


470  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

metallic  globule,  which  is  not  malleable.  To  borax  or  salt  of 
phosphorus,  it  imparts  a  green  color  in  the  oxidating  flame, 
becomes  colorless  in  the  reducing  one,  and  on  hardening  ap- 
pears opake  and  of  a  cinnabar-red  hue.  Is  soluble  in  heated 
nitric  acid,  and  when  cold  water  is  added  to  the  solution  it 
forms  a  white  precipitate. 

This  extremely  rare  mineral  was  discovered  and  analyzed  by 
Berzelius.  It  occurs  in  a  copper  mine  at  Skrickerum  in 
Smaland,  Sweden,  with  carbonate  of  lime,  serpentine,  seleni- 
uret  of  copper,  and  copper  pyrites. 


IODIDE    OF    SILVER. 

lodic  Silver.     lodure  d'Argent,  Necker.     lod-Silber,  Leonhard.     Ccratus  foliatus,  D. 

It  contains  silver,  lead,  iron,  iodine,  and  sulphur;  but  the 
proportions  do  not  appear  to  have  been  accurately  determined. 
H.  about  1-0. 

Occurs  massive,  in  thin  plates  of  a  greyish-white  or  silver- 
white  color,  which  change  to  lavender-blue  on  exposure  to  the 
air.  Transparent  or  translucent;  lustre  resinous,  passing  into 
adamantine  ;  malleable  and  flexible  in  thin  lamina? ;  streak 
semi-metallic.  Soluble  in  heated  muriatic  acid,  which  it  colors 
reddish-brown,  disengaging,  after  a  short  time,  violet-colored 
vapors.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  instantly  melts,  and  produces  a 
smoke  which  tinges  the  flame  of  a  beautiful  violet-hue,  globules 
of  silver  at  the  same  time  appearing  on  the  charcoal. 

It  is  found  at  Albarradon  near  Mazapil  in  Mexico,  and  forms 
thin  veins  in  steatite.  It  was  first  discovered  by  Vauquelin. 

BROMIDE   OF   SILVER. 

M.  Bcrthier.     (Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.  1841.)    (Jinn,  des  Mine.*,  xix.  734,  1841.) 

This  mineral,  supposed  to  be  chloride  of  silver,  was  sent  to 
Berthier,  by  M.  Duport,  from  Mexico.  The  specimens  de- 
scribed were  from  San  Onofe,  in  the  district  of  Plateros,  where 
it  forms  small  olive-green  or  yellowish  crystals  mixed  with  the 
common  silver  ore,  and  is  also  frequently  in  fine  cubic  and 
octahedral  crystals,  occupying  the  cavities  of  the  ore.  They 
are  brilliant  and  have  the  appearance  of  chloride  of  silver. 
Contain  silver  57'56,  bromine  42  44  ;  or  one  atom  of  each 
element.  Formula:  AgBm. 

The  same  mineral  has  also  been  found  by  Berthier  among 
the  silver  ores  from  Huelgoet  in  Brittany,  where  it  presents 
precisely  the  same  external  characters  with  the  Mexican  variety, 
and  is  also  accompanied  by  chloride  of  silver,  as  at  that  locality. 
The  two  substances  are  not  intimately  blended.  It  is  compara- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  471 

lively  rare  at  Huelgoeth.  More  recently  it  has  been  brought 
from  the  department  of  Copiapo,  province  of  Coquimbo,  in 
Chili,  and  in  a  fibrous  form,  consisting  apparently  of  elongated 
prismatic  crystals  not  very  firmly  cohering.  We  are  yet  with- 
out a  full  description  of  this  rare  mineral. 


CARBONATE   OF    SILVER. 

Argent  Carbonate,  H.      Grey  Silver  Ore,  J. 

Consists  of  silver  72*5,  carbonic  acid  12,  oxide  of  antimony 
and  a  trace  of  copper  15'5  —  Sdb.  It  is  doubtful  whether 
the  carbonic  acid  is  really  combined  with  oxide  of  silver. 

It  is  of  a  greyish  color,  passing  into  iron-black  ;  it  occurs 
massive  and  disseminated ;  the  fracture  is  fine-grained  and 
somewhat  uneven,  with  a  glistening  metallic  lustre  ;  it  is  soft, 
brittle,  and  heavy.  It  is  almost  instantaneously  reduced  B  B  ; 
and  effervesces  with  nitrous  acid. 

This  species  was  observed  many  years  ago  by  M.  Selb,  in 
veins  traversing  granite  in  a  mine  at  Altwolfach,  in  the  Black 
Forest,  accompanying  native  silver,  sulphuret  of  silver,  and 
barytes  ;  but  not  having  again  occurred,  its  properties  are  in- 
distinctly defined.  It  has  since  been  found  at  Real  de  Catorce 
in  Mexico. 


CHLORIDE    OF    SILVER. 

Muriate  of  Silver.  Horn  Silver.  Hornerz,  W.  Argent  Muriate,  H.  Bt.  La  Mine 
Corne,  Br.  Corneous  Silver,  J.  Hexahedral  Pearl  Kerate,  M.  Chlorsilber,  Berzelius. 
Chloride  of  Silver,  A.  Ceratus  cubicus,  D. 

Combination  of  chlorine  and  silver. 

Saxony.  Peru. 

Silver 67-75 76-0 

Chlorine 21-50 24-0 

Oxide  of  iron 6-00 0-0 

Alumina 1-75 0-0 

Sulphuric  acid 0-25 0-0 

103-25  Klaproth.  100-0  Klaproth. 

The  first  was  an  impure  specimen  ;  but  the  second  answers 
almost  exactly  to  one  atom  chlorine,  and  ono  atom  silver. 
Formula  :  AgChl. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-75—555. 

Primary  form  the  Cube,  occurring  with  edges  and  solid 
angles  replaced  ;  sometimes  in  perfect  octahedrons.  Of  a 
pearl-grey,  greenish,  or  reddish-blue,  but  commonly  tarnished 
externally  of  a  brown  color  ;  it  occurs  massive,  also  investing 
other  substances,  and  crystallized  in  small  cubes  and  acicular 
prisms  ;  feebly  translucent  or  opake,  with  a  glistening  or  waxy 
lustre;  yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  nail,  and  is  malleable  and 
sectile ;  cleavage  none  ;  fracture  conchoidal.  It  is  fusible  in 


472  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

the  flame  of  a  candle.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  is  reducible  to  a 
metallic  globule,  emitting  at  the  same  time  vapors  of  muriatic 
acid  ;  when  rubbed  with  a  piece  of  moistened  zinc,  the  surface 
becomes  covered  with  a  thin  film  of  metallic  silver.  Insoluble 
in  nitric  acid. 

It  occurs  in  veins  chiefly  in  primitive  rocks,  with  some  of 
the  other  ores  of  silver.  The  largest  masses,  and  particularly 
those  of  a  green  color,  are  brought  from  Peru  and  Mexico.  It 
used  to  be  found  in  considerable  quantities  in  the  Saxon  min- 
ing districts  of  Freyberg  and  Johanngeorgenstadt,  but  it  is  now 
very  scarce.  It  also  occurs  in  Siberia,  in  Cornwall,  and  at 
Huelgoet  in  Brittany.  Fine  masses  were  noticed  by  Mr. 
Blake,  at  the  mines  of  Chinasilla  in  Chili,  and  at  those  of 
Guantayja  and  Santa  Rosa  in  Peru. 

BUTTERMILK  SILVER.  —  Buttermilch  silber,  W.  Earthy  corneous 
silver,  J.  Silver  24-64,  muriatic  acid  8-28,  alumina  67-08.  —  Klaproth. 
This  is  considered  an  earthy  variety  of  the  above  species.  It  is  commonly 
found  massive,  and  investing  other  substances  ;  is  opake,and  dull,  with  an 
earthy  fracture,  and  is  soft,  sectile,  and  heavy.  It  occurs  only  at  An- 
dreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  in  veins  traversing  transition  rocks. 


GANSEKOTHIG-ERZ.* 

Chcnocopsolite.      Arealus  Argentiferus,  D. 

An  arseniate  of  silver  and  iron. 
H.  =  20  —  30. 

In  irregularly  mammillated  translucent  masses  of  a  yellow  or 
pale-green  color.  Shining,  with  white  streak,  resinous  lustre, 
and  conchoidal  fracture ;  sometimes  earthy,  and  mixed  with 
cobalt.  B  B,  it  emits  copious  arsenical  fumes,  and  fuses  into  a 
blackish  scoria ;  when  the  heat  is  continued,  on  charcoal,  it 
melts,  diminishes  in  bulk,  and  yields  a  button  of  silver,  but  the 
slag  contains  metallic  iron,  which  strongly  affects  the  magnet. 

It  occurs  principally  at  the  mines  of  Clausthal  in  the  Hartz, 
where,  when  obtained  in  sufficient  quantity,  it  is  highly  prized 
as  an  ore  of  silver.  It  is  also  met  with  in  Cornwall,  and  at 
Allemont  in  Dauphine.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

NATIVE   COPPER. 

Octahedral  Copper,   M.  and   J.      Gediegen    Kupfer,  W.     Cuivre  Natif,  H.      Cuprum 
octahedrum,D. 

Consists  of  99'8  pure  copper,  with  a  trace  of  gold  and  iron  — 
John.  Symbol  :  Cp. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-5  —  8-9.     II.  =2-5  — 3-0. 

Color  reddish-yellow,  frequently  with  a  tinge  of  brown  ;  often 
tarnished  externally  blackish.  Occurs  crystallized  in  the  Cube 
and  octahedron,  the  former  of  which  is  adopted  as  its  primary 

*  So  named,  in  allusion  to  its  resembling  in  color  the  exciements  of  geese» 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS 


473 


form  ;  often  in  macles;  also  capillary,  dendritic,  in  thin  plates 
filling  crevices,  and  massive;  no  regular  structure ;  tough, 
malleable,  flexible,  and  sectile.  B  B,  it  fuses  into  a  bead  of 
apparently  pure  copper.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid,  which  it  colors 
green ;  and  in  ammonia,  to  which  it  gives  a  fine  blue  tinge. 
Isolated  and  rubbed,  it  acquires  vitreous  electricity.  Fusible 
at  27°  Wedgewood. 


Fig.  1,  a  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  the  solid  angles  are  replaced 
by  triangular  planes,  which  in  fig.  3  are  so  greatly  enlarged  as  to  have 
become  six-sided,  reducing  the  planes  of  the  cube  to  small  quadrangles. 
The  triangular  planes  of  fig.  2  are  complete  in  fig.  4;  —  the  regular  octa- 
hedron. Fig.  5,  an  octahedron  of  which  the  edges  are  replaced,  forming  a 
passage  of  that  solid  into  the  rhombic  dodecahedron,  fig.  6,  in  which  the 
planes  replacing  the  edges  of  fig.  5  are  complete. 


P  on  P  or  P  

90°  0'  H. 

P  P  or  P  on  a'  or  a  . 

.  125  15  — 

-IOK     /) 

.  .  109  28  — 

.120   0  — 

\a 


The  most  splendid  crystalline  varieties  of  native  copper  are 
those  of  Siberia,  and  the  island  of  Nalsoe  in  Faroe,  where  it 
accompanies  fibrous  mesotype  in  amygdaloidal  trap.  Some 
very  singular  crystallizations,  produced  by  the  elongation  of 
the  simple  individual,  occur  at  Moldawa  in  the  Bannat,  at 
Chessy  in  France,  Herrengrund  in  Hungary,  and  elsewhere. 
Cornwall,  however,  is  certainly  the  greatest  depository  of  na- 
tive copper;  and  many  of  the  mines  near  Redruth,  the  Con- 
40* 


474  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

solidated  Mines,  Wheal  Buller,  and  some  others,  afford  it  in 
considerable  quantities.  Its  crystals  are  rarely  regular,  their 
faces  being  disproportionately  enlarged,  and  they  are  generally 
grouped  in  branches  formed  by  the  union  of  these  crystals  in 
rows,  in  a  manner  analogous  to  the  crystalline  structure  of 
native  silver.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

Native  copper  is  common  to  the  mines  of  South  America,  as 
in  the  Cordilleras  of  Atacama  and  in  Chili,  where  masses 
weighing  several  hundred  pounds  have  been  obtained.  Large 
and  very  beautiful  crystals  of  native  copper  have  been  brought 
from  some  of  these  mines,  particularly  from  Coquimbo.  Ex- 
tensive mines  of  copper  are  now  explored  in  the  island  of  Cuba, 
the  ores  of  which  are  exported  to  Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  At  Gibara,  and  between  Neuvitas  and  Principe,  these 
mines  are  found  principally  in  serpentine. 

In  Nova  Scotia,  native  copper  occurs  in  thin  seams  and  mi- 
nute filaments  in  the  trap  rocks,  generally  with  quartz,  but 
sometimes  with  zeolites.  Cape  D'Or  is  the  principal  locality, 
where  detached  masses  have  been  obtained  of  twenty  pounds 
in  weight.  As  the  sandstone  on  which  these  trap  rocks  rest, 
contains  beds  of  vitreous  copper,  it  seems  probable  that  the 
igneous  rock,  when  forced  up,  carried  with  it  portions  of  the 
ore,  which  were  thus  reduced  to  the  metallic  state. 

According  to  Prof.  Silliman,  a  mass  of  native  copper,  weigh- 
ing about  ninety  pounds,  was  found  many  years  since,  on  the 
Hamden  Hills,  near  New  Haven.  It  adhered  to  the  surface  of 
the  rock  on  which  it  rested,  and  even  penetrated  its  fissures ; 
and  more  recently  a  mass  weighing  about  six  pounds,  was 
found  in  the  same  neighborhood.  This  exhibits  rudiments  of 
large  octahedral  crystals  of  copper  on  its  surface,  which  is 
partly  encrusted  by  green  carbonate  of  copper ;  its  cavities 
containing  the  red  oxide.  They  are  both  supposed  to  have 
been  derived  from  the  trap  rocks.  Native  copper  occurs 
also  in  detached  masses  in  Michigan,  Illinois,  Missouri,  and 
the  territory  of  Iowa.  One  or  two  fragments  have  been  no- 
ticed by  Prof.  Hitchcock  in  Massachusetts.  The  sandstone 
and  trap  formation  in  Massachusetts  and  New  Jersey,  as 
well  as  in  Connecticut,  present  it  in  irregular  veins,  and 
sometimes  in  finely  crystallized  masses.  Very  recently,  it 
has  been  found  by  Dr.  Jackson,  in  small  quantities,  accom- 
panying tin,  in  New  Hampshire.  According  to  Dr.  Beck, 
nearly  pure  native  copper  is  frequently  observed  in  the  sand- 
stone of  New  Jersey  in  the  form  of  thin  sheets,  which  closely 
resemble  the  copper  of  cementation  ;  but  it  would  appear  from 
the  observations  of  Prof.  Rogers,  that  copper  and  its  ores 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  475 

do  not  occur  in  any  instance  in  the  shape  of  true  veins  in  New 
Jersey.  The  mining  has  therefore  been  very  precarious,  and 
has  never  proved  a  source  of  profit.*  More  success  is  promised 
from  the  exploration  of  the  mines  of  Michigan,  which,  accord- 
ing to  Dr.  Houghton,  extend  over  a  district  of  a  hundred  and 
thirty  miles  in  length,  and  closely  resemble,  in  the  character 
and  contents  of  the  veins,  the  noted  mines  of  Cornwall. t 
They  occur  in  slate,  conglomerate,  and  trap  rocks.  The 
mass  of  native  copper,  recently  brought  from  the  Ontonagon 
River,  near  Lake  Superior,  by  order  of  the  Secretary  of  War 
of  the  United  States,  weighs  between  three  and  four  thousand 
pounds,  is  four  and  a  half  feet  in  length,  and  about  two  feet 
thick.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  bowlder  long  since  detached 
from  its  native  bed,  and  the  fragments  of  rock  now  adhering  to 
it,  seem  to  show  that  it  was  once  connected  with  serpentine. 
This  is  the  most  extraordinary  mass  of  copper  of  which  we 
have  any  knowledge ;  and  according  to  Mr.  Schoolcraft  it  has 
been  a  subject  of  historical  notoriety  for  upwards  of  one  hun- 
dred and  eighty  years.  It  is  now  deposited  in  the  museum  of 
the  National  Institute,  Washington.  The  native  copper  from 
Keween  Point,  on  Lake  Superior,  is  found  exclusively  in  the 
amygdaloid  and  greenstone  of  the  trap  formation. 

SULPHURET   OF   COPPER. 

Vitreous  Copper.     Kupfer  Glanz,  W.     Cuivre  Sulfure,  H.  Bt,     Cuivre  Vitreux,  Br. 
Copper  Glance,  J.    Prismatic  Copper  Glance,  M.     Cyprites  rhombicus,  D. 

Combination  of  copper  and  sulphur. 

Siberia.  Cornwall.  Siegensehen.        Nova  Scotia. 

Copper 78-50 77-16 79-50 79-5 

Sulphur 18-50 20-62 19-00 18-0 

Iron 2-25 1-45 0-75 2-5 

Silica 0-75 0-00 1-00 0-0 

>C.  T.  Jack- 

100-00  Klaproth.     99-23  Thomson.   100-25  Ullman.      100-0  j     son.J 

Each  of  these  analyses  approaches  very  nearly  to  one  atom 
sulphur,  and  two  atoms  copper.  The  mean  of  the  whole  is 
19'66  At.  copper,  9'52  At.  sulphur.  It  is  therefore  a  disulphu- 
ret,  its  formula  being  Cp2Sl. 

Sp.  Or.  5-69  —  5-8.     H.  =  2'5  —  3-0. 

Color  lead-  or  iron-grey,  often  tarnished  black,  and  occasion- 
ally iridescent.  According  to  Haiiy  and  Levy,  the  primary 
form  is  a  Regular  hexagonal  prism,  in  which,  either  perfect  or 
modified  on  its  lateral  and  terminal  edges,  it  usually  occurs. 
The  prisms  are  of  various  length,  and  the  replacements  on  the 

*  Report  on  the  Geology  of  New  Jersey,  p.  159,  by  Henry  D.  Rogers, 
f  Fourth  Annual  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Michigan,  p.  77,  by  Douglass  Houghton. 
J  Mineralogy  and  Geology  of  Nova  Scotia,  by  Messrs.  Jackson  and  Alger,  p.  76.    Also 
Am,  Journ.  of  Science,  xv.  154. 


476 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


terminal  planes,  give  rise  to  acute  and  obtuse  double  six-sided 
pyramids,  which  also  occur  complete.  All  the  solid  angles  of 
the  prism  may  be  removed  by  a  knife,  so  as  to  produce  a  double 
six-sided  pyramid  with  brilliant  planes,  the  incidence  of  an 
upper  on  the  adjacent  plane  of  the  lower  pyramid,  being  about 
147°  30'.  But,  according  to  Brooke,  the  primary  form  of  this 
species  is  a  Rhomboid,  P  P"— 71°  30'  very  nearly  ;  the  cleavage 
being  parallel  to  the  hexagonal  pyramids  corresponding  to  the 
primary  plane.*  It  is  occasionally  in  pseudomorphous  crystals. 
Structure  perfectly  lamellar;  fracture  often  conchoidal,  with  a 
vitreous  lustre;  the  massive  varies  greatly  in  respect  of  hard- 
ness and  color  ;  it  is  sometimes  sectile  and  soft.  B  B,  on  char- 
coal, it  disengages  the  odor  of  sulphurous  acid  ;  in  the  oxida- 
ting flame  it  fuses  readily;  in  the  reducing  it  emits  sparks; 
and  when  the  sulphur  is  wholly  driven  off,  it  yields  a  bead  of 
copper.  In  ammonia  it  forms  a  blue  solution.  In  heated  nitric 
acid  the  copper  is  dissolved,  and  the  solution  assumes  a  green 
color,  but  the  sulphur  remains. 

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6. 


Fig  1,  the  most  simple  of  its  forms;  a  six-sided  prism.  Fig.  2,  the 
same,  of  which  the  terminal  edges  are  replaced  by  planes  tending  to  obtuse 
six-sid^d  pyramids;  \vhich  are  complete  in  fig.  3,  a  flat  six-sided  pyramid. 
Fig.  4,  a  six-sided  pi  ism  of  which  the  terminal  edges  are  replaced  by  planes 
tending  to  acute  six-sided  pyramids  ;  which  are  complete  in  fig.  5.  Fig. 
6  represents  a  crystal  consisting  of  portions  of  the  planes  of  the  acute 
pyramid,  fig.  5,  terminated  by  the  obtuse  pyramidal  planes  of  fig.  3. 


a  on  bl  or  cl 146°  30' 

J2  or  e2 137  40 

63  or  c3 135  30 

&4or  g 116  40 

e,  e>  or  e" 90  00 

p  or p' 130  00 e. 

e  on  e'  or  e" 120  00 

c  or  ef  on  o< 150  00 

e  on  I  or  e'  on  /'   .  .  168  34 


The  sulphuret  is  met  with  in  veins  and  beds  accompanying 
other  ores  of  copper,  and  is  highly  prized  by  the  miner.  The 
crystallized  varieties  occur  abundantly,  and  almost  exclusively, 
in  the  mines  of  Cornwall,  and  particularly  in  those  near  Red- 
ruth;  while  the  more  compact  and  massive  are  found  also  in 


*  Article  Mineralogy,  Encyclopaedia  Metropolitan,  p.  488. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  477 

Siberia,  Hessia,  Saxony,  and  the  Bannat.  In  Nova  Scotia,  it 
forms  beds  in  red  sandstone,  interstratified  with  bituminous 
coal  and  lignite,  at  Carriboo  river,  near  Pictou. 

In  the  United  States,  it  occurs  in  red  sandstone  at  the 
Schuyler  mine,  N.  J.,  and  at  Simsbury  and  Cheshire,  Conn. 
It  is  found  in  small  quantities  in  Columbia  and  Dutchess 
counties,  N.  Y. ;  also  in  Orange  county,  Va.  Specimens  from 
Bellamy's  mine,  Cheshire,  Conn.,  according  to  Shepard,  are 
finely  crystallized.  At  the  lead  mines  of  Wisconsin  and  Mis- 
souri, it  forms  an  article  of  commercial  value,  and  is  smelted 
to  a  considerable  extent. 

The  argent  en  epis,  or  cuivre  spiciforme  of  Haiiy,  from 
Frankenberg  in  Hessia,  is  supposed  to  be  vegetable  matter 
impregnated  with  black  sulphuret  of  copper. 

Vitreous  copper  is  readily  distinguished  from  either  bour- 
nonite  or  fahlerz  by  its  comportment  B  B,  and  the  green  solu- 
tion it  produces  with  nitric  acid  ;  and  from  red  silver  ore  by 
the  color  of  its  streak,  which  resembles  that  of  the  mineral, 
while  red  silver  presents  a  fine  cochineal  red.  —  Allan's  Man. 

VARIEGATED  VITREOUS  COPPER.  Cuivre  sulfure  hepatique,  H. 
Color  that  of  tempered  steel,  violet-blue,  greenish,  and  yellow.  It  seems 
to  arise  from  an  intimate  mixture  of  the  vitreous  and  yellow  copper ;  both 
of  which  generally  appear  distinctly  in  the  same  specimen.  It  occurs  in 
most  of  the  mines  of  Cornwall  in  which  vitreous  copper  is  found. 


INDIGO   COPPER. 

Kupferindig.    Blue  Copper.    Covelline. 

This  mineral  contains  by  the  analysis  of  Walchner,  copper 
64-77,   sulphur  32*64,  iron  0'46,  lead  1'04.     The  atoms  of 
copper  are  16'19,  and  the  atoms  of  sulphur  16  32,  showing 
the  mineral  to  be  a  simple  sulphuret.     Formula  :  CpSl. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-8  —  3-82.     H.  about  2'0. 

Occurs  in  spheroidal  masses,  presenting  superficial  indica- 
tions of  crystallization.  Color  indigo-blue  or  darker  ;  opake, 
with  a  faintly  resinous  lustre,  and  a  lead-grey  shining  streak. 
Sectile.  B  B,  it  burns,  prior  to  becoming  red  hot,  with  a 
blue  flame,  and  melts  into  a  globule,  which  is  strongly  agita- 
ted, and  emits  sparks;  finally,  it  yields  a  button  of  copper. 

It  occurs  at  Sangerhausen  in  Thuringia,  imbedded  in  grau- 
wacke,  and  is  a  rare  mineral.  It  has  also  been  discovered  by 
Covelli*  in  the  volcanic  rocks  of  Vesuvius,  in  black  or  green- 
ish-blue incrustations  having  the  appearance  of  spiders'  webs, 
deposited  around  the  fumaroles  of  the  crater  Vesuvius,  and 

*  Whence  it  has  been  named  Covelline  by  Beudant,  in  honor  of  the  late  Sig.  Covelli  of 
Naples. 


478  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

supposed  to  be  derived  from  the  action  of  sulphuretted  hydro- 
gen on  the  sulphate  and  muriate  of  copper.  Is  soluble  in  ni- 
tric acid,  with  the  disengagement  of  nitrous  gas. 

PURPLE    COPPER   ORE. 

Purple  Copper.     Buntkupfererz,  YV.     Cuivre  Pyriteux  llcpatique,  H.     Variegated  Cop- 
per, J.     Octahedral  Copper  Pyrites,  M.     Pyrites  crubcscens,  L). 

Killarnoy.  Weatmanl-ind.  Cornwall.         S?t.  Pftnerasse. 

Sulphur  ........  23-75  .............  24-09  ............  2S-24  ............  a>-d 

Copper  ........  61-07  .............  (i'2-33  ............  515-715  ............  59-2 

Iron  ...........  14-00  .............  J  1  -80  ............  14-84  ............  13-0 

Silica  .........  0-5'J  .............  0-1(5  ............  0-00  ............  0-0 

Matrix  .........  0-00  .............  0-00  ............  0-00  ............  5-0 

99-32  R.Phillips.*  99-98  Hisinger.      99-34  Plattner.     100-0  Berthier. 
/  / 

The  formula  given  by  Berzelius,  is  Fe-f-Ou2,  which  corres- 
ponds with  the  analyses  by  Phillips  and  Hisinger,  requiring 
62'68  copper,  23*69  sulphur,  13*43  iron. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-0.     H.  =  3-0. 

It  occurs  both  massive  and  crystallized  ;  color  of  the  mas- 
sive between  copper-red  and  tombac-brown  ;  in  the  crystal- 
lized, the  latter  color  prevails,  with  an  iridescent  tarnish, 
generally  of  blue,  sometimes  yellow.  The  general  form  of  the 
crystals  is  that  of  the  cube,  of  which  the  solid  angles  are  re- 
placed, and  the  faces  are  mostly  curvilinear;  lustre  metallic; 
streak  pale-greyish  black,  and  slightly  shining;  not  perfectly 
lamellar,  but  manifestly  yields  to  mechanical  division  parallel 
to  the  planes  of  the  Regular  octahedron;  in  other  directions 
the  fracture  is  imperfect  conchoidal  ;  it  is  soft,  easily  frangi- 
ble, and  slightly  sectile.  B  B,  it  black- 
ens and  becomes  red  on  cooling,  but  at 
an  increased  temperature  it  is  fusible  in- 
to a  globule,  which  acts  powerfully  on 
the  magnet;  and  with  soda  is  reduced, 
/  forming  a  copper  bead.  Soluble  in  ni- 
JL  /  trie  acid.  The  measurements  are,  P  on 
P  109°  30',  P  on  a,  a  125°  16',  a  on 


90°  OO7.  Crystalline  varieties  of  buntkupfererz  are  almost  pe- 
culiar to  Cornwall,  and  that  principally  to  the  mines  of  Cook's 
Kitchen,  Tin  Croft,  and  Dolcoath  near  Redruth,  where  it  is  as- 
sociated with  vitreous  copper  and  yellow  copper  ore.  It  occurs 
massive  and  compact,  however,  with  green  carbonate  of  cop- 
per, at  Arendal  in  Norway,  in  Siberia,  Hessia,  Silesia,  and  the 
Bannat  ;  also  at  Ross  Island  in  Killarney,  Ireland  ;  and  in 
cupriferous  shale  in  Thuringia.  On  Ross  Island  it  forms  in- 

*  To  this  mineral  from  Killarney,  Beudant  (Traite  de  Mineralogie,  ii.  411)  has  applied 
the  name  of  Phillipsite,  in  honor  of  the  distinguished  analyst.  But  it  appears  to  agree  in 
its  composition,  as  well  as  in  physical  characters  and  crystalline  form,  with  purple  cop- 
per ore  ;  for  the  formula  of  which  its  analysis  furnishes  the  true  numbers.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS.  479 

crustations  upon  common  pyrites  copper,  and  is  in  kidney- 
shaped  masses  attached  to  bituminous  shale.  In  the  United 
States,  it  is  found  near  Wilkesbarre,  Penn.,  at  Chesterfield, 
Mass.,  Walcottville  and  Litchfield,  Conn. 

GREY   COPPER. 

Tetrahedral  Copper  Pyrites,  J.  Tetrahedral  Copper  Glance,  M.  Fahlerz,  VV.  Br.  Cui- 
vre  Gris,  H.  Fanabase,  Beudant.  Trisulpho-antimoniate  of  Copper,  Thomson.  Cypri- 
tes  tetrahedrus,  D. 

Prof.  H.  Rose  has  analyzed  seven  very  carefully  selected 
specimens  of  this  mineral,  from  different  localities,  and  the 
results  of  five  of  these  analyses  are  given  below.  —  -Pogg. 
Ann.  xv.  576.  The  first  is  by  Klaproth. 

Clausthal.  Dillenburg.       Alasce.         Freyberg.      Furstenberg.  Clausthal. 

Copper 37-50 38-42 40-00 14-81 25-03 34-48 

Arsenic 0-00 2-26 10- 19 0-00 0-00 0-00 

Antimony  .  .29-00 25-27 12-46 24  63 2H-63 S8-24 

Iron 6-50 1-52 4-G6 5-98 3-7-2 2-27 

Sulphur 21-50 25-03 2R-83 2 1  -17 83-52 24-73 

Silver 3-00 0-83 0-00 31-29 17-71 4-97 

Zinc 0-00 G-85 3-69 0-99 3-10 5-55 

Silica 0-00 0-00 0-41 0-00 0-00 0-00 

97-50  100-18  99-44  98-87  99-91  100-24 

In  each  of  the  above  analyses  the  atoms  of  sulphur  and  me- 
tallic bases  are  nearly  balanced,  indicating  a  simple  combina- 
tion of  atoms  among  these  constituents.  As  viewed  by  Dr. 
Thomson,  this  mineral  consists  essentially  of  one  atom  sul- 
phide of  arsenic  and  antimony,  and  three  atoms  sulphuret  of  cop- 
per. Formula:  (StAs)Sl+3CpSl.*  But  in  the  last  specimen, 
which  consisted  of  pure  tetrahedral  crystals,  the  atoms  of  cop- 
per approach  very  nearly  to  thrice  those  of  the  antimony  alone, 
so  that  the  mineral  appears  to  resolve  itself  into  the  simple 
constitution  of  one  At.  sulphuret  of  antimony,  three  At.  sulphu- 
ret of  copper.  It  will  be  observed  that  arsenic  is  contained  in 
only  two  of  the  specimens  analyzed.  Formula:  StSl+3CpSl. 
Sp.  Gr.  44  —  5/2.  H.  —  30  —  40. 

The  marked  diversity  in  their  chemical  composition,  would 
seem  to  demand  a  separation  of  some  of  the  varieties  of  the 
present  species.  Many  of  them,  indeed,  are  readily  distin- 
guishable at  first  sight;  but  there  are  others  which  present 
such  intermediate  stages,  as  to  render  all  attempts  at  reducing 
the  differences  to  fixed  limits  impossible.  Of  a  steel-grey  or  iron- 
black  color;  it  occurs  crystallized  in  the  Tetrahedron,  which 
is  considered  its  primary  form  ;  also  massive  and  dissemina- 
ted ;  cleavage  octahedral,  imperfect;  streak  same  color  as  the 
mineral,  sometimes  inclining  to  brown;  fracture  uneven  or 

*In  some  of  the  analyses,  there  is  a  deficiency  in  the  atoms  of  copper,  which,  to 
am  >unt  to  thrice  the  atoms  of  antimony,  is  supplied  by  the  iron,  zinc  and  silver. 


480 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


imperfect  conchoidal,  with  a  shining  or  glistening  metallic 
lustre;  brittle.  BB.it  disengages  vapors  of  an  arsenical  or 
antimonial  odor.  With  soda,  after  considerable  roasting,  it 
yields  a  grain  of  metallic  copper ;  and  with  borax  presents  the 
deep-green  tinge  characteristic  of  iron.  It  colors  nitric  acid 
green  ;  and  its  powder,  placed  in  that  acid,  soon  becomes  grey. 
i. 


P  on  P'  

70°  31'  H. 

b  or  6  on  c  

150°  00'  H. 

P  or  P'  on  a 

109  28  

c  or  c  on  c    •  . 

146  26 

1  it  44 

1  44  44 

125  15  — 

f  on  f 

109  28  — 

160  31  

fon  f 

146  26  — 

CL  on  b 

144  44  — 

150  00  — 

b  on  b  or  b  .  . 

120  00  — 

The  above  figures  and  measurements  are  given  on  the  authority  of  Haiiy . 

The  largest  known  crystals  of  Fahlerz  occur  in  some  of  the 
Cornish  mines  near  St.  Austle,  generally  in  tetrahedrons,  with 
dull  rough  surfaces.  At  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz,  Crem- 
nitz  in  Hungary,  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  Kapnik  in  Transylva- 
nia, and  Dillenburg  in  Nassau,  it  not  only  presents  more 
complicated  crystallizations,  but  a  greatly  brighter  and  more 
brilliant  aspect. 

ANTIMONIAL  GREY  COPPER.  Schwartzerz,  W.  Cuivre  gris  anti- 
monie,  Bt.  This  mineral  rarely  occurs  crystallized;  its  color  is  dark  lead- 
grey,  approaching  to  iron-black,  both  externally  and  internally;  no  ap- 
pearance of  regular  structure  ;  fracture  conchoidal,  and  surface  glistening  ; 
not  very  brittle.  Fig.  2,  represents  a  crystal  from  Schwatz  in  the  Tyrol, 
the  principal  locality  of  this  variety  ;  it,  however,  is  also  met  with  at  Kap- 
nik in  Transylvania,  at  Clausthal  in  the  Hartz,  and  in  Siberia;  frequently 
imbedded  in  red  manganese. 

ARSENICAL  AND  ANTIMONIAL,  GREY  COPPER.  Occurs  in  iron- 
grey  colored  crystals,  having  a  very  brilliant  metallic  lustre,  principally 
af  St.  Marie  aux  Mines.  Its  essential  characters  correspond  with  those 
of  the  following  variety.  B  B,  it  gives  off  an  arsenical  odor,  and  in  nitric 
acid  is  soluble,  with  the  exception  of  a  precipitate  of  antimony. 

ARSENICAL.  COPPER  PYRITES,  WHITE  COPPER.  Weiss  kupfer- 
gerz,  W.  Color  between  silver-white  and  pale  brass-yellow,  with  a  glis- 
tening metallic  lustre,  but  soon  tarnishes  by  exposure.  It  occurs  massive 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  481 

and  disseminated  ;  the  fracture  fine-grained,  uneven  ;  yields  easily  to  the 
knife,  and  is  brittle  Specific  gravity  4-5.  It  contains  40  per  cent,  cop- 
per, the  remainder  iron,  arsenic,  and  sulphur  —  Henckel.  B  B,  it  yields 
a  white  arsenical  vapor,  and  melts  into  a  greyish-black  slag. 

It  accompanies  other  ores  of  copper  at  Huel  Gorland,  and  elsewhere  in 
Cornwall. 

PLATINIFEROTJS  GREY  COPPER.  A  grey-colored  variety,  agreeing 
generally  with  fahlerz  in  external  character,  consisting,  according  to 
Vauquelin,  of  copper,  lead,  antimony,  iron,  silver,  platina,  and  sulphur; 
was  formerly  found  at  Guadalcanal  in  Estremadura  in  Spain,  where  it 
occurs  with  ores  of  silver  and  arsenic. 


TENNANTITE.* 

Tennantite.     (Quarterly  Journal  of  Science,  vii.  95.)     Cyprites  dodecahedrus,  D. 

This  mineral  has  been  analyzed  by  R.Phillips,  and  by  Mr. 
Hemming,  who  obtained  the  following  constituents  : 

Sulphur 28-74 23-00 

Arsenic 11-84 12-10 

Copper 45-32 50-00 

Iron 9-26 15-00 

Silica  ..  ..  5-00...  0-00 


100-16  Phillips.  100-10  Hemming. 

Beudant  has  thus  given  the  formula  founded  on  the  analysis 
by  Phillips:  9CpSl+(FSl2+FAs2).  Dr.  Thomson  supposes 
the  sulphur  to  be  in  combination  with  the  arsenic  and  copper, 
and  the  iron  in  a  state  of  silicate,  and  accidental.  If  it  be 
thus  considered,  the  mineral  consists  of  one  atom  sulphuret  of 
arsenic,  and  four  and  a  half  atoms  sulphuret  of  copper.  For- 
mula :  AsSl+4£CpSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  4  375.     H.  =  3. 

Tennantite  is  usually  found  crystallized  in  the  form  of  the 
rhombic  dodecahedron,  either  perfect  or  variously  modified  ; 
also  in  the  cube  and  regular  octahedron,  of  which  the  edges 
and  angles  are  replaced;  often  very  splendent;  sometimes 
lead-grey,  with  but  little  lustre ;  occasionally  approaching  to 
iron-black  and  dull ;  fracture  imperfectly  lamellar  and  uneven  ; 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  dodecahedron;  primary 
form  the  Octahedron,  as  is  indicated  by  occasional  stria?  on  the 
planes  of  the  dodecahedral  crystals  parallel  with  their  longer 
diagonal.  Somewhat  harder  than  the  preceding:  and  is  brit- 
tle. Its  powder  is  reddish-grey.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  first 
burns  with  a  blue  flame  and  slight  decrepitation,  emits  copious 
arsenical  vapors,  and  ultimately  fuses,  leaving  a  greyish-black 
scoria,  which  affects  the  magnetic  needle.  After  fusion  it 
yields  with  soda  a  bead  of  copper.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid. 

*  In  honor  of  the  late  excellent  chemist,  Tennant. 

41 


482 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 
2.  3.  4. 


Fig.  1,  the  regular  octahedron,  of  which  the  solid  angles  are  replaced. 
Fig.  2  ;  in  this  the  edges  also  are  replaced  :  the  same  planes  appear  on  fig. 
3  Fig.  4,  the  rhombic  dodecahedron.  Fig.  5,  the  same,  having  its  edges 
replaced. 


P  on  P'  or  P"  . 
bl 

.  .  .  109°  30' 
...  168  56 

&2    .  . 

.  .  161  30 

.  .  .  90  00 

62 

144  50 

a  on  e  or  e  .  . 

...  135   4 

e  on  e  or  e  . 

.  120  00 

Tennantite  is  a  variety  exclusively  Cornish.  It  usually  oc- 
curs in  small  but  very  splendent  crystals,  investing  other  ores 
of  copper,  in  veins  which  traverse  granite  and  clay-slate,  in 
several  of  the  copper  mines,  as  Dolcoath,  Cook's  Kitchen,  and 
Tin  Croft  near  Redruth ;  and  in  Huel  Virgin,  Huel  Jewel, 
and  Huel  Unity,  near  St.  Day.  The  rhombic  dodecahedron 
(fig.  4),  the  cube  with  its  edges  replaced  (fig.  3),  and  the  octa- 
hedron and  dodecahedron  in  various  combinations,  are  its 
most  frequent  forms ;  but  it  has  not  been  met  with  massive.  — 
Allan's  Manual.* 


COPPER   PYRITES. 

Pyramidal  Copper  Pyrites,  M.  Kupferkies,  W.  Cuivre  Pyriteux,  H.  Octahedral  Cop- 
per Pyrites,  J.  Chalkopyrite,  Beiidant.  Pyrite  Cuivreuse,  Br.  Pyritous  Copper.  Yel- 
low Copper  Ore.  Yellow  Copper  Pyrites.  Pyrites  pyramidalis,  D. 

Combination  of  the  sulphurets  of  copper  and  iron,  as  shown 
in  the  following  analyses : 

Baygory.  Ramberg. 

Copper 30-2 30-5 34-40 

Iron 32-3 33-0 30-47 

Sulphur 37-0 35-0 35-87 

Silica 0-5 1-5 0-27 


100-0  Guenyveau.  100-0  Guenyveau.          101-01  H.  Rose. 


*  In  the  last  edition  of  this  treatise,  Tennantite  was  comprised  under  the  preceding 
species.    It  is  now  admitted  to  be  a  distinct  species.     (AM.  ED.) 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  483 


Furstenberg.  Cornwall. 

Copper 33-12 30-00 

Iron 30-00 3-2-20 

Sulphur 36-52 35-16 

Silica 0-39 2-64 


100-03  II.  Rose.  100-00  R.  Phillips. 

Lozere.  Lozere.  Lozere. 

Sulphur 32-0 36-3 33-6 

Copper 32-6 32-1 31-2 

Iron 29-2 31-5 32-2 

Earthy  matter...  3-2 0-0 1-6 

97-0  Berthier.  99-9  Berthier.  98-6  Berthier. 

Anglesea.  Cornwall. 

Sulphur 35-0 1 34-65 

Copper 32-95 33-64 

Iron 32-04 3 1  -53 

Earthy  matter  . . .  0-00 0-55 

100-00  Thomson.  100-37  Thomson. 

The  analyses  differ  but  little  from  each  other,  and  the  con- 
stitution plainly  deducible  from  them,  is  two  atoms  sulphur, 
one  atom  copper,  one  atom  iron.     Formula:  FSl+CpSl. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-16  —  4-3.     H.  =  35  —  4-0. 

Color  brass-yellow,  but  externally  subject  to  tarnish,  and 
often  iridescent ;  the  crystals  present  the  general  form  of  the 
tetrahedron,  having  the  solid  angles  always  replaced ;  the 
structure  is  perfectly  lamellar,  affording  brilliant  surfaces  par- 
allel to  the  planes  of  a  somewhat  Acute  octahedron  with  a 
square  base;  so  that  the  tetrahedron,  as  is  shown  in  the  fol- 
lowing figures,  is  in  fact  only  the  remarkable  consequence  of 
an  alternate  enlargement  of  the  planes  /,  modifying  the  edges 
of  the  primary  octahedron  ;  fracture  conchoidal  and  splend- 
ent; lustre  metallic;  streak  greenish-black,  and  somewhat 
shining;  brittle.  It  also  occurs  stalactitic,  botryoidal,  mam- 
millated,  and  amorphous,  the  latter  being  often  variegated ; 
the  structure  of  the  botryoidal  is  granular;  these  are  harder 
than  the  crystallized  varieties;  brittle.  Copper  pyrites  yields 
to  the  knife,  and  may  hence  be  distinguished  from  iron  pyrites, 
which  it  often  greatly  resembles ;  its  color  is  generally  also  of 
a  deeper  yellow  than  that  of  iron  pyrites.  It  fuses  on  char- 
coal B  B,  emits  a  sulphurous  vapor,  and  melts  into  a  brittle 
black  globule,  which  finally  attracts  the  magnet ;  with  borax, 
in  small  proportion,  it  yields  a  copper  bead;  and  with  soda, 
after  the  sulphur  is  entirely  roasted  off,  separate  globules  of 
iron  and  copper  may  be  obtained.  In  dilute  nitric  acid  it 
forms  a  green  solution,  a  portion  of  sulphur  remaining  undis- 
solved. 


484 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Primary. 


PonP 


30' ;  dl  on  dl' 133°  50' 


P  on  d\  or  P'  on  dl'  . 
d3  or  d3'  . 
Z,  /',  or  I",  or  > 
P'  on  1',  I",  or  I'"  5  ' 

.  .  150  50 
.  .  169  32 

.  .  141  15 
126   0 

dl  on  d3,  or  dl'  on  d3' 

.  .  160  54 

P  on  P"  or  P'  on  P>"  ...  125    30  !  dl  on  / 143  24 

d3  on  Z 144  10 

d3  on  d3'     Ill  40 

k  on  k' 149  2 

I  on  I'  or  1" 110  0 

e  or  I'"  on  e' 144  25 

/'  on  I" 71  10 

This  is  the  most  abundant  variety  of  copper;  nearly  one 
third  of  the  ore  obtained  by  metallurgical  processes  being  ex- 
tracted from  it,  and  in  Great  Britain  yielding  more  metallic 
copper  than  all  the  other  ores  of  copper  together.  In  Corn- 
wall it  occurs  associated  with  tin,  forming  veins  in  killas,  and 
accompanying  buntkupferez,  galena,  grey  copper,  and  blende. 
The  great  repository  of  copper  at  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  consists 
of  extensive  masses  of  this  species,  which  are  surrounded  by 
a  coating  of  serpentine,  and  imbedded  in  gneiss.  At  Ram- 
melsberg  near  Goslar  in  the  Hartz,  it  forms  a  bed  in  grau- 
wacke-slate,  along  with  iron  pyrites,  galena,  blende,  and 
minute  portions  of  silver  and  gold.  Well  defined  crystals  are 
found  in  the  Kurprinz  mine  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony,  and  many 
others  in  different  continental  districts,  the  Bannat,  Hungary, 
Thuringia,  &c. ;  also  in  Siberia,  Japan,  and  America. — 
Allan's  Manual.  In  the  mining  districts  of  Russia,  Germany, 
and  Hungary,  ores  that  yield  two  per  cent,  of  metal  are 
deemed  worth  working,  and  many  ores  which  yield  only  from 
five  to  eight  per  cent,  are  considered  quite  rich  in  metal.  The 
ores  of  Mansfield  never  produce  over  three  per  cent.  The 
amount  of  copper  obtained  from  the  Demidon  works  in  Nis- 
chne-Tagilsk,  averages  seventy-five  thousand  pounds  yearly. 
According  to  De  la  Beche,  the  value  of  the  copper  annually 
raised  in  Cornwall  and  Devon,  amounts  to  <£ 1, 200, 000,  and 
this  comprises  nine-tenths  of  the  whole  supply  of  the  metal 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  485 

furnished  by  the  British  Islands,  and  all  the  countries  of  the 
continent  of  Europe.  —  Report  on  Cornwall,  Devon,  fyc.,  p. 
264.  In  Western  Asia,  according  to  the  American  missiona- 
ries, valuable  copper  mines  are  found  in  the  mountain  ridge 
west  of  Erzeroum,  and  are  wrought  by  the  Greeks. 

In  the  United  States  there  are  several  important  localities 
of  copper  pyrites  which  have  afforded  fine  Crystals.  These 
are  principally  in  New  York,  as  at  the  Rossie  lead  mines  in 
St.  Lawrence  county,  in  tetrahedral  and  macled  crystals,  and 
Wurtzborough,  Sullivan  county,  in  nearly  perfect  octahedrons. 
In  New  Hampshire,  it  is  abundantly  disseminated  through  the 
great  tremolite  bed  of  Warren,  in  nodules  and  veins.  It  yielded 
Dr.  Jackson,  by  assaying,  thirty-one  per  cent,  of  pure  copper. 
It  also  occurs  in  veins  with  plejsto-magnetic  iron,  at  Franco- 
nia,  in  the  same  State.  At  Strafford,  Vt.,  it  is  found  in  suffi- 
cient quantity  for  exploration  and  smelting,  and  very  pure 
copper  has  for  many  years  been  obtained  from  it. 

SELENIURET   OF   COPPER. 

Seleniure  de  Cuivre,  Berzelius.     Cuivre  Selenie,  H.     Berzeline,  Beudant.     Selen  Cu- 
prite, Sliepard. 

An  analysis  of  this  mineral  by  Berzelius  gave, 

Atoms. 

Copper 64 16 

Selenium 40 8 

104 

It  thus  consists  of  two  atoms  copper  and  one  atom  selenium, 
or  it  is  a  diseleniuret  of  copper.  Formula  :  Cp2Sel. 

In  masses,  having  an  impalpable  composition,  and  of  a  silver- 
white  color  ;  streak  shining;  lustre  metallic;  soft,  and  admits 
of  being  smoothed  down  and  polished,  assuming  then  the  color 
of  tin.  Isolated  and  rubbed,  it  acquires  resinous  electricity, 
B  B,  it  fuses  into  a  grey  globule,  which  is  slightly  malleable, 
emitting,  at  the  same  time,  powerful  fumes  of  selenium  ;  in  the 
open  tube  yields  selenium,  which  sublimes  in  the  form  of  a  red 
powder.  With  soda,  after  a  lengthened  roasting,  it  affords  a 
a  grain  of  copper.  Is  decomposed  by  nitric  acid,  and  the 
solution  deposits  metallic  copper  on  a  plate  of  iron.  The  de- 
composition which  this  substance  undergoes  from  exposure  to 
the  air,  gives  it  a  black  color ;  and  is  therefore  generally  found 
in  the  form  of  black  dendritic  delineations,  or  in  minute  seams, 
traversing  calcareous  spar,  at  the  copper  mine  of  Skrickerum 
in  Smaland,  Sweden. 
41* 


486 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


RED    OXIDE    OF    COPPER. 

Oxydulatcd  Copper.     Rothkupfererz,  W.     Cuivrc  Oxydule,  H.     Cuivre  Oxide  Rouge, 
lir.     Octahedral  Copper  Ore,  M.  and  J.     Zigucline,  Beiulant.     Rutilus  octalicdrus,  D. 


It  is  composed  as  follows : 


Cornwall. 

Copper 88-5 

Oxygen 11-5... 


Siboria. 

91-0 

..  9-0 


100-0  Chenevix. 


100-0  Klaproth. 


The  analysis  by  Chenevix,  gives  nearly  the  exact  numbers 
required  to  constitute  suboxide  of  copper,  (two  atoms  metal, 
one  atom  oxygen),  viz.,  copper  88*78,  oxygen  1T22,  accord- 
ing to  Berzelius.  Symbol :  Cp  or  €u. 

Sp.  Gr.  56  —  6-1.     H.  =  35  —  4'0. 

The  color  of  this  mineral  is  red  of  various  shades,  by  trans- 
mitted light  sometimes  crimson-red.  It  occurs  crystallized  in 
the  form  of  the  octahedron  and  its  modifications,  which  are 
very  numerous.  The  crystals  are  externally  splendent,  oc- 
casionally iridescent;  or  superficially  of  a  lead-grey  color, 
with  a  metallic  lustre;  and  sometimes  nearly  black  and  dull. 
Structure  lamellar;  cleavage  much  interrupted,  and  not  easily 
obtained,  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  Regular  octahedron, 
which  therefore  is  considered  its  primary  form  ;  fracture  un- 
even, more  often  conchoidal,  with  a  splendent  and  somewhat 
adamantine  lustre;  transparent  or  translucent;  yields  easily 
to  the  knife ;  and  is  brittle.  Streak  several  shades  of  brown- 
ish-red, and  shining.  B  B,  it  is  reducible  on  charcoal  to  the 
metallic  state,  and  with  borax  fuses  readily  into  a  fine-green 
glass.  Soluble  with  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  disengaging 
nitrous  gas,  and  coloring  the  solution  green ;  it  may  thus  be 
distinguished  from  red  silver  ore,  which  does  not  effervesce  in 
nitric  acid,  and  from  cinnabar  which  does  not  dissolve  in  it. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  the  regular  octahedron.  Fig.  2,  an  acute  rhom- 
boid, arising,  as  will  be  perceived  by  the  dotted  lines,  from  an  increase  of 
crystalline  laminae  on  two  opposite  and  parallel  planes  of  the  octahedron, 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  487 

the  laminae  progressively  diminishing  to  a  point.  Fig.  3,  an  octahedron 
of  which  the  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  quadrangular  planes  ;  these' 
planes  meet  and  are  complete  in  fig.  4,  forming  the  cube.  Fio-.  5,  the 
cube,  having  its  edges  and  solid  angles  replaced.  Fig.  6,  an  octahedron 
whose  edges  are  replaced  by  six-sided  planes ;  which,  in  fig.  7,  are  in- 
creased ;  and  in  tig.  8  complete,  forming  the  rhombic  dodecahedron. 
Fig.  9,  an  octahedron,  of  which  each  edge  is  bevelled  by  two  planes. 
Fig.  10,  an  octahedron,  of  which  each  solid  angle  is  replaced  by  four  tri- 
angular planes,  forming  an  obtuse  pyramid  on  each.  The  varieties  arising 
from  combination  of  the  planes  exhibited  in  the  above  figures,  are  very 
numerous.  The  author  has  enumerated  over  one  hundred. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 109°  30' 

PP'or  P"on  a 125     10 

b 160    42 

a  on  b 144    38 

e  on  e  or  e' 120    00 


Particularly  translucent  varieties  of  this  species,  presenting 
numerous  modifications  of  the  octahedron,  occur  with  native 
copper  and  quartz  in  Huel  Gorland,  and  other  mines  in  Corn- 
wall. Isolated  crystals,  sometimes  an  inch  in  diameter,  are 
met  with  imbedded  in  lithomarge,  at  Chessy,  near  Lyons,  gene- 
rally coated  or  intimately  mixed  with  the  green  and  blue  car- 
bonates; and  many  splendid  specimens  are  brought  from 
Moldawa  in  the  Bannat,  arid  Ekatherineburg  in  Siberia. — 
Allan's  Manual  According  to  De  Ja  Beche,  red  oxide  of 
copper  is  rarely  found  in  Cornwall  or  Devon,  in  sufficient  quan- 
tities to  form  a  mineral  of  much  mining  importance,  and  the 
same  may  be  said  of  the  carbonates  and  of  native  copper,  the 
great  product  being  from  the  sulphuret. 

In  the  United  States,  at  the  Sommerville  mine,  N.  J.,  both 
cubic  and  octahedral  crystals  of  this  mineral,  were  noticed  by 
Prof.  Nuttall.  It  is  found  also  at  the  Schuyler,  Flemington 
and  New  Brunswick  mines,  massive  and  imperfectly  crystal- 
lized, associated  with  native  copper  and  the  carbonates.  At 
the  Perkiomen  lead  mine,  Penn.,  in  small  translucent  capillary 
and  octahedral  crystals,  in  red  sandstone.  This  mineral  was 
observed  by  Dr.  Houghton,  in  considerable  quantities,  mixed 
with  various  other  copper  ores,  in  the  mineral  region  of  Michi- 
gan, recently  explored  by  him.  But  he  did  not  meet  with  it 
in  a  crystallized  form. 


488  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

CAPILLARY  RKD  OXIDE  OF  COPPER.  This  differs  from  the  pre- 
ceding only  in  consisting  of  extremely  slender  transparent  or  translucent 
crystals;  they  are  chiefly  quadrangular  prisms  or  elongated  octahedrons, 
which  appear  reticulated  or  variously  aggregated,  and  sometimes  fibrous. 

It  is  found  in  most  of  the  mines  of  Cornwall  in  which  the  crystallized 
variety  occurs ;  and  at  Rheinhreitbach  on  the  Rhine,  where  it  presents 
bright  scarlet  colors  and  a  silky  lustre. 

FERRUGINOUS  RED  OXIDE  OF  COPPER,  ZIEGLERZ,  OR  TILE  ORE, 
applies  to  the  earthy  varieties.  Externally  it  is  of  a  brick-red  or  reddish- 
brown  color ;  internally  sometimes  of  a  dark  metallic  grey,  and  then  nearly 
compact  and  hard  ;  more  commonly  the  fracture  is  earthy.  Yields  to  the 
knife,  sometimes  to  the  nail,  and  is  opake.  B  B,  it  blackens,  but  does  not 
fuse.  A  specimen  from  Lebanon,  Penn.,  afforded  to  Seybert,  suboxide  of 
copper  43-88,  protoxide  of  iron  42-16,  water  6  98,  alumina  3  80.* 

It  is  found,  but  not  plentifully,  with  the  red  oxide,  in  some  of  the  Cor- 
nish mines  ;  also  in  the  Bannat,  at  Camsdorf  and  Saalfeld  in  Thuringia, 
and  elsewhere.  It  is  a  valuable  ore  of  copper. 


BLUE   CARBONATE   OF    COPPER. 
AZURITE. 

Kupferlazur,  W.  Cuivre  Carbonate  Bleu,  II.  Azure  Copper  Ore,  J.  Prismatic  Azure 
Malachite,  M.  Azurite,  Beudant.  Hydro-carbonate  of  Copper,  Thomson.  Cypralus 
cccruleus,  D. 

Combination  of  carbonic  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Chessy.  Bannat.  Siberia. 

Oxide  of  copper 09-08 68-08 70-0 

Carbonic  acid 25-46 25-00 24-0 

Water 5-46 6-05 6-0 


100-00  R.  Phillips.        100-03  Vauquelin.         100-0  Klaproth. 

The  first  analysis  by  Phillips,  affords  an  extraordinary  ap- 
proximation to  the  exact  numbers  required  by  the  formula 
2CuC+CuH,  as  stated  by  Berzelius;  or  oxide  of  copper 
(three  atoms)  69'09,  carbonic  acid  (two  atoms)  25  69,  water 
(one  atom)  5  22.  The  mineralogical  formula,  according  to 
the  symbols  adopted  in  this  work,  is:  2CpC-hCpAq. 
Sp.  Gr.  35  —  3  77.  H.  =  3-0  —  40. 

Color  azure-  or  Berlin-blue,  sometimes  with  a  tinge  of 
black.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  a  great  variety  of  forms; 
structure  lamellar;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  planes 
MM,  and  both  diagonals  of  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  98° 
50',  and  81°  10',  which  is  the  primary  form;  the  plane  P  is 
usually  striated  in  the  direction  indicated  by  the  lines  on  the 
largest  of  the  following  figures;  fracture  conchoidal,  with  a 
vitreous  lustre;  translucent  or  opake,  the  most  complex  crys- 
tals possessing  the  greatest  degree  of  translucency ;  yields 
easily  to  the  knife. 

*  Jour,  of  the  Acad.  of  Nat.  Sci.  Phila.  ii.  144. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


489 


P  on  M  or  M'  . 
M  on  M'  .... 

.  .  91° 

.  .  98 

30' 
50 
15 
20 
12 
30 
30 
15 
15 
40 
5 
55 
5 
5 
30 
50 

.  135 

el  or  e'l  . 

.  149 

c2  or  e'2 

138 

e3  or  e'3 

119 

—  —  €'l  or  e'l 

115 

for/' 

112 

v:  :  .  .  . 

.  92 

M  or  M'  on  a  . 

.  .  123 

M  on  el  or  M'  on  e'l 
e2  or  e'2 
e4  or  e'4 
e5  or  e'5 
C6  or  e'6 
/  or  /' 

111 
116 
149 
156 
138 
159 

M  on  gl  or  M'  on  ^'1  ...  142°  56' 
#2  or  g'2  .  .  .  131  4 

h    or  h  ....  139  15 

Z     or  Z    ....  179  26 

a  on/or/' 139  30 

h 136  45 

clone2 169  2 

e4 141  6 

/ 129  0 

e3one'3  over  P 120  30 

e5 157  5 

glong2 168  15 

e6 164  24 

h  on  cl     154  4 

c2 134  55 

c3     115  0 

BB,  it  blackens,  decrepitates,  and  ultimately  fuses;  with 
borax  on  charcoal  it  effervesces,  and  colors  the  flux  green.  It 
is  soluble  with  effervescence  in  nitric  acid. 

It  occurs  in  the  veins  of  primitive  and  secondary  mountains, 
chiefly  with  the  green  carbonate  and  red  oxide  of  copper. 
Chessy,  near  Lyons,  is  the  principal  locality  of  this  beautiful 
mineral ;  it  is  there  met  with  in  considerable  abundance,  and 
under  a  great  variety  of  crystalline  form.  Very  fine  crystals 
occur  in  Siberia ;  while  those  from  Moldawa  in  the  Bannat, 
though  of  smaller  size,  are  often  extremely  distinct.  Huel 
Buller,  near  Redruth  in  Cornwall,  has  also  afforded  some  fine 
crystallized  varieties ;  and  at  Alston-Moor  and  Wanlockhead 
small  quantities  are  occasionally  met  with.  It  is  found  mas- 
sive, and  of  a  smalt-blue  color,  in  Cornwall ;  compact  and 
earthy  in  Siberia  and  Thuringia;  and  in  amorphous  rounded 
concretions,  sometimes  of  considerable  dimensions,  at  Chessy. 
When  obtained  in  sufficient  quantity  it  is  a  valuable  ore  of 
copper.  In  the  island  of  Cuba,  fine  blue  and  green  carbonates 
of  copper  accompany  both  the  red  oxide  and  the  native 


490  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

metal,  as  at  Gibara  and  Neuvitas.  In  Nova  Scotia,  they  occur 
in  red  sandstone,  with  vitreous  copper,  on  the  Cariboo  River, 
conjointly  with  beds  of  lignite. 

In  the  great  copper  district  of  Michigan,  so  well  described 
by  Dr.  Houghton,  green  and  blue  carbonates  of  copper,  asso- 
ciated with  pyritous  copper  and  the  native  metal,  form  veins 
in  trap  rock  and  conglomerate.  In  Wisconsin  and  Missouri 
it  is  found  in  the  same  limestone  which  contains  the  lead.  It 
occurs  in  most  of  the  copper  mines  in  New  Jersey  imperfectly 
crystallized  ;  also  at  the  Perkiomen  lead  mines,  Penn.,  in  small 
but  perfect  crystals.  It  has  other  localities,  as  in  Connecticut 
and  Massachusetts,  but  is  a  rare  mineral  in  the  United  States. 


GREEN    CARBONATE   OF   COPPER. 
MALACHITE.* 

Hemi-Prismatic  Habroneme  Malachite,  M.  Green  Carbonated  Copper.  Malachite,  J. 
Atlaserz.  Mountain  Green.  Malachit,  W.  B.  Cnivre  Carbonate  Vert,  II.  Hydrous 
Bicarbonate  of  Copper,  Thomson.  Cypralus  vulgaris,  D. 

Combination  of  carbonic  acid,  oxide  of  copper  and  water. 

Siberia.  Siberia.  Chessy. 

Oxide  of  copper.  .70-5 70-10 7-2-2 72-69 

Carbonic  acid 18-5 21-25 18.5 19-98 

Water 11-0...  ..  8-75...  ..  9-3...  ....  7-31 


100-00  Klaproth.     100-00  Vauquelin.  100-0  R.  Phillips.    99-98  Thomson. 

V, 

These  analyses,  the  last  two  most  nearly,  approach  to  two 
atoms  oxide  of  copper,  one  atom  carbonic  acid,  one  atom 
water.  It  is  therefore  a  hydrous  dicarbonate  of  copper,  as  thus 
expressed  by  the  formula:  Cp2C+Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  35  —  40.     H.  =  35  —  4-0. 

Color  various  shades  of  green.  Occurs  in  slender  fibres, 
which  sometimes  are  fasciculated,  sometimes  stellated;  in  the 
cavities,  however,  extremely  minute  and  transparent  crystals 
may  occasionally  be  observed,  which  in  reality  are  macles,  as 
shown  by  the  following  figures;  of  these,  the  primary  is  a 
Right  oblique-angled  prism,  yielding  to  cleavage  readily 
parallel  to  the  planes  P  and  M,  with  difficulty  parallel  to  T  ; 
transparent  or  translucent,  sometimes  only  on  the  edges  ;  lustre 
adamantine,  inclining  to  vitreous  ;  streak  green,  rather  paler 
than  the  color;  brittle.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  and  fuses  in  part 
into  a  black  scoria;  with  borax  it  readily  affords  a  bead  of 
copper,  and  colors  the  flux  green.  In  the  matrass  it  yields 
water  ;  and  is  entirely  soluble  in  nitric  acid. 

*  Malachite,  from  the  Greek  ;  Marsh  Mallow  j  the  color  of  both  being  green. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


491 


P  on  M,  M',  or  T 

M'onM  . 


90°  00'   M  on  c  or  c' 112°  33' 

123    35    c  on  c' 107    16 


The  Jibrous  and  massive,  into  which  this  species  has  been 
divided,  is  riot  a  distinction  of  any  consequence,  as  they  run 
so  insensibly  into  one  another,  that  it  is  frequently  difficult  to 
ascertain  to  which  of  them  a  specimen  should  be  referred. 
The  crystallized  variety  is  extremely  rare,  having  been  observed 
only  in  minute  transparent  twins,  coating  the  cavities  of  the 
more  fibrous  kinds.  Exteriorly  it  assumes  globular,  reniform, 
botryoidal,  and  stalactitic  shapes,  and  occurs  in  the  same  re- 
positories as  the  last  species.  Splendid  specimens  of  the  fibrous 
variety  are  found  in  Siberia,  at  Chessy  in  France,  in  the  old 
mine  at  Sandlodge  in  Shetland,  and  disseminated  in  iron  ore 
at  Moldawa,  in  the  Baunat.  Compact  malachite  is  chiefly 
known  from  Schwatz  in  the  Tyrol ;  though  in  small  quantities, 
it  also  occurs  accompanying  the  blue  carbonate  in  Cornwall, 
Wales,  Ireland,  and  many  other  places.  The  green  carbonate 
is  a  valuable  ore  of  copper,  and,  from  its  variegated  appearance, 
and  the  brilliant  polish  of  which  it  is  susceptible,  is  prized  by 
the  lapidary  for  ornamental  purposes.  Such  varieties  as  are 
sufficiently  compact,  are  cut  into  vases,  snuff-boxes,  &c. ;  and 
in  St.  Petersburg  it  is  formed  into  tables,  and  other  magnifi- 
cent articles  of  luxury  ;  for  this  purpose,  as  the  malachite  rarely 
occurs  in  slabs  exceeding  a  foot  square,  the  pieces  are  united 
so  as  to  render  the  concentric  lines  of  the  stone  continuous, 
and  thus  massive  tablets  of  six  or  seven  feet  in  length  are  formed 
of  apparently  one  piece  of  this  beautiful  substance.  Some 
varieties  are  used  as  pigments,  arid  in  the  preparation  of  the 
sulphate  of  copper.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

On  the  estate  of  Von  Demidoff,  not  far  from  the  Nadesh- 
nish  shaft,  Siberia,  was  found  a  considerable  mass  of  mala- 
chite, reposing  on  brown  iron-stone,  and  to  the  west,  resting  on 
a  soft  diorite-slate.  As  it  was  proved  that  the  malachite  bed 
must  extend  forty  fathoms  (280  English  feet),  the  site  of  its 


492  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

principal  mass  was  aimed  at,  and  found  W^Iay,  1835.  The 
malachite  no\v  lies  uncovered  for  thirty-six  fathoms,  and  pre- 
sents, in  one  place,  an  immense  solid  mass  of  about  forty-nine 
feet  long,  twenty-one  feet  broad  and  seventeen  feet  thick.  It 
stretched  out  continuously  in  several  directions,  but  has  cracked 
in  clefts  on  the  uncovering  of  it.  This  effect  has  been  attributed 
to  the  damp  air  of  the  mines,  but  it  may,  on  the  contrary,  be  in 
consequence  of  the  evaporation  of  moisture  contained  in  the 
mass  under  the  action  of  the  air. 

A  second  malachite  mass,  which  is  a  substratum  to  the  first, 
exceeds  it  in  extent  and  texture.  Its  structure  is  more  varie- 
gated, or  variously  figured,  than  the  first ;  and  to  obtain  the  pure 
mineral,  the  surface,  consisting  of  loose  spongy  malachite, 
must  be  separated.  It  is  in  spots  strovved  with  black  and 
olive-green  copper  ore.* 

In  South  America,  according  to  Mr.  Blake,  green  malachite 
occurs  on  the  western  coast  of  Bolivia,  near  Cobija,  and  at 
several  places  among  the  mountains  to  the  southward  of  that 
place  ;  also  near  Tanna,  in  Peru,  and  in  the  provinces  of  Co- 
piapo  and  Coquimbo,  in  Chili. 

Green  carbonate  of  copper  occurs  beautifully  crystallized  at 
several  of  the  copper  mines  of  New  Jersey,  with  massive  red 
oxide  of  copper  and  the  pure  metal.  At  Greenfield,  Mass.,  it 
forms  a  vein  in  trap  rock  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Connecticut 
river.  It  is  associated  with  pyritous  copper  and  sulphate  of 
barytes.  At  Hamden  and  Cheshire,  in  Conn.,  it  forms  con- 
siderable veins  in  trap  and  sandstone,  and  at  Bristol,  Conn.,  in 
granite  with  variegated  copper  ore.  It  accompanies  the  pre- 
ceding species,  at  the  Perkiomen  lead  mine,  is  found  also  in 
the  Blue  Ridge,  near  Nicholson's  Gap,  and  in  very  beautiful 
specimens,  recently  discovered,  near  Morgantown,  Berks 
county,  Penn.  In  Maryland,  Virginia,  and  among  the  lead 
mines  of  Missouri,  it  is  occasionally  met  with. 

ANHYDROUS   BICARBONATE  OF   COPPER. 

Dr.  Thomson,  (Outlines,  ftc.,  ii.  601.)     Mysorite,  SeudanL 

Dr.  Thomson  obtained  oxide  of  copper  60*75,  peroxide  of 
iron  19'50,  carbonic  acid  16  70,  silica  2'10. 

The  peroxide  of  iron  and  silica  traverse  the  mineral  in  small 
veins,  showing  them  to  be  mere  mixtures.  Throwing  these 
out,  the  atoms  of  oxide  of  copper,  are  just  twice  those  of  car- 
bonic acid.  The  mineral  is  therefore  a  dicarbonate  of  copper 
without  water.  Formula  :  Cp2C. 

*  Transactions  of  the  Russian  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society,  1842,  p.  131. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  493 

Sp.  Gr.  2  62.     H.  =  4  25. 

Occurs  massive,  having  an  impalpable  composition.  When 
pure  its  color  is  brownisL-black,  but  it  is  frequently  tinged 
green  and  red  from  admixture  with  carbonate  of  copper  and 
oxide  of  iron.  Fracture  small  conchoidal.  Is  soluble  in  acids 
when  pure,  but  if  mixed  with  foreign  matter  the  solution  de- 
posits a  red  precipitate.  This  rare  substance  was  noticed  by 
Dr.  Heyne,  near  the  eastern  frontier  of  Mysore  in  Hindustan, 
where  it  is  mentioned  as  forming  beds  in  the  older  rocks. 

CHRYSOCOLLA.* 

Uncleavable  Staphyline  Malachite,  M.  Eisenschussig  Kupfergrun,  W.  Cuivre  Carbo- 
nate Terreux,  li.  Chrysocolle,  Br.  Copper  Green,  J.  Kieskupher.  Kieselmalachite. 
Silico-Carbonate  of  Copper,  Thomson.  Cypralus  amorphus,  D. 

Siberia.  Siberia.  Bogoslowsk. 

Oxide  of  copper 50-0 49-63 40-00 

Silica 26-0 28-37 36-54 

Water 17-0 17-50 20-20 

Carbonic  acid 7-0 3-00 0-00 

Sulphate  of  lime 0-0 1-50 0  00 

Iron 0-0 0-00 1-00 


100-0  Klaproth.       100-00  John.  98-84  Kobell. 

Somerville,  N.  J.  Bogoslowsk. 

Silica 35-4 f5-31 35-0 

Oxide  of  copper 35-1 54- 16 39-9 

Water 28-5 5-25 21-0 

Carbonic  acid 1-0 14-98 1-1 

Oxide  ofiron 0-0 0-00 3-0 


100.0  Berthier.         100-00  Thomson.       100-0  Berthier. 

It  is  not  improbable  from  the  great  variations  in  these  results, 
that  the  carbonate  and  silicate  of  copper  are  only  mechanically 
mixed  in  this  mineral.     Dr.  Thomson,  from  his  own  analysis, 
supposes  its  constitution  to  be  thus  :  CpC+CpS2Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-0  —  2-2.     H.  =  3. 

Color  emerald-  and  pistachio-green,  passing  into  sky-blue  ; 
and  inclining  to  brown  when  impure.  It  occurs  botryoidal, 
stalactitic,  reniform,  massive,  and  investing  other  ores  of  cop- 
per ;  fracture  earthy  or  conchoidal ;  translucent  or  opake ;  is 
shining  or  dull ;  it  varies  in  hardness  from  almost  friable  to 
that  of  quartz.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  blackens  in  the  exterior 
flame,  and  reddens  in  the  reducing,  but  does  not  fuse ;  with 
borax  it  forms  a  green  glassy  globule,  and  is  partly  reduced. 
If  pure,  it  is  soluble  with  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  and  leaves 
a  residue  of  silica. 

This  substance  differs  much  in  appearance;    in  the  same 

*  This  word  was  applied  by  the  ancients  to  several  varieties  of  copper  ore,  and  even  to 
factitious  substances.  According  to  Pliny  it  was  a  substance  used  in  soldering  gold.  — 
Moore's  Ancient  Mineralogy. 

42 


494  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

specimen  it  sometimes  bears  at  one  end  the  character  of  an 
earthy  decomposed  felspar,  passing  by  insensible  degrees  tow- 
ards the  other,  into  brittle  translucent  green  chrysocolla. 

It  is  found  in  veins  in  primitive  and  secondary  mountains, 
with  other  ores  of  copper,  as  in  Cornwall ;  very  plentifully  on 
the  island  of  Cuba;  at  Jersey;  at  Falkenstein  and  Schwatz 
in  the  Tyrol  in  limestone;  in  the  Bannat,  Hungary,  Siberia, 
and  Mexico.  It  has  been  rarely  found  in  the  United  States. 

BISILICATE  OF  COPPER,  of  Bowen.  —  This  is  a  variety  of  chrysocolla 
from  the  Somerville  copper  mine  in  New  Jersey,  analyzed  by  Mr.  G.  T. 
Bowen,  and  first  described  in  vol.  iii.  of  the  Journal  of  the  Academy  of  Natu- 
ral Sciences,  Philadelphia.  Its  color  is  bluish-green;  color  of  its  powder 
light  blue.  Jt  is  massive  and  opake  ;  its  fracture  is  conchoidal  and  dull.  It 
is  brittle  and  is  easily  scratched  by  the  knife.  Its  specific  gravity  is  2-159. 
Alone,  B  B,  it  becomes  black,  but  is  infusible  ;  with  borax  it  fuses  into  a 
glass  of  a  bright  green  color,  and  when  heated  with  subcarbonate  of  soda, 
yields  globules  of  metallic  copper.  When  treated  with  nitric  acid,  it  is 
partly  dissolved  without  effervescence,  and  affords  a  solution  of  a  blue  color. 
It  yielded  silica  37-250,  peroxide  of  copper  45-075,  water  17-000. 

This  mineral  forms  an  incrustation  on  the  ferruginous  copper  of  the 
mine,  and  is  accompanied  by  native  copper,  malachite,  red  oxide  of  copper, 
and  native  silver.  Berthier  has  more  recently  analyzed  what  appears  to 
be  the  same  mineral,  the  results  of  which  are  given  on  the  preceding  page. 

SILICATE   OF    COPPER. 
DIOPTASE*. 

Rhombohedral  Emerald  Malachite,  M.  Emerald  Copper.  Achirite.f  Kupferschmnragd, 
W.  Cuivre  Dioptase,  H.  lit.  Rhomboidal  Emerald  Malachite,  J.  Hydrous  tfesqusili- 
cate  of  Copper,  Thomnun.  Cypralus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Combination  of  oxide  of  copper,  silica,  and  water. 

Oxide  of  copper 55-0 45-45 48-89 

Silica 33-0 43-  ]  8 36-fJO 

Water 12-0 1 1  -36 12-29 

Protoxide  of  iron 0-0 0-00 2-00 


100-0  Lowitz.  100-00  Vkuquelin.       99-78  Hess. 

The  formula  for  this  mineral,  as  given  by  Rammelsberg,  is 
Cp3Si2+3H.  This  requires  38'76  silica,  oxide  of  copper 
49-92,  water  11-32  —  thus  nearly  agreeing  with  the  results  by 
Von  Hess. 

Sp.  Gr.  32  —  34.      H.  —  5-0. 

Color  fine  emerald-green  ;  it  occurs  in  crystals,  having  the 
general  form  of  elongated  rhombic  dodecahedrons ;  structure 
lamellar  ;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  planes  of  its  primary 
crystal,  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  126°  17'  and  53°  43' :  fracture 
flat  conchoidal ;  translucent ;  with  a  shining  lustre  ;  scratches 

*  From  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  the  possibility  of  seeing  — by  transmitted  light  — the 
natural  joints. 

t  Achirite  —  from  Achir  Maimed,  the  name  of  the  merchant  by  whom  it  was  first  intro- 
duced into  Europe. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


495 


glass  feebly  ;  and  is  brittle.  B  B,  in  the  matrass,  yields  water 
and  blackens ;  on  charcoal  becomes  black  in  the  oxidating 
flame,  and  red  in  the  reducing,  but  does  not  melt;  it  fuses 
however,  with  glass  of  borax,  imparting  to  the  globule  a  green 
tinge,  and  'is  ultimately  reduced.  Insoluble  in  nitric  acid, 
even  when  heated,  but  is  dissolved  without  effervescence  in 
muriatic. 


Primary. 

,*-— s 

P 


y 

P  on  P'  or  P"  > 
primary        i     '  *  '  * 

K  on  &    . 

.     53°  43' 
95    33 

0 

i 

120      4 

/ 

g  on  o,  or  g'  on  o'   ... 

.  133      0 

It  occurs  in  the  Kirghese  Steppes  of  Siberia,  disposed  on 
quartz  or  limestone,  and  always  crystallized  in  well-defined 
elongated  dodecahedrons,  or  in  modifications  thereof. 

As  the  Achirite,  above  all  minerals,  resembles  emerald  in 
its  rich  green  color,  it  has  been  known  in  France  as  the  eme- 
rald of  Siberia,  and  was  called  by  Werner,  copper  emerald. 
The  present  Emperor  of  Russia,  has  presented  a  costly  group 
of  crystals  of  this  rare  variety,  to  the  Imperial  Mineralogical 
Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  consisting  of  uncommonly  large  and 
perfectly  formed  crystals  surrounded  by  crystals  of  calc-spar.* 

SULPHATE  OF   COPPER. 

Blue  Vitriol.   Cyanose,  Beudant.    Tetarto-Prismatic  Vitriol  Salt,  M.   Prismatic  Vitriol,  J. 
Vitriol  Bleu.    Cuivre  Sulfate,  H.     Kupfer  Vitriol,  W.    Vitriolum  Cyprium,  D. 

It  is  a  hydrous  sulphate  of  copper  of  the  same  composition 
with  the  artificial  salt,  consisting  of  one  atom  sulphuric  acid, 
one  atom  oxide  of  copper,  five  atoms  water  =  oxide  of  copper 
31-72,  sulphuric  acid  32-14,  water  36-14.  Formula  :  CpSl-f 
5Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-213.     H.  =  2'5. 

Color  deep  sky-blue,  sometimes  passing  into  bluish-green. 
Occurs  massive,  stalactitic,  and  pulverulent ;  lustre  vitreous  ; 
translucent ;  cleavage  imperfect ;  fracture  conchoidal ;  taste 
nauseous,  and  metallic.  When  artificially  prepared,  it  crystal- 
lizes. It  is  readily  soluble  in  water,  and  affords  a  blue  solu- 
tion, a  polished  surface  of  iron  dipped  into  which  becomes 


*  Transactions  of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  vol.  i.  part  i. 
p.  130. 


496  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

coated  with  a  film  of  metallic  copper.  Primary  form  an  Ob- 
lique rhombic  prism;  but  as  it  seldom  occurs  in  nature  in  dis- 
tinct crystals,  the  following  figure  and  measurements  refer  to 
the  artificial  crystals. 


P  on  M 109°  32' 

T  on  P 128    27 

M  on  T  .  .  149      2 


It  owes  its  existence  principally  to  the  decomposition  of 
copper  pyrites,  and  is  found  dissolved  in  water  issuing  from 
mines,  from  which  it  deposits  itself  spontaneously.  Its  prin- 
cipal localities  are  the  Ramrnelsberg  mine  near  Goslar  in  the 
Ilartz,  Fahlun  in  Sweden,  Neusohl  in  Hungary,  Pary's  mine 
in  Anglesea,  Cornwall,  and  Wicklow.  Before  being  used  in 
the  arts  it  requires  purification,  and  is  then  employed  in  print- 
ing cotton  and  linen,  dyeing,  &/c. 

TETRASULPHATE  OF  COPPER.  —  A  salt  of  this  composition  occurs  in 
Mexico,  and  has  been  analyzed  by  Berthier,  (Memoirs,  ii.  191.)  It  con- 
tained oxide  of  copper  45-9,  sulphuric  acid  11-5,  water  12-1,  gangue  30-5. 
These  numbers  correspond  with  one  atom  sulphuric  acid,  four  atoms  oxide 
of  copper,  four  and  a  half  atoms  water.  Only  a  very  imperfect  description 
has  been  given  of  this  mineral.  Its  gangue  is  granular  quartz  rock,  which 
is  penetrated  with  red  oxide  of  copper  in  a  lamellar  state.  It  is  of  a  ver- 
digris green  color,  has  no  lustre,  and  an  earthy  aspect.  Occurs  in  grains 
and  small  masses.  Its  precise  locality  is  not  known. 


BROCHANTITE.* 

Levy.    (Ann.  of  Phil.,  second  series,  viii.  241.) 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Oxide  of  copper 62-63 66-93 

Sulphuric  acid 17-13 17-43 

Water 11-89 11-91 

Oxide  of  lead 8-18 1-04 

Oxide  of  tin 0-03 3-14 

99-86  Magnus.          100-45  Magnus. 

The  formula,   as  given  by  Rammelsberg,  is  Cp3SJ+3H  — 
63  94  oxide  of  copper,  21*55  sulphuric  acid,  14'51  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-78  —  3-87.     H.  =  35  —  4-0. 
Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  M  on  M'  =  114°  20'. 

*ln  honor  of  Mons.  Brochant,  the  well-known  French  mineralogist. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


497 


" 

o  on  o  contiguous    .... 

.  .  .  150°  30' 

5 

M  on  M  over  the  terminal 
edge  between  o  and  o 

|     .  .  114    20 
.  .  .  117      0 

Traces  of  cleavage  parallel  to  M.  Brochantite  occurs  in 
small  well-defined  transparent  crystals  of  an  emerald-green 
color,  and  having  a  vitreous  lustre.  The  crystals  from  the 
last  named  locality,  according  to  G.  Rose,  have  a  pearly  lus- 
tre. Is  soluble  in  acids,  but  does  not  dissolve  in  water.  B  B, 
in  the  matrass  it  yields  water,  exhaling  the  odor  of  sulphu- 
rous acid  ;  on  charcoal  per  se  it  is  reduced  into  a  non-mallea- 
ble grain  of  copper ;  and  with  soda  fuses  into  a  metallic  glo- 
bule. 

This  mineral  occurs  associated  with  malachite  and  native 
copper  at  Ekatherineburg,  and  also  near  the  Gumeschewstoika 
copper  mine,  in  Siberia.  It  was  described  by  Levy. 

The  Kftnigine  of  Levy,  (Jinn,  of  Phil.,  second  series,  xi.  194),  or  Kceni- 
gite  of  Beudant,  (Traite,i\.  487),  is  generally  supposed  to  be  nearly  allied 
to  Brochantite.  Its  primary  form  is  a  rhomboidal  prism  of  about  105°  and 
75°.  It  cleaves  with  facility  parallel  to  the  base  of  the  prism.  Hardness 
between  2-0  and  3-0 ;  color  emerald-  or  blackish-green  ;  transparent.  It 
occurs  at  Werchoturi  in  Siberia.  Specimens  were  found  in  the  collec- 
tion of  the  Dowager  Countess  of  Aylesford. 


BEAUMONTITE.* 

Crenated  Hydro-Silicate  of  Copper.     C.  T.  Jackson. 

This  mineral  was  obtained  from  the  old  carbonate  of  cop- 
per mine  of  Chessy,  France,  in  1832.  It  was  regarded  as  a 
hydrated  silicate  of  copper,  but  subsequent  analysis  proved 
it  to  be  a  crenated  hydro-silicate  of  copper.  The  analysis  of 
a  specimen  which  had  effloresced  by  exposure  to  the  air 
yielded  to  Dr.  Jackson  : 


*  In  honor  of  M.  Elie  ds  Beaumont;  named  and  described  by  Dr.  Jackson,  anterior 
to  M.  Levy's  description  of  Beaumontite  (Heulandite).  See  Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  for 
1839,  xxxvii.  398. 

42* 


498  NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Silica.. 21-0 

Deutoxide  of  copper 46'8 

Crenic  acid 15-8* 

Water 10-0 

Alumina  and  iron 4*4 

Carbonic  acid  and  loss 2-0 


100-0 

It  has  the  following  characters.  Forms  stalactitical ;  color 
blue-green,  when  fresh,  but  greenish-white  when  dry.  Specific 
gravity  1*88.  Soft  pulverulent  when  dry. 

In  the  close  tube  gives  off  an  abundance  of  water,  when 
heated ;  the  recent  specimens  giving  the  largest  proportion. 
Heated  to  redness  a  portion  of  the  copper  is  reduced,  and  the 
mineral  in  the  tube  is  found  to  be  a  mixture  of  portions  of 
copper  with  yellow  and  white  powder.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it 
first  decrepitates  a  little,  then  shrinks,  leaving  numerous  cracks 
in  it,  and  at  last  partially  fuses  and  becomes  yellow  and  white. 
On  being  levigated,  yields  particles  of  metallic  copper.  With 
soda,  fuses  giving  a  button  of  copper.  With  acids,  it  gelatin- 
izes, and  the  solution  is  green  and  turns  blue  by  excess  of 
ammonia.  When  mixed  with  water,  and  sulphydric  acid 
gas  is  passed  through  it,  the  copper  separates  as  a  sulphuret, 
and  crenic  acid  and  silica  may  be  obtained  by  evaporating  the 
solution  to  dryness.  The  crenic  acid  may  be  separated  from 
the  silica  by  a  solution  of  carbonate  of  ammonia. 

It  occurs  in  stalactites  on  the  roof  of  the  mine,  and  is  con- 
tinually forming  by  infiltration  through  the  porous  sandstone 
rock.  When  recently  obtained,  it  contains  a  much  larger 
proportion  of  water,  which  it  loses  by  exposure  to  dry  air. 


VELVET    COPPER   ORE. 

Velvet  Blue  Copper,  J.     Kupfersammterz.     Cuivre  Veloute,  Levy. 

A  compound  of  oxide  of  copper,  sulphuric  acid,  silica,  and 
zinc.  — Brooke. 

It  consists  of  short  delicate  fibres  of  a  smalt-blue  color,  fre- 
quently grouped  in  spherical  globules,  which  are  produced 
by  the  divergement  of  the  capillary  crystals  from  a  centre. 
Translucent;  lustre  pearly.  When  dissolved  in  nitric  acid, 
a  skeleton  remains,  which  is  not  soluble  in  any  acid. 

It  occurs  principally  at  Moldawa  in  the  Bannat,  coating  the 
cavities  of  an  earthy  oxide  of  iron ;  but,  from  its  extreme 
rarity,  its  characters  have  not  been  satisfactorily  ascertained. 

*  With  a  small  portion  of  phosphoric  acid. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


499 


CHLORIDE   OF   COPPER. 
ATACAMITE. 

Prismatoidal  Habromene  Malachite,  M.  Prismatic  Atacamite,  J.  Salzkupfererz,  W. 
Salzsaures  Kupfer,  L.  Cuivre  Muriate,  H.  Bt.  Muriate  of  Copper.  Cypralus  ex- 
halans,  D. 

Peru.  Chili.  Chili.  Crystals. 

Oxide  of  copper. .  .70-5 76-5 72-0 73-0 

Muriatic  acid 11-5 10-5 16-3 16-2 

Water 18-0 12-5 11-7 10-8 


100-0  Proust.  99-5  Proust.  100-0  Klaproth.       100-0  J.  Davy. 

Formula,  as  given  by  Rammelsberg,  from  the  two  last  anal- 
yses :  CuGl+3Cu+3H. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-0  —  4-3.     H.  —  30  —  3-5. 

Color  various  shades  of  green;  by  transmitted  light,  some- 
times of  an  emerald-green.  It  occurs  in  minute  crystals,  of 
which  the  primary  form  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about 
100°  and  80°  by  the  common  goniometer,  on  the  planes  MM7 
produced  by  cleavage,*  which  however  have  never  been  ob- 
served, although  represented  in  the  following  figure,  to  show 
their  position.  In  some  of  the  crystals  the  planes  «2,  a2y,  and 
c,  c',  of  the  following  figure,  prevail  to  the  exclusion  of  the 
rest,  converting  them  into  the  octahedron  with  a  rectangular 
base.  The  faces  produced  by  cleavage  parallel  to  the  plane 
P,  are  very  brilliant  and  easily  obtained ;  those  parallel  to  M 
and  M7  are  less  so.  It  is  translucent  or  nearly  transparent, 
soft,  and  brittle.  Streak  apple-green ;  lustre  vitreous.  It 
tinges  the  flame  of  the  blowpipe  bright  green  and  blue,  muriatic 
acid  arises  in  vapors,  and  a  bead  of  copper  remains  on  the.  char- 
coal. Is  soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  and  com- 
municates instantaneously  to  ammonia  a  fine  blue  color. 


MonM 100° 

P  on  al 142 

«2 123    25 

c 127    12 

e .116    20 

a2  on  a'2 112 


0(K? 

ct2  on  c  .   \  .   . 

,  .  .  110°  30' 

40 

.  .  143  25 

25 

c  on  c'  .    •  . 

.  .  .  107  10 

12 

d     .... 

.  .  .  159  00 

20 

-  g         •  •  i 

.  .  .  137  40 

45 

e  on  e  . 

.  127   7 

It  is  found  at  Remolinos  in  Chili  on  brown  iron-stone,  some- 
times with  ruby  copper  and  carbonate  of  copper ;  in  Peru  with 


*  According  to  Mobs  and  Beudant,  the  angles  of  this  prism  are  112°  45'  and  67°  15'. 


500  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

some  of  the  ores  of  silver;  and  in  the  form  of  green  sand  in 
the  river  Lipas,  in  the  Atacama  desert  (whence  Atacamite), 
which  separates  Chili  from  Peru.  Also,  as  noticed  by  Mr. 
Blake,  in  masses  and  small  grains  at  Conchi,  near  the  Andes, 
and  at  a  point  on  the  coast  a  few  leagues  south  of  Paposa  in 
Bolivia.  It  also  occurs  in  the  iron  mines  of  Schwartzenberg 
in  Saxony;  and  on  the  lavas  of  Vesuvius,  where  it  is  proba- 
bly formed  by  the  union  of  muriatic  acid  and  carbonate  of  cop- 
per, both  of  which  are  well  known  to  be  deposited  by  sublima- 
tion at  that  volcano. 


HYDROUS   DIPHOSPHATE   OF    COPPER. 

LIBETHENITE. 

Phosphorkupfererz,  W.  Cuivre  Phosphate,  IT.  Br.  Bt.  Prismatic  Olivinite,  in  part,  J. 
Diprisrnatic  Olive  Malachite,  M.  Octaedrisches  Phosphorsaurer  Kupfer,  Leonhard. 
Phosphorkupfer  von  Libethen,  Haidinger.  Libetheaite,  N.  Apherese,  Beudant. 
Cypralus  dystomus,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  Berthier,  of 

Atoms. 

Phosphoric  acid 28-7 6-37 

Oxide  of  copper 63-9 12-78 

Water 7-4 6-57 

100-0 

Its  constitution  is  obviously  one  atom  phosphoric  acid,  two 
atoms  oxide  of  copper,  and  one  atom  water  ;  or  it  is  a  hydrous 
diphosphate  of  copper.     Formula:  Cp2-}-Ph-r-Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-6  —  38.     H.  =  4. 

It  occurs  crystallized,  and  in  radiated  masses;  externally 
the  crystals  are  greenish  or  blackish-green,  approaching  nearly 
to  black,  and  are  considerably  splendent,  but  their  surfaces 
are  uneven,  and  not  adapted  to  the  use  of  the  reflective  goni- 
ometer; translucent  on  the  edges,  or  opake;  by  transmitted 
light  their  fragments  are  olive-green,  occasionally  with  a  tinge 
of  yellow;  lustre  resinous;  streak  dark  olive-green.  When 
radiated,  the  color  is  bluish-green  and  black  intermixed,  the 
exterior  being  often  nearly  black.  The  crystals  are  frequently 
prismatic,  but  occasionally  the  prism  is  so  short  as  to  reduce 
them  to  the  general  figure  of  an  octahedron.  They  possess 
a  distinct  cleavage  parallel  to  the  plane  P  of  the  following  fig- 
ure ;  less  perfect  cleavages  may  also  be  obtained  parallel  to 
the  edges  x  x,  thus  reducing  the  crystals  to  a  Right  rhombic 
prism  of  about  110°  and  70°,  which  may  be  considered  as  the 
primary  form.  On  charcoal  it  fuses  into  a  brownish  globule, 
which  by  the  continued  action  of  the  blowpipe  acquires  a  red- 
dish-grey metallic  lustre  ;  in  the  centre  is  a  small  bead  of 
metallic  copper.  With  borax  and  salt  of  phosphorus  it  pre- 
sents in  the  oxidating  flame  a  green  glass,  which  becomes  in 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  501 

the  reducing,  colorless  while  hot,  and  of  a  cinnabar-  or  ruby- 
red  when  cold.  Soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid, 
to  which,  as  well  as  ammonia,  it  imparts  a  sky-blue  color. 


c  on  c  .  .  121°  15' 


M  on  M  or  x  on  x  .  .  109°  30'  c.g 

P  on  c 126    10 

a  on  a 95    15 

It  is  found  in  quartzose  cavities  associated  with  copper  py- 
rites at  Libethen,  near  Neusohl,  in  Hungary;  also  in  small 
quantity  in  Cornwall,  both  crystallized  and  fibrous,  in  Gunnis 
Lake  mine,  on  the  banks  of  the  Tamar. 

It  was  formerly  discovered  at  the  Sommerville  mine,  in  New 
Jersey,  but  is  a  very  rare  mineral  in  the  United  States. 


HYDROUS    PHOSPHATE   OF   COPPER. 

RHENITE. 

Prismatic  Habroneme*  Malachite,  M.  Pseudomalachit,  Hausmann.  Phosphorkupfer 
von  Rheinbreitbach,  Haidlnger.  Hydrous  Phosphate  of  Copper,  A.  Ypoleime,  Beu- 
dant.  Prismatic  Olivenite,  or  Phosphate  of  Copper,  J.  Rhenite.  Hydrous  Sub- 
bisesquiphosphate  of  Copper,  Thomson.  Cypralus  hemihedrus,  D. 

Analyses  by  Arfvedson  and  the  Rev.  F.  Lunn. 

Phosphoric  acid 24-70 21  -687 

Oxide  of  copper 6H-20 62-847 

Water 5-97 15-454 

98-87  Arfvedson.  99-988  Lunn. 

The  formula  given  by  Beudant,  from  the  relative  quantities 

of  oxygen  in  the  constituents,  is  CpPh-f-Aqz=Cu53P-H>Aq. 
This  is  founded  on  the  last  analysis,  and  is  the  formula 
adopted  by  Rammelsberg  to  express  the  constitution  of  this 
species. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-2  —  4-3.     H.  =  5  0. 

It  occurs  both  massive  and  crystallized.  The  color  of  the 
massive  approaches  to  emerald-green,  striated  with  black  or 
blackish-green  ;  and  it  appears  to  consist  of  minute  crystals 
often  diverging  or  radiated.  The  more  determinate  crystals 
are  generally  dull  and  of  a  blackish-green  color  externally, 
sometimes  black  and  splendent ;  by  transmitted  light  they  are 
emerald-green ;  translucent  generally  on  the  edges  only,  and 

*  From  ct^Qog,  delicate,  and  vijiia}  the  thready  fibre. 


502  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

possessing  a  vitreous  or  adamantine  lustre.  Streak  a  little 
paler  than  the  color.  By  exposure  to  red  heat  in  a  close  cru- 
cible, it  becomes  dark  olive-green,  and  the  powder  increases 
considerably  in  bulk.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  fuses  into  a  reddish- 
black  slag,  and  by  the  addition  of  carbonate  of  soda  is  reduced 
to  a  bead  of  pure  copper.  Soluble  without  effervescence  in 
nitric  acid,  particularly  if  heated.  Primary  form  an  Oblique 
rhombic  prism  of  141°  5'  and  38°  56'. 


P  on  P 117°  49' 

/on/ 141       4 


The  hydrous  phosphate  of  copper  is  found  at  Rheinbreit- 
bach,  near  Bonn,  on  the  Rhine,  in  veins  traversing  grauwacke- 
slate,  and  accompanied  by  quartz  and  ores  of  copper.  It 
generally  presents  itself  either  aggregated  in  extremely  minute 
individuals,  or  mammillated  and  compact  —  its  crystalline 
form  therefore  is  not  easily  determined. 

The  THROMBOLITIIE,  from  Retabanya  in  Hungary,  analyzed 
by  Plattner,  (J.  f.  pr.  Ch.  xv.  321),  consists  of  oxide  of  cop- 
per 39'2,  phosphoric  acid  4 TO,  water  I(r8.  These  numbers 
correspond  very  nearly  with  one  atom  oxide  of  copper,  three 
atoms  phosphoric  acid,  two  atoms  water.  It  is  therefore  a 
hydrous  terphosphate  of  copper.  Formula:  CpPh3+2Aq. 

OCTAHEDRAL    ARSENIATE. 
LIROCONITE.* 

Prismatic  Lirocone  Malachite,  M.  Liroconitc,  Beudant.  Linsenerz,  W.  Cuivre  Arsen- 
iate  Primitif.  H.  Linsen  Kupfer,  Haussmann.  Lenticular  Copper  Ore,  J.  Lenticular 
Arseniate  of  Copper,  A.  Cypralus  rectangulus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Cornwall.  Cornwall.  Cornwall. 

Oxide  of  copper 49-0 35-19 30-10 

Arsenic  acid 14-0 20-79 43-39 

Water 35-0 22-24 26*69 

Alumina 0-0 8-03 0-00 

Oxide  of  iron 0-0 3-41 0-00 

Phosphoric  acid 0-0 3-61 0-00 

Silica  and  gangue 0-0 6-99 0-00 

98-0  Chenevix.          100-26  Wachtmeister.  100-18  Thomson. 

*  The  combinations  of  arsenic  acid  and  oxide  of  copper,  though  not  materially  differing 
in  their  physical  and  blowpipe  characters,  form  several  distinct  species,  by  peculiarities 
in  their  atomic  constitution  and  crystalline  forms.  They  have  been  named  by  Phillips 
according  to  the  latter,  and  the  same  arrangement  has  been  followed  in  this  edition ; 
prominence,  however,  being  given  to  the  most  significant  trivial  title.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  503 

These  results  are  so  discordant  as  to  lead  to  the  supposition 
that  different  minerals  must  have  been  employed.  The  second 
was  obviously  an  impure  specimen.  Brooke,  from  his  own 
analysis,  has  determined  its  constituents  to  be  one  atom 
arsenic  acid,  one  atom  oxide  of  copper,  five  atoms  water  ;  and 
excepting  in  a  deficiency  of  water,  Dr.  Thomson's  analysis 
gives  the  same  result.  Formula:  CpAs+5Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-88  —  2  92.     H.  =  2'0  —  25. 

Color  sky-blue,  smalt-blue,  and  occasionally  deep  grass-  or 
verdigris-green  ;  translucent ;  cleavage  imperfect  parallel  to  all 
the  planes  of  a  flat  octahedron ;  streak  corresponding  to  the 
color,  but  paler  ;  in  the  matrass  it  yields  much  water.  B  B, 
on  charcoal,  fuses  imperfectly,  emits  arsenical  fumes,  and  is 
converted  into  a  black  friable  scoria;  and  by  subsequent  fu- 
sion with  borax  affords  a  bead  of  copper.  Soluble  without 
effervescence  in  nitric  acid.  The  primary  form  is  supposed 
to  be  an  Obtuse  octahedron,  in  which  the  common  base  of  the 
two  pyramids  is  rectangular ;  the  octahedron  being  usually 
elongated  as  shown  by  the  figures.* 


P    on  P'   ......    60°  40' 

M  on  M' 72    22 

P    on    V 179    22 

M  on  P  or  >  ,  QQ    QA 

M'onP       j 13S    3° 

I    on  I 178    10 


It  occurs  in  veins  passing  through  the  adjoining  mines  of 
Huel  Muttrell,  Huel  Gorland,  and  Huel  Unity  in  Cornwall, 
associated  with  the  following  varieties ;  also  with  red  oxide  of 
copper,  copper-pyrites,  arseniate  of  iron,  and  the  martial 
arseniate  of  copper.  It  is  likewise  met  with  at  Herrengrund 
in  Hungary  in  minute  crystals. 

RHOMBOIDAL   ARSENIATE. 

COPPER    MICA. 

Rhombr.hedral  Euclore  Mica,  M.  Hexahedral  Arseniate,  Bournon.  Cuivre  Arseniat6 
Larrselliforme,  H.  Prismatic  Copper  Mica,  J.  Kupferglimmer,  W.  and  L.  Cypro- 
mica,  JVec&er.  Cypralus  foliaceus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Oxide  of  Copper 39-0 58-0 

Arsenicacid 43-0 21-0 

Water 17-0=99-0  Vauquelin 21-0=100-0  Chenevix. 

*  It  cleaves  parallel  to  the  planes  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  which  is  the  primary  form 
according  to  Brooke. 


504 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


The  analysis  by  Chenevix,  gives  one  atom  arsenic  acid, 
two  atoms  oxide  of  copper,  three  atoms  water.  It  is  there- 
fore a  terhydrous  diarseriiate  of  copper,  and  does  not  differ 
much  from  Euchroite  in  its  atomic  constitution,  though  quite 
distinct  from  it  in  other  respects.  Formula:  Cp2As+3Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  2-5  — 2-6.  H.:=2-0.' 

Color  emerald-  or  grass-green.  In  six-sided  tabular  crys- 
tals, of  which  the  lateral  planes  are  trapeziums,  inclining 
alternately  in  contrary  directions,  being  sections  of  an  Acute 
rhomboid  of  about  110°  30'  and  69°  30';  and  it  yields  to 
cleavage  parallel  to  all  the  planes  of  the  rhomboid,  but  with 
perfect  ease  and  brilliancy  only  at  right  angles  to  its  axis,  i.  c. 
parallel  to  the  tabular  planes  «;  these  tables  are  often  applied 
to  each  other  laterally,  forming  rosettes,  which  may  be  sepa- 
rated into  laminae  like  mica.  Streak  rather  paler  than  the 
color.  Lustre  pearly  parallel  to  «,  vitreous  parallel  to  P. 
Transparent  or  translucent.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  emits  arsen- 
ical fumes,  and  passes  first  into  a  spongy  scoria,  after  which 
it  melts  into  a  black  slightly  vitreous  globule  ;  with  borax  it 
affords  a  green  glass,  which  includes  grains  of  metallic  copper. 
Soluble  in  nitric  acid. 

The  dotted  lines  in  the  first  of  the  following  figures  exhibit  the  portion 
of  the  tabular  crystal  in  the  primary  rhomboid. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 
P'  on  P" 
P  on  a    .  .  .  . 
P'  or  P"  on  a  . 

a  on  m  or  m'  . 
b  on  b'  or  b"    . 


110°  30' 
69  12 
108  40 
128  18 
124  42 
179  35 


This  species  is  as  yet  peculiar  to  the  mining  districts  ofi 
Cornwall :    it   occurs    accompanying    the   preceding   in    the 
mines  near  Redruth;  also  at  Gunnis  Lake  on  the  banks  of 
the  Tamar. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


505 


OBLIQUE   PRISMATIC   ARSENIATE. 

Diatomous  Hahroneme  Malachite.  M.  Axotomous  Habroneme  Malachite,  Haidingcr. 
Radiated  Acicular  Olivenite,  J.  Strahlerz,  A.  Cuivre  Arseniate  en  Prisme  Rhom- 
boidal  Oblique,  Levy.  Aphanese,  JVec&er.  Cypralus  acrotomus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Cornwall.  Atoms. 

Oxide  of  copper 54-0 56-65 2-06 

Arsenic  acid 30-0 39-80 1-00 

Water 16-0 3-55 0-57 


100-0  Chenevix.       100-00  Richardson. 

The  constitution  of  this  species,  if  we  adopt  the  last  analy- 
sis, is  one  atom  arsenic  acid,  two  atoms  oxide  of  copper,  one 
half  atom  water.  If  the  water  be  viewed  as  accidental,  it  is 
nearly  allied  in  composition  with  the  next  species,  or  an  anhy- 
drous diarseniate  of  copper  —  Cp2As. 

SP.  Gr.  4-1—4 2a     H.  =  2-5  — 3-0. 

Externally  bluish-black  passing  into  deep  black,  with  a  shin- 
ing lustre  ;  internally  greenish-blue.  Occurs,  though  rarely, 
in  extremely  minute  Oblique  rhombic  prisms,  whose  lateral 
planes  meet  alternately  at  angles  of  about  56°  and  124°,  and 
of  which  the  oblique  terminal  plane  declines  from  one  acute 
angle  to  the  other;  they  are  frequently  fasciculated  in  a  some- 
what radiating  position,  so  that  only  the  terminal  planes  of  the 
following  figures  are  distinctly  visible  ;  it  also  occurs  in  curved 
lamellar  concretions.  The  minute  crystals  are  often  transpa- 
rent and  of  a  beautiful  blue  or  greenish-blue  color  by  trans- 
mitted light ;  the  larger  crystals  are  sometimes  black  and 
opake,  but,  on  being  scratched  by  the  knife,  appear  internally 
of  a  blue  color.  Streak  verdigris-green.  B  B,  in  the  matrass 
yields  water  ;  on  charcoal  emits  arsenical  vapors,  and  fuses 
into  a  bead,  which  on  cooling  crystallizes  in  small  rhombic 
plates  of  a  brown  color. 


Primary. 


M  on  M' 56°    0' 


P  on  M  or  M' 
al. 


95 
125 


cl 80    30 

c2 99    30 

/on/ 62    30 


The  dotted  lines  on  the  primary  show  that  from  the  replacement  of  its 
acute  angles  arise  the  planes  cl  of  the  second  figure. 

This  species  is  only  known  in  Cornwall,  where  it  accompa- 
nies the  preceding  and  other  ores  of  malachite.  The  crystals 
43 


506  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

present  a  very  dark-blue  color  and  brilliant  lustre,  but  are  rarely 
recognisable,  being  aggregated  in  diverging  groups,  or  disposed 
in  extremely  minute  individuals  in  the  cavities  of  quartz. 

RIGHT   PRISMATIC   ARSENIATE. 
OLIVENITE, 

Prismalic  Olive  Malachite,  M.  Cuivre  Arseniate  Octaedre  Aijru,  II.  Acicular  Olivcnitc, 
J.  Acicular  Arscniate  of  Copper,  A.  Olivenerz,  W.  Olivenkupfer,  Jlaussinann. 
Olivenit,  L.  Bcudant.  Cypralus  acicularis,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  and  oxide  of  copper. 

Oxide  of  copper 50-03 50-2 

Arsenic  acid 30-71 39-9 

Water 3-f>0 3-9 

Phosphoric  acid 3-36 U-U 

100-20  Kobell.         100-00  Richardson. 

It  is  constituted  of  one  atom  arsenic  acid,  two  atoms  oxide 
of  copper,  and  does  not  appear  to  be  distinct  from  the  last 
species.  Formula:  Cp2As. 

Sp.  Gr.  42  —  46.     H.  =  30  —  35. 

Color  olive-green,  pistachio-green,  and  blackish-green,  pass- 
ing into  liver-brown  and  wood-brown ;  the  fibrous  variety 
sisTun-green.  Occurs  in  prismatic  crystals,  which  are  divisible 
parallel  to  the  planes  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about  1 10° 
50'  and  69°  10'  (MM').  Streak  olive-green  or  brown.  Lustre 
between  vitreous  and  resinous.  Fracture  conchoidal  and  un- 
even. Sometimes  however  the  planes  c  c  prevail  to  the  exclu- 
sion of  P,  and  the  prism  is  then  so  short  as  to  give  it  the  gene- 
ral form  of  an  octahedron  with  a  rectangular  base  :  the  face  a 
is  extremely  rare ;  the  crystals  are  usually  attached  to  the 
matrix  at  MM'.  It  also  occurs  capillary.  B  B,  yields  no 
water  in  the  matrass;  on  charcoal  emits  an  arsenical  odor, 
fuses  with  a  kind  of  deflagration,  and  is  reduced,  forming  a 
white  metallic  globule,  which  during  cooling  becomes  covered 
with  a  red  coating.  Is  soluble  in  nitric  acid,  and  colors  am- 
monia blue. 

/^ — v 

M  on  M'  ....  110°  50' 
P  on  M  or  M  .  90  00 
M  or  M  on  a  .  .  132  7 

...  9230 

This  species  occurs  in  Huel  Gorland,  and  Huel  Unity  near 
St.  Day  ;  also  in  Tin  Croft  mine  near  Redruth,  and  elsewhere 
in  Cornwall.  It  has  also  been  observed  at  Alston  Moor  in 
Cumberland,  but  not  in  such  splendid  specimens  as  in  Cornwall. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  507 

CAPILLARY  OR  AMIANTIFORM  ARSENIATE. — This  variety  presents 
the  same  colors,  and  occurs  in  minute  crystals,  occasionally  exhibiting  the 
planes  c,  c  of  the  preceding  figure  ;  generally  they  are  indeterminate,  the 
capillary  prisms  being  distinct  for  a  part  of  their  length,  and  terminated  by 
extremely  minute  fibres  of  a  greenish-white  color  and  silky  lustre. 

HJEMATITIC  OR  WOOD  A.RSENIATE. —  Cuivre  arseniatc  mamelonne 
fibreux,  H.  It  occurs  of  various  shades  of  brown,  green,  and  yellow,  often 
whitish  or  yellowish  ;  and  is  found  investing  some  of  the  preceding  varie- 
ties, also  mammillated;  the  structure  is  finely  and  divergingly  fibrous, 
generally  with  a  silky  lustre.  It  sometimes  possesses  considerable  hard- 
ness; frequently  adheres  to  the  fingers.  B  B,  it  yields  a  hard  black  cel- 
lular scoria.  These  varieties  accompany  the  preceding  species. 


EUCHROITE.* 

Haidinger.      (Edinb.  Jour,  of  Science,  ii.  133.)      Prismatic  Emerald  Malachite,  M.     Eu- 
chroite,  Breithaupt. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  oxide  of  copper,  and  water. 

Libethen.  Atoms. 

Contains  Oxide  of  copper 47-85 9-57 1-00 

Arsenic  acid 33-02 4-55. . .  .2-10 

Water 18-80 16-71. . .  .3-67 

99-67  Turner. 

It  is  a  hydrous  diarseniate  of  copper,  differing  but  slightly  in 
its  constitution  from  copper  mica.  Formula  :  Cp2As+3f  Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-38  — 341.  H.  —  35—  40. 

Primary  form  a  right  Rhombic  prisrn  of  117°  20' ;  cleavage 
indistinct ;  fracture  uneven  ;  color,  bright  emerald-green  ; 
transparent  or  translucent,  with  vitreous  lustre,  and  consider- 
able double  refraction.  Streak  pale  apple-green.  In  the 
matrass  it  yields  water,  changes  its  color,  and  becomes  friable. 
When  heated  upon  charcoal  to  a  certain  point,  it  is  reduced  in 
an  instant  with  a  kind  of  deflagration,  leaving  a  globule  of 
malleable  copper,  with  white  metallic  particles  disposed  through 
it,  which  are  crystallized  on  continuing  the  blast.  It  dissolves 
readily  in  nitric  acid  without  effervescence. 


n  on  n  over  P 87°  52' 

M  on  M  .  .117    20 


This  beautiful  mineral  occurs  in  crystals  of  considerable 
dimensions  at  Libethen  in  Hungary  in  quartzose  mica-slate. 
It  is  very  rare. 

*From  TZvxQoia  (pulcher  color). 


508  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

CONDURRITE. 

TV.  Phillips.    Faraday.     (Phil.  Mag.,  new  scries,  ii.  286.) 

This  name  has  been  given  by  W.  Phillips  to  an  arsenical 
copper  ore  found  at  the  Cordorrow  mine,  in  the  county  of 
Cornwall. 

Composition,  according  to  Faraday,  copper  GO  50,  sulphur 
3*06,  arsenic  T51,  arsenious  acid  '2594,  water  8'99.  Dr. 
Thomson  observes  that  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  the 
arsenious  acid  originally  existed  in  this  ore  in  the  state  of 
metallic  arsenic,  and  that  it  consisted  of  one  atom  sulphuret  of 
copper,  three  atoms  arseniet  of  copper. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-2045.     H.  not  stated. 

Color  brownish-black  ;  brittle;  yields  to  the  knife,  which 
leaves  a  polished  metallic  looking  surface,  nearly  of  a  lead-grey 
color.  Occurs  massive.  When  ignited  it  gives  out  a  copious 
white  vapor,  leaving  on  the  charcoal  a  metallic  substance  in 
a  semi-fluid  state  of  a  yellow  color. 

KUPFERSCHAUM. 

Prismatic  Euclore   Mica,   M.      Zinc   Hydrate   Cuprifere,  Levy.      Kupferschaum,    W. 
Borodigliune.    Kupaphrite.     Cyprulus  decrcpitans,  D. 

According  to  the  analyses  of  Von  Kobell,  it  is  composed  as 
follows  : 

Arsenic  acid 25-01 25-366 

Oxide  of  copper 43-88 43-660 

Water 17-46 19^24 

Carbonate  of  lime 13-65 11-150 


100-00  100-000 

These  numbers  correspond  with  one  atom  arsenic  acid,  two 
and  a  half  atoms  oxide  of  copper,  four  and  a  half  atoms  water, 
forming  the  hydrous  sub-bisesquiarscniate  of  copper,  of  Dr. 
Thomson.  Formula:  Cp2*As+4^Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-0  — 3-2.      H.=  l«0  —  1-5, 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  Occurs  in  rhomboidal 
plates,  which  present  perfect  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
the  rhomb  ;  generally  in  small  aggregated  and  diverging  fibrous 
groups  of  a  pale  apple-green  or  verdigris-green  color,  inclining 
to  sky-blue,  and  translucent;  lustre  pearly  on  the  faces  of  the 
rhomb;  streak  same  as  the  color,  but  paler;  thin  laminaB  are 
flexible.  Entirely  soluble  in  heated  acids.  B  B,  it  decrepi- 
tates and  fuses  readily  in  the  platina  forceps  into  a  blebby 
copper-red  colored  scoria ;  upon  charcoal,  it  intumesces,  dis- 
engages an  alliaceous  odor,  and  melts  into  a  green  scoria, 
containing  numerous  grains  of  metallic  copper  ;  with  borax  it 
readily  forms  a  green  limpid  glass,  and  with  soda  is  reduced. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  509 

Is  found  disposed  in  the  cavities  of  calamine,  associated  with 
barytes,  calc-spar,  or  quartz,  in  the  Bannat,  at  Libethen  in 
Hungary,  Nerzschinsk  in  Siberia,  Schwatz  in  the  Tyrol, 
Saalfeld  in  Thuringia,  and  at  Matlock  in  Derbyshire. 


ERINITE.* 

Dystomic  Habroneme  Malachite,  M.     Cypralus  concentricus,  D. 

Oxide  of  copper  59.44,  arsenic  acid  33*78,  alumina  1*77, 
water  5'01. —  Turner.  It  differs  from  the  preceding  only  in 
containing  but  one  atom  of  water. 

Sp.  Gr.  40  —  4-1.     H.  =r4-5  — 5-0. 

Form  unknown  ;  cleavage  indistinct.  In  mammillated  crys- 
talline groups,  consisting  of  concentric  coats  with  rough  sur- 
faces, and  exhibiting  a  fibrous  structure.  Color  brilliant 
emerald-green,  slightly  inclining  to  grass-green;  streak  the 
same,  but  a  little  paler  ;  lustre  none  ;  faintly  translucent  on 
the  edges ;  fracture  uneven,  or  imperfect  conchoidal. 

This  species  was  distinguished  by  Haidinger  ;  it  occurs, 
though  not  abundantly,  with  arseniate  of  copper,  in  the  county 
of  Limerick. 


VOLBORTHITE.t 

Vanadiate  of  Copper. 

This  is  a  very  rare  mineral,  and  has  been  found  only  in 
Siberia,  associated  with  other  copper  ores.  The  only  account 
we  have  of  it  is  a  short  one,  which  may  be  found  in  the  Trans- 
actions of  the  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Petersburg, 
vol.  i.  1842,  p.  75.  The  exact  locality  is  not  stated  ;  nor  has 
the  mineral  been  fully  analyzed.  It  is  described  as  occurring 
in  small  clusters  of  olive  colored  crystals,  sometimes  united 
into  globular  masses,  but  too  imperfect  to  be  determined  crystal- 
lographically.  Single  splinters  are  transparent  and  reflect  a 
glassy  lustre.  Scratches  calcareous  spar ;  specific  gravity  3*55  ; 
streak  bright  green,  almost  yellow.  The  mineral  was  discovered 
accidentally  in  examining  some  Siberian  copper  ores,  and  Von 
Volborth  observes,  that  he  was  surprised  to  find  vanadic  acid 
instead  of  phosphoric  or  arsenic  acid,  for  which  he  was  search- 
ing. The  discovery  is  a  very  interesting  one,  as  hitherto  this 
acid  has  been  found  in  nature  only  in  combination  with  oxide 
of  lead,  in  Mexico,  Scotland,  and  East  Russia. 

*  Erinite,  in  reference  to  its  locality,  as  well  as  to  its  characteristic  emerald-green  color, 
f  In  honor  of  its  discoverer,  Von  Volborth  of  Russia,  named  by  Von  Hess. 

43* 


510  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

BLACK   OXIDE   OF   COPPER. 

Kupferschwarze,W.    Copper  Black,  J.  and  A.   Melaconise,  Bcudant.   Cuivre  Oxide  Noir. 

This  mineral  is  supposed  to  be  a  mixture  of  oxides  of  cop- 
per and  iron,  and  is  not  therefore  an  atomic  combination. 

Color  brownish-black,  or  black.  Never  occurs  crystallized, 
rarely  massive,  mostly  disseminated  in  or  investing  other  ores 
of  copper;  commonly  friable,  soils  the  fingers,  and  is  heavy. 
It  is  fusible  B  B,  into  a  black  slag,  yielding  globules  of  cop- 
per in  the  reducing  flame;  and  is  acted  upon  by  nitric  acid, 
without  the  disengagement  of  gas. 

It  occurs  in  most  of  the  Cornish  mines,  on  the  surface  of 
and. associated  with  the  botryoidal  varieties  of  copper  pyrites, 
with  crystallized  and  massive  red  oxide  of  copper  and  vitreous 
copper,  and  may  not  improperly  be  considered  as  resulting 
from  the  decomposition  of  these  ores,  which  are  frequently 
found  passing  into  black  copper.  It  has  likewise  been  ob- 
served at  Chessy  near  Lyons,  in  Siberia,  Peru,  and  many 
other  places,  but  only  in  small  quantities. 

It  has  been  found  by  Dr.  Houghton  among  the  copper  ores 
in  the  mineral  district  of  Michigan  ;  and  it  occurs  also  among 
other  copper  ores,  at  the  lead  mines  of  Missouri. 


NATIVE   GOLD. 

Hexahedral  Gold,  M.  and  J.    Gediegcn  Gold,  W.    Or  Natif,  II  Br.  Bt.     Electrum,  Haus. 
Rex  metallorum.     Aurum  cubicmn,  D. 

Gold  is  sometimes  alloyed  with  copper  and  iron,  but  the 
purest  specimens  contain  only  silver.  Prof.  G.  Rose,  examined 
a  large  number  of  specimens  from  various  localities,  and  ac- 
cording to  his  results,  the  proportion  of  silver  varies  from  6  to 
23  per  cent.  Ten  of  his  analyses,  gave  almost  exactly  eight 
atoms  gold  to  one  atom  silver.  This  is  the  most  common 
atomic  composition  of  this  mineral.  Formula  :  Au8Ag. 
Sp.  Gr.  17—19.  H.r=2-5  —  30. 

Native  gold  is  bright  yellow  of  various  shades.  It  occurs 
crystallized  in  the  Cube  and  regular  octahedron  and  several  of 
their  varieties,  but  does  not  possess  a  lamellar  structure  ;  the 
cube  has  been  adopted  as  the  primary  form,  as  being  the  most 
simple.  It  is  also  found  capillary,  ramified,  and  in  grains; 
occasionally  in  masses  weighing  several  pounds.  Soft,  inelas- 
tic, flexible,  and  malleable.  Fusible  at  32°  Wedgewood  ;  but 
is  soluble  only  in  nitro-muriatic  acid.  By  friction  it  acquires 
resinous  electricity. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 
2.  3.  4.  5. 


511 


Fig.  1,  the  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  the  solid  angles  are  re- 
placed by  planes  ;  which  are  complete  in  fig.  3,  forming  the  regular  octa- 
hedron. Fig.  4,  an  octahedron,  with  its  edges  replaced  by  six-sided 
planes  ;  which  are.  complete  in  fig.  5,  the  rhombic  dodecahedron.  Fig.  6, 
an  octahedron,  whose  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  four  triangular  planes, 
forming  on  each  an  obtuse  quadrangular  pyramid. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 90°  00'  H. 

P,  P',  or  P"  on  a 125    15  — 

e 135    00  — 

109    28  — 
26  — 

00  — 


a  on  a1  or  a" 

6  on  b  . 146 

e  on  e'  or  e"  .  .1 20 


It  is  found  in  veins  or  beds  in  primitive  mountains,  in 
nodules,  plates,  and  small  crystals,  coating  the  cavities  or 
interspersed  through  the  mass.  One  crystal  in  the  possession 
of  W.  Phillips,  exhibited  twenty-one  varieties  of  form. 

It  occurs  in  granite  in  Salzburg,  and  at  La  Gardette  in 
France ;  in  gneiss  and  mica-slate  in  Mexico  and  the  Tyrol ;  in 
hornblende  rock  at  Edelfors  in  Sweden  ;  and  at  Schlangenberg 
in  Siberia.  In  Siberia  it  occurs  in  alluvium  or  sand,  in  the 
country  eastward  of  the  Ural  Mountains,  where  masses  of 
eight,  ten,  or  sixteen  pounds  have  occasionally  been  discovered. 
In  Transylvania  a  considerable  quantity  of  gold  is  obtained 
from  stream  works,  as  at  Ohlapian  near  Hermanstadt.  In  the 
Wicklow  mountains  of  Ireland,  and  at  Leadhills  in  Scotland, 
it  occurs  in  alluvial  soil ;  and  in  many  districts  of  Germany  it 
appears  under  similar  circumstances.  The  mines  of  Hungary 
and  Transylvania,  Cremnitz,  Schemnitz,  Posing,  Botza,  Ma- 
gurka,  Nagyag,  Offenbanya,  and  Boitza,  are  all  worked  for 
this  metal,  and  occasionally  afford  the  most  splendid  speci- 
mens j  and  in  Saltzburg,  and  thence  along  the  chain  of  the 
Alps  as  far  as  La  Gardette  near  Allemont  in  France,  there  are 
numerous  other  establishments  of  a  similar  description.  — 
Allan's  Manual. 


512  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

In  England,  native  gold  has  recently  been  obtained,  in  one 
instance,  in  veins,  near  North  Tavvton,  Devon.,  and  there  is 
evidence  in  the  rolled  pieces  found  in  tin  stream-works  in 
Cornwall,  that  it  has  occurred  in  strings,  branches  or  lodes,  in 
the  rocks  of  this  district.  Some  of  the  largest  pieces  of  native 
gold  have  been  obtained  from  the  Cavnon  stream-works. — 
Report  on  Cornwall  and  Devon,  by  Dclabechc. 

Humboldt  has  made  known  to  the  French  Academy  of 
Sciences,  the  discovery  of  a  mass  of  native  gold  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  Ural  mountains,  weighing  about  eighty  English 
pounds  (thirty-six  kilogrammes).  The  total  product  of  the 
Russian  mines  in  1842,  amounted  to  about  sixteen  thousand 
kilogrammes,  of  which  seven  thousand  eight  hundred  were 
from  the  Siberian  mines.  The  largest  mass  of  gold  before 
found,  was  from  the  same  country,  and  weighed  twenty-two 
English  pounds;  of  this  there  is  a  model  in  the  museum  of 
Natural  History  in  Paris,  the  mass  itself,  of  course,  being  con- 
sumed in  the  arts.* 

It  is  abundantly  disseminated  in  Peru,  Bolivia  and  Chili, 
among  the  Andes ;  and  in  all  of  these  countries  gold  mines 
have  been  extensively  worked.  A  large  portion  of  the  precipi- 
tous and  broken  ground  of  Chili  affords  it,  and  in  that  part  of 
the  country  where  it  rains,  a  large  number  of  the  inhabitants 
find  employment  in  searching  for  it  in  the  sand  washed  down 
from  the  mountains,  and  along  the  various  water  courses.  The 
most  important  mines  in  Chili,  according  to  Mr.  Blake,  are 
those  of  Copiapo,  Huasco,  Coquimbo,  Putaendo,  Caen,  Alhue, 
Chibato  and  Quillota.  At  Petorca,  in  the  province  of  Quillota, 
the  mines  are  very  extensive  and  rich.  In  Bolivia,  at  Potosi ; 
in  the  districts  of  Chichay  Tarija,  Oruzo,  Chayantas,  and  Ca- 
ranjas.  At  Couchi  it  occurs  associated  with  iron  pyrites,  in 
veins  of  quartz  in  feldspar  porphyry.  In  Peru,  in  the  district 
of  Caxamarca,  in  the  towns  of  Caxamarquilla  and  Huamachu- 
co,  a  large  quantity  of  gold  has  been  obtained  from  washing 
the  sand.  In  the  province  of  Laricaxes,  north  of  La  Paz,  in 
the  mountain  of  San  Chuli,  is  one  of  the  richest  veins  which 
have  been  discovered  It  was  worked  for  about  fifty  years, 
when  the  miners  struck  a  spring  of  water  so  powerful  as  to 
oblige  them  to  abandon  the  mines. 

Native  gold  has  been  found  in  several  of  the  United  States, 
as  in  North  and  South  Carolina,  Virginia,  Tennessee,  Geor- 
gia, and  Alabama,  but  there  are  but  few  mines  systematically 
explored.  The  metal  is  usually  found  in  small  masses  loose  in 

*  Jameson's  Edin.  Phil.  Journ.,  1843,  xxxiv.  387. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS^,  513 


the  soil,  or  in  the  washed  gravel  of  rivers.  Lumps  weighing 
several  ounces  are  not  uncommon,  while  those  weighing  several 
pounds  have  been  met  with  ;  and  one  splendid  mass  has  been 
discovered  in  Cabarras  county,  N.  C.,  which  weighed  in  its 
crude  state  twenty-eight  pounds.  When  found,  in  place, 
the  matrix  is  usually  a  white  cavernous  quartz,  or  a  hydrated 
oxide  of  iron,  in  which  the  gold  is  frequently  disseminated  in 
particles  too  minute  to  be  observed  by  the  naked  eye.  Very 
recently,  Dr.  Jackson  has  discovered  a  brown  auriferous  py- 
rites at  Grafton  and  Canaan,  N.  IT.,  containing  minute  parti- 
cles and  laminae  of  this  metal,  which  possess  great  brilliancy. 
This  hydrated  peroxide  of  iron  appears  to  have  been  derived 
from  the  decomposition  of  auriferous  pyrites.  "  At  the 
Whitehall  mine,  in  North  Carolina,  gold  of  the  value  of 
$10,000  was  found  in  the  course  of  five  days,  in  a  space  of 
about  twenty  square  feet ;  and  $7,000  value  of  gold  was  found 
at  Tinder's  mine,  in  Louisa  county,  in  the  course  of  one 
week."* 

Gold  is  frequently  combined  with  other  metalliferous  minerals,  in  vari- 
ous proportions  ;  particularly  native  tellurium,  and  occasionally  iron  pyrites, 
which  thence  are  termed  auriferous. 

The  specular  micaceous  iron  ore  from  Cocois,  Brazil,  contains  compressed 
laminae  of  native  gold,  which  at  first  sight  might  be  mistaken  for  mica  or 
iron  pyrites.  The  gold  of  Brazil  is  frequently  associated  with  palladium, 
particularly  that  from  Congo  Socco. 

ARGENTIFEROUS  GOLD.  ELECTRUM.  Is  distinguished  by  its  silver- 
white  color,  although,  as  all  gold  contains  a  proportion  of  silver,  no  definite 
separation  can  be  made  between  this  variety  and  the  above.  The  elec- 
trum  which  Klaproth  analyzed,  consisted  of  gold  64,  silver  36.  Another 
specimen,  by  G.  Rose,  gave  of  gold  74-41,  silver  23-12.  Specific  gravity 
14-0 — 17-0.  B  B,  it  fuses  into  a  more  or  less  pale-yellow  globule.  It 
occurs  at  Schlangenberg  in  Siberia  in  tabular  crystals  and  imperfect  cubes ; 
also  at  Kongsberg  in  Norway ;  in  Transylvania;  and  in  other  mining  dis- 
tricts. 

Beudant  considers  that  not  less  than  88,100  marks  of  gold  are  annually 
produced  from  the  different  quarters  of  the  globe,  of  which  South  America 
alone  supplies  70,000,  Africa  7000,  Siberia  3000,  Hungary  and  Transyl- 
vania 5100,  &c.  Its  uses  are  well  known  ;  it  is  the  most  ductile  and 
flexible  of  all  metals,  and  is  at  the  same  time  very  soft.  The  electric 
shock  converts  it  into  a  purple  oxide.  Its  color  when  melted  is  bluish- 
green,  the  same  as  is  exhibited  by  light  transmitted  through  gold  leaf. 

NATIVE   PLATINUM. t 

Gediegen  Platine,  W.     Platine  Natif  Fcrrifere,  H.      Hexahedral  Platina,  M.  and  J. 
Platinum  cubicum,  D. 

Is  never  met  with  pure,  being  alloyed  with  about  20  per 

*See  an  interesting  paper,  by  Prof.  Silliman,  on  the  gold  mines  of  Virginia,  Am.  Jour, 
of  Science,  xxxii.  98;  and  another  by  Prof.  Olmsted,  on  those  of  North  Carolina,  Ibid., 

f  From  a  Spanish  word  signifying  silver ;  in  allusion  doubtless  to  the  color  of  platina. 


514  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

cent,  of  other  substances,  particularly  iron ;  also  rhodium, 
iridium,  osmium,  and  palladium,  —  four  metals  which  were 
unknown  till  discovered  in  platinum.  Berzelius  has  carefully 
examined  native  platinum,  and  three  of  his  analyses  are  here 
given.  It  appears  from  these,  that  native  platinum,  like  native 
gold,  varies  much  in  the  proportions  of  its  alloy,  and  is  proba- 
bly never  entirely  free  from  admixture  with  other  metals.  The 
various  specimens  contain  from  74  to  87  per  cent,  of  platinum, 
and  from  6  to  13  per  cent,  of  iron. 


Ural.  Columbia. 


Ural. 


Large  nrains.  Small  rrrains. 

Platinum 73-94 8-1-30 73-f>8 

Rhodium 0-80 3-4(> 1-15 

Palladium 0-28 1-OG 0-30 

Iridium 4-97 1-46 2-35 

Osmium l-9l> 1-03 0-00 

Jron 11-04 5-31 12-98 

Copper 0-70 0-74 2-30* 

98-75  Berzelius.        98-08  Berzelius.        97-86  Berzelius. 

Sp.  Gr.  160  —  20  O.t     H.  =  40  —  4-5. 

Color  perfect  steel-grey.  Primary  form  the  Cube.  Occurs 
in  irregular  masses  or  grains,  rarely  exhibiting  traces  of  crys- 
tallization;  cleavage  none;  lustre  metallic  ;  streak  unchanged 
and  shining;  ductile,  and  malleable.  It  requires  a  much 
higher  degree  of  heat  than  can  be  produced  by  the  common 
blowpipe,  to  cause  fusion  ;  but  at  the  oxy-hydrogen  flame  it 
melts  like  lead.  It  slightly  affects  the  magnet,  in  proportion 
to  the  amount  of  iron  which  it  contains ;  and  is  soluble  only 
in  nitro-muriatic  acid. 

The  original  repositories  of  native  platina  are  not  generally 
known,  it  having  been  met  with  mostly  in  pebbles  mixed  with 
sand  and  other  alluvial  depositions,  and  sometimes  with  zircon 
arid  other  gems.  But  M.  Boussingault  has  discovered  it  in  a 
sienite  rock  in  South  America,  where  it  occurs  in  veins  asso- 
ciated with  native  gold.  It  has  principally  been  obtained  from 
the  provinces  of  Choco  and  Barbacoas  in  South  America; 
also  from  Matto-Grosso  in  Brazil;  St.  Domingo,  and  Siberia. 
Is.  found  in  Peru,  in  the  province  of  Quito  ;  and  in  the  districts 
of  Novita  and  Citaza  in  the  province  of  Choco,  mixed  with 
gold,  titanium  and  magnetic  iron  sand.  Latterly  platina  has 
occurred  in  such  abundance  at  Joetsk,  in  the  Perm  government 
of  Siberia,  that  the  Russians  have  converted  it  into  a  medium 
of  exchange,  by  coining  it  into  ducats  of  ten  roubles.  In 
1827,  a  remarkable  specimen  was  found  in  the  Ural,  not  far 
from  the  Demidoff  mines,  which  weighed  nine  and  a  half 

*  Undissolved  matter.     The  second  specimen  also  contained  0-72  per  cent,  of  earthy 
matters. 

|The  specific  gravity  of  absolutely  pure  platinum  is  21-5. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  515 

pounds,  avoirdupois ;  and  at  about  the  same  time  another  was 
met  with  which  weighed  twenty-seven  pounds.  This  is  in  the 
cabinet  of  the  mining  corps  of  St.  Petersburg ;  and  it  much 
exceeds  any  mass  hitherto  found  in  South  America.*  Von 
Demidoffhas  sent  several  other  large  masses  to  St.  Petersburg, 
weighing  from  ten  to  twenty  pounds.  From  the  discovery  of 
this  metal  in  J825  to  1840,  fifty-three  thousand  three  hundred 
and  thirty-six  pounds  twelve  solotnic,  were  obtained  from  the 
Demidoff  deposits.  It  is  mostly  obtained  by  washings  from 
sand.  Very  rarely,  it  has  been  found  in  small  grains  dissemi- 
nated through  serpentine,  and  intermixed  with  octahedral  crys- 
tals of  chromateof  iron.  As  a  large  portion  of  the  sand  through 
which  the  platinum  is  scattered  is  green,  and  has  the  appearance 
of  disintegrated  serpentine,  it  is  supposed  that  this  rock  may 
have  been  the  original  repository  of  the  metal.  Serpentine  is 
one  of  the  principal  rocks  in  the  region  of  the  rich  deposits  of 
Nische-Tagilsk,  and  gold  has  also  been  found  in  it.  There 
occurs  at  the  same  place  a  conglomerate,  consisting  of  serpen- 
tine and  amphibole,  united  by  an  argilo-calcareous  cement,  in 
which  both  metals  have  been  found  in  imbedded  masses.f 

There  is  deposited  in  the  Madrid  museum  a  mass  measuring 
two  inches  and  four  lines  in  diameter,  and  weighing  eleven  thou- 
sand six  hundred  and  forty-one  grains.  The  refractory  pro- 
perties of  this  metal,  its  freedom  from  rust  or  tarnish,  and  its 
not  being  acted  upon  by  most  chemical  re-agents,  render  it  ex- 
tremely valuable  in  the  construction  of  philosophical  and  che- 
mical apparatus.  It  is  used  also  for  covering  other  metals,  for 
painting  on  porcelain,  &,c.  The  common  occurrence  of  gold 
as  an  inseparable  concomitant  of  platinum,  both  in  South 
America  and  in  Siberia,  leads  us  to  hope  that  the  latter  metal 
may  be  discovered  in  the  United  States.  In  fact,  Mr.  Feather- 
stonaugh  states,  in  his  Geological  report,  that  he  has  in  his 
possession  a  specimen  from  North  Carolina. 

NATIVE    PALLADIUM.* 

Wollaston.    (Phil.  Trans.  1809,  p.  189.}    Palladium,!.    Octahedral  Palladium,  Haidlnger. 
Palladium  octahedrum,  D. 

It  consists  of  palladium,  alloyed  by  minute  portions  of  pla- 
tina  and  iridium.  Symbol,  Pal. 

Sp.  Gr.  11-5  —  12-5.     H.  above  4'5. 
Primary  form  the  Octahedron.     Occurs  in  grains  apparently 

*Dickson,  on  the  gold,  silver,  and  platina  of  Russia.  Featherstonaugh's  Journal, 
No.  3,  September,  1831. 

4  Transactions  of  the  Russian  Imperial  Mineralogical  Society,  1842,  pp.  133,  et  seq. 
I  Palladium  ;  from  the  planet  Pallas. 


516  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

composed  of  diverging  fibres;  in  other  respects  these  grains 
differ  little  in  external  character  from  those  of  platina,  amongst 
which  they  are  found.  Cleavage  none;  lustre  metallic;  color 
steel-grey  ;  ductile,  and  very  malleable.  Yields  a  red  solution 
with  nitric  acid  ;  and  is  soluble  in  muriatic,  but  not  in  sul- 
phuric acid,  unless  heated.  B  B,  per  sc,  it  is  infusible,  but  on 
the  addition  of  sulphur  it  melts  with  ease ;  and  when  the  heat 
is  continued  the  sulphur  is  deposited,  and  a  globule  of  malle- 
able palladium  remains.  Isolated  and  rubbed,  it  acquires 
resinous  electricity. 

It  is  found  intermixed  with  native  platina  in  Brazil  and  Si- 
beria ;  and,  except  that  its  texture  appears  more  fibrous,  it 
bears  much  resemblance  to  that  substance.  At  the  mine 
Congo  Soco,  in  Brazil,  it  is  mixed  with  gold,  and  contained  in 
an  ochrey  variety  of  hydrated  peroxide  of  iron. 


SELENIET    OF    PALLADIUM. 

Zinken.     (Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.  Ixiv.  206.) 

This  mineral  was  found  with  seleniet  of  lead  at  Tilkerode, 
in  the  Duchy  of  Anhalt-Bernborg,  in  the  Hartz.  M.  Zinken 
obtained  it  while  examining  the  seleniet  of  lead,  in  order  to 
obtain  the  gold  and  silver  with  which  it  was  mixed. 

He  found  that  it  existed  mixed  with  native  gold  in  the  form 
of  small  platinum  white  plates,  crystallized  in  six-sided  tables. 
These  plates  have  a  foliated  structure,  and  cleave  in  a  direc- 
tion parallel  to  the  axis  of  a  six-sided  prism.  When  heated 
strongly  it  becomes  colored,  and  it  is  more  brittle  than  any 
noble  metal  in  a  state  of  purity.  When  heated  in  a  tube  it 
gives  out  selenium.  With  borax  it  forms  a  transparent  glass, 
and  gives  a  brittle  metallic  globule  which,  when  cupellated 
with  lead,  does  not  change  its  nature.  By  examining  it  by 
solution  in  acids,  M.  Zinken  showed  that  it  is  a  compound  of 
selenium,  palladium,  silver  and  lead.  Hence  it  is  probably  a 
triple  seleniet  of  palladium,  silver  and  lead,  in  proportions  not 
yet  determined. 

PURE    NATIVE    IRIDIUM. 

Brdthanpt. 

Sp.  Or.  23*55.  In  minute  grains,  occasionally  accompany- 
ing platinum,  at  Nische-Tagilsk  in  Siberia. 

Native  iridium  with  specific  gravity,  23*646,  as  given  by 
Breithaupt,  was  found  by  Rose  to  be  22*65.  It  is  therefore 
heavier  than  platinum,  and  the  heaviest  of  all  knoicn  bodies. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  517 

ALLOY    OF    IRIDIUM*  AND    OSMIUM. 

Wollaston,    Iridium,  J.      Iridosmine,  Necker.      Rhombohedral  Iridium,   M.      Iridium 
Osmie,  H.     Iridium  hexagonum,  D. 

Berzelius  maintains  that  there  are  three  different  combina- 
tions of  indium  and  osmium,  in  which  one  atom  of  the  former 
is  united  with  one,  three,  and  four  atoms  of  the  latter. 

Iridium 79-9 46-77 

Osmium 24-5 49-34 

Rhodium 0-0 3-15 

Iron 2-6 0-74 


100-0  Thomson.          100-00  Berzelius. 

Sp.  Gr.  18-25  —  19'5.     H.  above  45. 

Primary  form  a  Hexagonal  prism.  This  natural  alloy  is 
rarely  found  crystallized ;  generally  in  small,  irregular,  and 
flattened  grains,  which  have  a  shining  metallic  lustre,  but  are 
of  a  somewhat  paler  steel-grey  color  than  native  platina,  and 
are  harder  and  heavier  ;  they  possess  a  lamellar  structure 
parallel  to  the  terminal  planes  of  the  crystals,  and  are  brittle. 
Is  not  soluble  in  nitro-muriatic  or  any  other  acid  ;  and  is  infu- 
sible B  B,  both  alone  and  with  fluxes.  Fused  with  nitre,  it 
emits  a  peculiar  chlorine-like  odor,  and  becomes  black  ;  but 
recovers  its  original  color  and  lustre  by  heating  on  charcoal. 


P  on  M  or  M'   .  .  .  .     90°    0'  Bournon. 

M  on  M' 120      0 

P  on  el 124    42 

e2  .  .114    57 


It  occurs  along  with  platina,  in  the  province  of  Choco  in 
South  America,  and  in  the  Ural  Mountains  of  Siberia. 


NATIVE    TELLURIUM.t 

Hexahedral  Tellurium,  J.     Gedie^on  Sylvan,  W.     Gediegen  Tellur,  Hausmann.     Tellurc 
Natif  Auro  Ferrifere,  H.     Tellurium  hexugonum,  D. 

Consists,  according  to  Klaproth,  of  tellurium  92'55,  iron 
7'20,  gold  0-25 ;  or  eleven  atoms  tellurium,  one  atom  iron. 
But  it  is  probable  that  the  iron  is  only  mechanically  mixed,  so 
that  native  tellurium  may  really  be  regarded  as  the  pure  metal. 
Symbol:  Tl. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-1  —  02.     H.  =  20  —  2*5. 

Color  tin-white,  passing  into  lead-grey  ;  with  a  shining  me- 
tallic lustre.  Primary  form,  a  Rhomboid ;  secondary,  an 

*  Iridium  ;  Iris,  a  rainbow  ;  its  solutions  are  variegated, 
f  From  the  Latin,  Tellus,  the  earth. 

44 


518 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


hexagonal  prism,  with  the  terminal  edges  replaced  by  single 
planes ;  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  primary,  but,  from 
the  minuteness  of  the  crystal,  indistinct.  Easily  frangible. 

It  also  occurs  in  crystalline  grains,  either  aggregated,  soli- 
tary, or  disseminated;  yields  to  the  knife,  and  is  brittle.  Ex- 
posed to  the  blowpipe,  it  melts  readily,  burns  with  a  greenish 
flame,  and  is  almost  entirely  volatilized  in  a  dense  white  va- 
por;  it  at  the  same  time  emits  a  pungent  odor  like  that  of 
horse-radish,  which,  however,  is  derived  from  a  minute  pro- 
portion of  selenium  in  combination.  Is  soluble  in  muriatic 
acid. 


a  on  a'  .  .  . 
a'  on  c'  or  c" 


120°  00' 
147    36 


It  has  only  been  found  in  the  mine  of  Maria  Loretto,  at 
Facebay  near  Zalathna  in  Transylvania,  where  it  occurs  in 
veins,  in  sandstone,  with  iron  pyrites  and  quartz.  It  is  a  scarce 
mineral. 


GRAPHIC    TELLURIUM. 

Graphic  Gold.  Fch rifle rz,  W.  Aurum  graphicum.  Tellure  Natif  Auro-Argentifere,  H. 
Silvanite,  Jfecker.  Sylvane  Graphique,  Brochant,  Prismatic  Antimony  Glance,  M. 
and  J.  Lunites  Auricus,  L). 

Union  of  tellurium,  gold,  and  silver. 

Tellurium 60-0 5'2-0 

Gold 30-0 24-0 

Silver 10-0 11-3 

Lead 0-0 1-5 

100-0  Klaproth.  88-3  Berzelius.* 

The  formula  given  by  Berzelius,  and  founded  on  the  first 
analysis,  is  AgTl+3AuTl3. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-7.     H.  =  1-5  —  20. 

Of  a  steel-grey  color,  approaching  to  tin-white,  and  is  gene- 
rally splendent,  but  sometimes  slightly  tarnished  externally. 
Primary  a  Right  rhombic  prism ;  the  crystals  are  commonly 
modified  on  the  edges  and  angles,  are  extremely  indistinct, 
and  generally  minute.  Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M ;  frac- 
ture uneven;  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  and  is  brittle.  BB, 

*  The  deficiency  to  make  up  the  100  parts  being  iron,  copper,  antimony,  sulphur 
and  arsenic ;  hut  owing  to  the  small  quantity  of  the  mineral  employed,  Berzelius  con- 
siders his  analysis  imperfect. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


519 


it  fuses  into  a  dark-grey  metallic  globule,  covers  the  char- 
coal with  white  fumes,  which  at  the  reducing  flame  disappear, 
and,  after  a  continued  blast,  is  converted  into  a  brilliant  and 
malleable  bead.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid. 


P  on  M  or/  . 

90°  00' 

M  on  M'  .  .  . 

107  44 

P  on  al  .  .  . 

141  30 

a2  .  .  . 

129  12 

cl  or  cl' 

151  40 

c2  —  c2' 

136  42 

c3  —  c3' 

132  45 

M  on  h  .... 

126   8 

fonh  . 

90   0 

The  German  name  of  shrifterz  was  applied  to  this  species 
by  Werner,  in  allusion  to  the  peculiar  disposition  of  its  crys- 
tals, which  are  frequently  arranged  in  rows  more  or  less  re- 
sembling graphic  delineations.  Several  different  crystalline 
forms  have  been  noticed,  but  the  individuals  being  small,  and 
in  this  manner  disseminated  and  engaged,  they  have  not  yet 
been  satisfactorily  described.  It  occurs  accompanying  gold 
in  narrow  veins,  which  traverse  porphyry,  at  Oifenbanya  in 
Transylvania ;  also  at  Nagyag  in  the  same  country.  Its 
large  proportion  of  gold  renders  this  a  highly  valuable  ore.  — 
Allan's  Manual. 


HERRERITE. 

Herrerite,  Del  Rio.    Shepard.    Niccalus  Herreri,  D. 

Contains,  according  to  Herrera,  carbonic  acid  31  '86,  tellu- 
rium 55'58,  peroxide  of  nickel  12'32;  but  is  probably  a  mix- 
ture, rather  than  an  atomic  combination. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-3.     H.  =  4-0  — 4-5. 

Occurs  in  reniform  masses.  Cleavage  in  three  directions, 
affording  rhomboidal  fragments,  whose  angles  are  incapable  of 
measurement  on  account  of  the  curvatures  of  the  faces.  Lus- 
tre vitreous  to  pearly,  and  shining  on  fresh  surfaces.  Color 
pistachio-,  emerald-,  and  grass-green.  Streak  yellowish-grey. 
Translucent.  Brittle.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  at  first  becomes 
grey,  and  afterwards  emits  a  white  smoke,  which  adheres  to 
the  charcoal ;  in  the  reducing  flame  it  becomes  of  a  beautiful 
grass-green.  Heated  in  an  open  tube,  it  gives  off  abundant 
white  fumes,  which  adhere  to  the  glass ;  and  on  examining 
these  with  a  microscope  they  appear  to  consist  of  numerous 
white  transparent  globules. 

It  occurs  at  Albarradon  in  Mexico,  traversing  transition 
limestone  in  a  metallic  vein,  consisting  chiefly  of  ores  of 


520 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


lead,  silver,  muriate  of  silver,  and  iodic  silver.  When  de- 
composed it  appears  earthy  and  dull,  with  a  somewhat  fibrous 
structure.* 

YELLOW    TELLURIUM. 

Weiss  Sylvanerz,  W.  Weiss  Tullur.  Gelberz,  L.  Mullerine,  Nccktr.  Yellow  Gold 
Glance,  or  Yellow  Tellurium,  J.  Tellure  Aurifere  and  Plombifere,  II.  White  Ore  of 
Tellurium.  Aurum  rhombicum,  D. 

Union  of  tellurium,  gold,  and  lead. 

Tellurium 44-75 

Gold 2(1-75 

Lead l'J-50 

Silver 8-50 

Sulphur 0-50 


100-00  Klaproth. 

Formula  by  Berzelius:  AgTl-f-2PbTl+3Au2Tl3. 
Sp.  Gr.  89—  10-67.     Soft. 

Silver-white,  passing  into  brass  yellow.  Primary  a  Right 
rhombic  prism  of  105°  30',  and  74°  30'.  Occurs  in  small  but 
well-defined  crystals;  possesses  a  bright  metallic  lustre;  and 
is  somewhat  sectile.  B  B,  it  covers  the  charcoal  with  oxide 
of  lead,  melts  into  a  white  metallic  globule,  and  emits  a  pun- 
gent odor.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid,  leaving  a  yellow  metallic 
residue. 


Primary. 


M  on  M 105°  3(X 

P  on  M  or/ ...     90  00 

Mon/ 142  30 

h 127  30 

a  on  / 161  30 

c  on  h 126  55 

a 123  30 


The  above  measurements  are  by  Brooke. 

This  very  rare  mineral  occurs  at  Nagyag  in  Transylvania, 
in  irregular  veins  in  porphyry  with  gold,  native  arsenic,  sul- 
phuret  of  manganese,  and  black  tellurium  ;  also  in  the  Altai 
Mountains,  Siberia. 


BLACK    TELLURIUM. 

Nagyagererz,  W.  Blattererz.  Tellure  Natif  Auro-Plombifere,  H.  Prismatic  Blank  Tel- 
lurium, J.  Bitelluret  of  Lead,  Thomson.  Pyramidal  Tellurium  Glance,  M.  Blatter- 
tellur,  Hausmann.  Foliated  Tellurium,  A.  Telluro  Galene,  Neckcr.  Elasmose,  Beu- 
dant.  Elasmites  quadratus,  D. 

Combination  of  tellurium,  lead,  gold,  and  sulphur. 


*  Shepard's  Mineralogy,  i.  257. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  521 

Nagyag.  Nagyag.  Nagyag.  Altai. 

Tellurium 32-2 31-96 13-0. 38-37 

Lead 54-0 55-49 63-1 60-85 

Gold 9-0 8-44 6-7 0-00 

Silver 0-5 0-00 0-0 .".  1-28 

Copper 1-3 1-04 1-0 0-00 

Sulphur 3-5 3-07 11-7 0-00 

Antimony 0-0 0-00 4-5 0-00 


100-0  Klaproth.       100-00  Brandes.         100-0  Berthier.        100-50  G.  Rose. 

The  atomic  constitution  from  Berthier's  analysis,  as  given 
by  Rammelsberg,  is  SbSl3+2AuTl3-f  ISPbSl 

Sp.  Gr.  7-0  —  7-2.     H.  =  1-0  —  1-5. 

Color  between  iron-black  and  dark  lead-grey;  is  found 
crystallized  in  small  and  nearly  tabular  crystals,  of  which  the 
primary  form  is  a  Right  square  prism ;  cleavage  perfect  par- 
allel with  P;  lustre  metallic;  yields  easily  to  the  knife,  is 
sectile,  and  in  thin  laminae  highly  flexible,  though  not  elastic. 
On  paper  it  leaves  slightly  black  traces ;  and,  when  isolated 
and  rubbed,  acquires  resinous  electricity.  B  B,  it  melts  emit- 
ting a  dense  vapor,  which  partly  concretes  on  the  charcoal  in 
the  form  of  reddish-brown  powder;  and  yields  a  malleable 
metallic  globule.  With  borax  it  affords  a  bead  of  gold  con- 
taining a  little  silver  ;  and  in  nitro»muriatic  acid  is  soluble 
without  much  difficulty,  leaving  a  white  residue. 

M  on  M  or  x  on  x  .    90°  00'  e.g. 
x'  oux  or  x    ....  135    00  — 

P  on  a 118    35 

P  on  c  or  c'   ....  110    00  e.g. 

Occurs  in  foliated  masses  and  crystalline  plates,  associated 
with  gold,  blende,  and  red  manganese,  at  Nagyag  in  Transyl- 
vania, and  accompanying  antimony  ores  at  Offenbanya  in  the 
same  country.  Also  at  Altai. 

The  mineral  analyzed  as  above  by  Berthier,  Dr.  Thomson 
regards  as  a  distinct  species,  and  has  so  described  it,  under 
the  name  of  Nagyag  tellurium  ore.  The  common  black  tel- 
lurium he  regards  as  a  bitelluret  of  lead,  the  constituents  be- 
sides tellurium  and  lead,  being  accidental.  This  view  of  its 
composition  is  rendered  more  probable,  by  the  analysis  of  a 
purer  specimen  by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  from  Altai,  which  gave  al- 
most exactly  two  At.  tellurium  to  one  At.  lead.  Dr.  Thomson 
has  therefore  very  properly  placed  black  tellurium  among  the 
species  of  lead.  (See  BITELLURET  OF  LEAD,) 

44* 


522  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

NATIVE   ANTIMONY. 

Gediegen   Spiesglas,  W.      Antimoine   Natif,   H.  Br.  Rt.      Dodecahedral  Antimony,  J. 
Rhombohedral  Antimony,  M.     Stibium  rhombohedrum,  D. 

Contains  about  ninety-eight  per  cent,  of  antimony,  with  mi- 
nute proportions  of  silver,  iron,  arsenic,  &,c.,  which  are  acci- 
dental. Symbol :  St,  or  Sb. 

Sp.  Gr.  65  —  68.     H.  =  30  —  3-5. 

Of  a  tin-white  color,  but  by  exposure  becomes  tarnished 
yellow.  In  nature  it  occurs  reniform  and  amorphous,  and  in 
distinctly  lamellar  concretions,  but  has  not  been  observed  crys- 
tallized. The  crystals,  however,  produced  by  fusion  are  read- 
ily recognised,  and,  being  the  identical  substance,  may  be 
assumed  as  the  same.  The  primary  form  of  these  is  an  Ob- 
tuse rhomboid  of  1 17°  15'  and  62°  45'.  It  possesses  a  highly 
perfect  cleavage,  with  a  splendent  metallic  lustre,  parallel  to  0, 
and  another,  though  with  a  minor  degree  of  lustre,  parallel  to  P. 


P  on  P  .  .  .  117°  15' 


Isolated  and  rubbed,  it  acquires  resinous  electricity.  It 
yields  to  the  knife,  is  somewhat  sectile,  and  easily  frangible. 
B  B,  it  fuses  readily,  and,  by  continuing  the  heat,  may  be  en- 
tirely volatilized  in  the  form  of  a  grey  vapor;  but  if  the  fused 
mass  be  allowed  to  cool  slowly,  it  becomes  covered  with  bril- 
liant white  acicular  crystals.  When  alloyed  with  a  small  pro- 
portion of  arsenic,  the  vapor  has  the  odor  of  garlic.  Is  solu- 
ble in  nitric  acid,  leaving  a  whitish  deposit. 

It  occurs  in  veins  traversing  gneiss,  in  Dauphine,  with  the 
ores  of  antimony  and  cobalt;  at  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz;  at 
Allernontnear  Grenoble  in  France;  at  Sahlberg  in  Sweden,  in 
reniform  masses  disseminated  in  calcareous  spar;  also  in  Mex- 
ico. An  arsenical  variety  is  found  at  Allemont.  It  is  fre- 
quently associated  with  antimonial  silver,  from  which  it  may 
be  distinguished  by  its  comportment  B  B  ;  and  is  generally 
accompanied  by  antimonial-ochre,  which  appears  to  be  pro- 
duced by  its  decomposition.  From  its  property  of  hardening 
the  softer  metals,  antimony  is  employed  as  an  alloy,  particu- 
larly with  lead  and  tin ;  and  in  several  pharmaceutical  prepa- 
rations. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  523 

BERTHIERITE* 

Berthierite,  Haidinger.    Haidingerite,  Berthier.    Lycites  Bcrthieri,  D. 

Braunsdorf.  Auvcrgne. 

Contains  Antimony 54-700 52-0 

Sulphur 31-3-26 30-3 

Iron 1 1-432 16-0 

Zinc 0-987 0-3 

Manganese 2-5 14 0-0 

100-739  Berthier.  98-6  Berthier. 

^Formula  by  Rammelsberg  answering  to  the  first  analysis: 

2Sb+3Fe. 

Does  not  occur  crystallized,  but  is  found  in  masses  con- 
fusedly lamellar,  or  composed  of  indistinct  elongated  prisms; 
cleavage  parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  prism ;  color  dark  steel- 
grey,  inclining  to  pinchbeck-brown  ;  lustre  metallic.  It  fuses 
readily  B  B,  emits  vapors  of  antimony,  and  forms  a  black  slag 
which  acts  on  the  magnet.  With  fluxes  it  presents  the  indica° 
tions  of  iron.  It  is  soluble  quickly  in  muriatic  acid,  with  dis- 
engagement of  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 

This  species  is  found  at  Chazelles  in  Auvergne,  associated 
with  quartz,  calcareous  spar,  and  iron  pyrites :  when  fused  it 
yields  antimony  of  such  inferior  quality  that  it  is  useless  as 
an  ore.  It  occurs  also  in  the  department  of  Creuse,  and  at 
Braunsdorf,  near  Freyberg,  in  Saxony. 

SULPHURET    OF   ANTIMONY. 

Prismatoidftl  Antimony  Glance,  M.  Grey  Antimony,  J.  Antimoine  Gris,  Brochant, 
Stilbine,  Beudant.  Grau  Spiesglaserz,  W.  Antimoine  Sulfure,  H.  Sesquisulphid  of 
Antimony,  Thomson.  Lycites  diatomus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphur  and  antimony. 

Antimony 73-77 75-0 74-0 

Sulphur 26-23 25  0 2fi-0 


100-00  Thomson.       100-0  Proust.  100-0  Bergmann. 

These  numbers  correspond  very  nearly  with  one  atom  anti- 
mony, and  one  and  a  half  atom  sulphur.     Formula:  StSl1*. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-3  —  4-6.     H.  =  20. 

The  massive  presents  a  long  columnar  composition;  and 
the  fibrous  variety  occasionally  exhibits  a  plumose,  woolly,  or 
felt-like  appearance  :  this  last  is  the  federerz  of  German  min- 
eralogists—  the  antimoine  sulfure  capillaire  of  Haiiy.  Color 
light  lead-grey,  sometimes  dull  externally,  often  iridescent. 
Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  of  about  88°  30'  and 
91°  30'.  It  occurs  massive,  disseminated,  and  crystallized  in 

*  Named  by  Haidinger  in  compliment  to  its  discoverer,  Professor  Berthier  of  Paris. 


524 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


rhombic  prisms,  variously  modified  and  terminated ;  the  crys- 
tals are  sometimes  closely  aggregated  laterally ;  it  yields  read- 
ily to  cleavage  at  right  angles  to  the  plane  h  of  the  following 
figure,  with  brilliant  surfaces.  Brittle;  yielding  to  the  pres- 
sure of  the  nail;  soils  paper  black  when  rubbed  on  it;  and 
emits  on  friction  a  sulphurous  odor.  In  the  flame  of  a  candle 
it  melts,  even  when  in  considerable  masses  ;  B  B,  it  is  absorbed 
by  the  charcoal,  and  gives  off  at  the  same  time  a  sulphurous 
odor  and  white  fumes. 


M'  on  M 88°  40' 

M'  on  e'2  or  M  on  e2    .  .  145    30 

M'  or  M  on  A 134    20 

M'  on  i'  or  M  on  i  .  .  .  .  171    40 
M'ong 173 


M 


M 


00 
e'2  on  <?2    .  .  108    30 


h  on  e'2  or  e2 125 

i'  or  i  .  .  161 


30 


It  occurs  principally  in  veins,  which  in  some  places,  as  at 
Wolfsthal  in  Hungary,  are  almost  entirely  composed  of  grey 
antimony.  Felsobanya,  Schemnitz,  and  Cremnitz  in  Hun- 
gary, are,  however,  the  most  celebrated  localities  of  this 
species  ;  being  frequently  found  in  these  mines  in  distinct 
diverging  prisms  several  inches  in  length,  associated  with  and 
penetrating  crystals  of  barytes  and  other  minerals.  It  occurs  also 
fibrous  and  laminated  in  Dumfrieshire  ;  massive  in  Cornwall  in 
grauwacke  which  is  associated  with  trappean  rocks ;  and  com- 
pact, particularly  at  Magurka  in  Hungary.  At  St.  Gothard 
it  occurs  in  Dolomite.  Immense  quantities  are  known  to  oc- 
cur in  the  Island  of  Borneo,  from  which  it  has  been  largely 
exported.  In  South  America  veins  of  sulphuret  of  antimony 
are  found  in  the  feldspar  porphyry  of  Guarachiri,  eighteen 
miles  east  of  Lima,  also  in  the  southern  part  of  Peru,  near 
Tarapaca  and  Santa  Rosa.  —  Blake. 

In  the  United  States,  this  mineral  forms  a  narrow  vein  in 
primitive  rock  at  Carmel,  Me.,  and  was  first  recognised  by 
M.  A.  A.  Hayes.  According  to  Dr.  Jackson,  it  occurs  also 
at  Cornish  and  Lyme,  N.  H.,  associated  with  quartz  in  the 
oldest  argillaceous  slate  rocks. 

This  is  the  principal  ore  of  antimony  employed  for  com- 
mercial purposes,  and  it  is  prepared  by  simple  fusion.  It  is 
used  in  the  formation  of  several  alloys,  in  the  fabrication  of 
types,  and  in  medicine. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  525 

Thefedererz  of  the  Germans,  or  feather  ore  lead,  also  called  plumose 
antimonial  ore,  differs  but  little  from  the  above,  and  may  be  here  intro- 
duced as  a  variety.  It  is  formed  of  long  flexible  crystals,  hair-like,  and 
occupying  the  drussy  cavities  of  quartz;  sometimes  resembling  a  cobweb. 
Opake,  soft  and  sectile.  Crystalline  form  not  determined.  It  contains,  by 
the  analysis  of  H.  Rose,  a  little  more  sulphuret  of  lead  than  Jamesonite. 
Occurs  at  Wolfsberg  in  the  eastern  Hartz,  and  at  Freyberg  and  Brauns- 
dorf  in  Saxony. 


JAMESONITE.* 

Axotomous  Antimony  Glance,  M.    Jamesonite,  Haidinger.    Lycites  acrotomous,  D. 

This  mineral  has  been  analyzed  by  Prof.  H.  Rose,  and  by 
Count  Schaffgotsch.t 

Cornwall.  Cornwall.  Eslremadura. 

Sulphur 22-15 22-53 21-785 

Lead 40-75 38-71 39-971 

Antimony 34-40 34-90 32-616 

Iron 2-30 2-U5 3  627 

Copper 0-13 0-19 0-009 

Bismuth 0-00 0-00 1-055 

Lead,  iron  and  zinc  0-00 0-74 Zinc 0-421 

99-73  Rose.  -99-72  Rose.  99-475  Schaffgotsch. 

The  formula  answering  to  these  analyses  is  thus  stated : 
4StSl1H-3PlSl.     This  supposes  the  iron,  copper  and  bismuth 
to  be  in  the  state  of  sulphurets,  and  as  accidental  mixtures. 
Sp.  Gr.  5-5  —  5-8.     H.  —  2-0  —  25. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  whose  lateral  faces 
are  inclined  to  one  another  at  angles  of  101°  20'  and  78°  40'; 
cleavage  perfect  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  prism,  less  so 
parallel  to  it ;  color  steel-grey ;  lustre  metallic ;  streak  un- 
changed ;  sectile. 

Jamesonite,  like  the  preceding  species,  occurs  both  in  aci- 
cular  diverging  crystals,  and  in  fibrous  masses  of  considerable 
dimensions.  Its  perfect  cleavage  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of 
the  prism  is  sufficiently  characteristic.  It  occurs  principally 
in  Cornwall,  associated  with  quartz,  and  minute  crystals  of 
Bournonite;  occasionally  in  Siberia;  and  disseminated  in  cal- 
careous spar  in  Hungary.  Also  at  Valentia  d' Alcantara,  in 
the  province  of  Estremadura,  Spain. 

PLAGIONITE.t 

Zinken.     (Po<rtr."Ann.y  xxii.  492.)     O.  Rose.    (Ibid.,  xxviii.  421.) 

This  mineral  resembles  Zinkenite,  though  its  characters  as 
described,  seem  to  entitle  it  to  the  rank  of  a  distinct  species. 

*  In  honor  of  Professor  Jameson  of  Edinburgh,  named  by  Mohs. 

f  Rammelsberg's  Handwbrterbuch,  i.  322. 

t  From  the  Greek,  TrAayjof,  oblique,  from  the  form  of  its  crystals. 


526  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Its  constituents   were  thus  determined  by  H.  Rose,  and  M. 
Kudernatsch  : 

Lead 40-52 40-98 

Antimony 37-94 37-53 

Sulphur 21-53 21-49 

99-99  Rose.  100-00  Kudernatsch. 

According  to  Dr.  Thomson,  it  is  a  compound  of  three  atoms 
sesquisulphide  of  antimony,  and  two  atoms  sulphuret  of  lead. 
Formula:  aStSl'H-aPlSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-4.     II.  =  25. 

Color  blackish-lead  grey.  Fracture  imperfectly  conchoidal. 
Structure  foliated  with  two  cleavages.  Brittle.  B  B,  it  de- 
crepitates, and  fuses  readily  with  the  evolution  of  sulphurous 
acid,  oxide  of  antimony,  and  oxide  of  lead.  It  gives  no  traces 
of  copper.  With  carbonate  of  soda,  after  roasting,  a  button  of 
lead  is  obtained,  which  contains  a  little  antimony  and  silver. 

It  occurs  in  the  form  of  octahedrons  deeply  truncated 
on  both  apices,  at  Wolfsberg  in  the  Hartz.  The  crystals 
have  been  described  also  as  oblique  four-sided  prisms. 


ZINKENITE. 

Prof.  O.  Rose,  (Pogg.Jlnn.,  vii.  91.)     Bisulpho-antimonite  of  lead,  Thomson.    Lycites 

Zinkeni,  D. 

It  consists  of  the  following  metals  : 

Wolfsberg. 

Antimony 44-39 

Lead 31-84 

Sulphur 25-58 

Copper 0-42 

99-23  H.  Rose. 

These  numbers  give  four  atoms  sulphur,  one  atom  lead,  two 

atoms   antimony.     Formula :  2StSl]H-PlSl ;  or,  as  stated  by 

/    '// 
Rammelsberg,  PbSb. 

Sp.  Gr.  53  —  5  35.     H.  =  3'0  —  35. 

Occurs  in  regular  six-sided  prisms,  terminated  by  flat  six- 
sided  pyramids  ;  the  faces  of  the  prism  inclined  to  one  another 
at  an  angle  of  120°,  those  of  the  pyramid  to  the  correspond- 
ing faces  of  the  prism  at  102°  42'.  The  faces  of  the  prism 
are  usually  striated  deeply  in  a  longitudinal  direction,  those 
of  the  pyramid,  though  not  furrowed,  are  uneven.  Color 
steel-grey;  lustre  bright  metallic;  streak  corresponding  to 
the  color ;  fracture  uneven  ;  no  traces  of  cleavage.  It  is 
soluble  in  nitric  acid,  yielding  an  immediate  precipitate  of 
white  antimony.  When  heated  alone  on  charcoal  it  decrepi- 
tates briskly,  and  melts  as  readily  as  grey  antimony;  small 
metallic  globules  are  formed,  which  are  entirely  volatile  on 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  527 

the  blast  being  continued,  while  the  charcoal  is  covered  with 
a  white  coating  of  oxide  of  lead.  With  soda  it  yields  globules 
of  metallic  lead. 

Zinkenite  occurs  in  the  antimony  mine  of  Wolfsberg  near 
Stolberg  in  the  Hartz,  and  was  named  by  its  original  discov- 
erer, Dr.  Gustavus  Rose,  in  honor  of  his  friend  M.  Zinken, 
the  director  of  the  Anhalt  mines.  It  much  resembles  both 
grey  antimony  and  Bournonite  in  color  and  fracture,  but  may 
be  distinguished  from  them  by  its  superior  hardness  and  spe- 
cific gravity.  Its  crystals  are  aggregated  in  groups,  which 
present  a  columnar  composition,  and  occur  on  a  massive  vari- 
ety of  the  same  species  in  quartz.  Their  length  often  exceeds 
half  an  inch,  their  breadth  two  or  three  lines;  but  frequently 
they  are  extremely  thin,  and  form  fibrous  masses.  —  Allan's 
Manual. 

RED    ANTIMONY. 

Rothspiesglaserz,  W.  Antimoine  Oxyde  Sulfure,  H.  Antimoine  Rouge,  Br.  Antimon 
Klemle,  L.  Prismatic  Antimony-Blende,  J.  Prismatic  Purple  Blende,  M.  Cerasia 
rhomboidea,  D. 

Combination  of  the  protoxide  and  sulphuret  of  antimony. 

Braunsdorf. 

Antimony 47-45 

Oxygen 4-27 

Sulphur 20-47 

99-19  H.  Rose. 

These  numbers  give  one  atom  oxide  of  antimony,  and  two 
atoms  sesquisulphuret  of  antimony.     Formula:  St-J-SStSl1*. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-5  —  4-6.     H.  =  1  '0  —  1  -5. 

Primary  form  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism,  whose  base,  ac- 
cording to  Mohs,  is  inclined  to  its  axis  at  an  angle  of  101°  19'. 
Secondary  form,  the  primary  having  its  edges  replaced.  Cleav- 
age highly  perfect  parallel  to  both  sides  of  the  primary  prism. 
Surface  striated  longitudinally;  lustre  adamantine;  feebly 
translucent,  streak  brownish-red:  fuses  easily  on  charcoal,  by 
which  it  is  absorbed,  and  is  at  last  entirely  volatilized.  When 
immersed  in  nitric  acid,  it  becomes  covered  with  a  white 
coating.  The  capillary  variety,  in  which  the  individuals  are 
so  interlaced  as  to  present  flakes  resembling  tinder,  is  distin- 
guished by  the  German  mineralogists,  under  the  name  of 
Znndererz  or  Tinder  Ore. 

By  reflected  light  of  a  cherry-red,  by  transmitted  light  of  a 
crimson  color,  but  commonly  tarnished  externally  with  a 
brownish  or  bluish  tinge,  or  is  iridescent.  It  forms  very  fine 
diverging  or  interlaced  acicular  crystals;  has  a  shining  lustre, 
is  translucent,  and  brittle. 


528  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Red  antimony  occurs  in  veins  with  quartz,  accompanying 
grey  and  white  antimony,  at  Malazka  near  Posing  in  Hungary  ; 
at  Braunsdorf  near  Freyberg  in  Saxony;  and  at  Allemont  in 
Dauphine.  The  principal  localities  of  tinder  ore,  are  Claus- 
thal  and  Andreasberg  in  the  Hartz. 


OXIDE   OF    ANTIMONY. 

White  Antimony.  Weiss  Spiesglaserz,  W.  Antimoine  Oxyde,  H.  Antimoine  Blanc,  Br. 
Prismatic  Antimony  Baryto,  M.  Prismatic  White  Antimony,  J.  Spiessglanzwciss, 
UcMsmann.  Antimony  Bloom.  Antimonbluthe,  L.  Stimmius  rhombieus,  D. 

Consists  when  pure  of  protoxide  of  antimony;  but  usually 
contains  silica  and  oxide  of  iron.     Symbol :  St. 
Sp.  Gr.  5-5  —  5-6.     H.  =  2-5  —  3'0. 

Color  snow-white,  yellow,  or  grey,  sometimes  peach-blossom 
red.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  137°  43'  and 
42°  17'.  Generally  in  tabular  and  acicular  crystals,  in  diverg- 
ing groups;  more  rarely  massive.  Principal  cleavage  highly 
perfect  parallel  to  the  lesser  diagonal  of  the  prism  ;  lustre 
between  pearly  and  adamantine;  translucent;  streak  white. 
It  melts  very  easily  B  B,  and  is  volatilized  in  the  form  of  a 
white  vapor.  With  borax  it  forms  a  glass  which  appears  yel- 
lowish' while  hot,  but  becomes  almost  colorless  on  cooling. 
Soluble  in  nitro-muriatic  acid. 

Beautiful  varieties  of  aggregated  tabular  crystals  occur  with 
other  ores  of  antimony  at  Przibram  in  Bohemia;  the  acicular 
variety  is  found  at  Braunsdorf  in  Saxony,  Malazka  in  Hun- 
gary, and  at  Allemont  in  Dauphine. 

ANTIMONIAL    OCHRE. 

Spiessglanz  Ochre,  W.    Antimoine  Oxyde  Terreux,  H.     Antimonoker,  L.     Stibicon- 
ise,  Beudant 

Combination  of  oxygen,  antimony,  and  water. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-7  —  3-8. 

Occurs  in  earthy  masses  of  a  yellow,  grey,  or  brownish 
color.  Dull ;  soft  and  friable  ;  streak  grey  or  yellowish-white. 
Upon  charcoal  it  does  not  fuse,  but  forms  a  slight  antimonial 
sublimation;  and  yields  water  in  the  matrass.  With  borax 
or  salt  of  phosphorus  it  comports  itself  like  oxide  of  antimony ; 
with  soda  is  reduced. 

This  substance  is  found  associated  with  the  sulphuret  and 
other  ores  of  antimony  at  Bruck  in  Rhenish  Prussia ;  in  Nas- 
sau; in  the  Erzgebirge  of  Saxony;  and  in  Gallicia  in  Spain, 
where  prisms  of  the  sulphuret  are  frequently  observed  partly 
changed  into  antimonial  ochre.  It  accompanies  the  sulphuret 
from  Borneo.  According  to  Mohs,  it  is  the  product  of  the 
decomposition  both  of  native  antimony  and  the  sulphuret. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  529 

ANTIMONPHYLLITE. 

Breithaupt.     (Berzclius*  Jahres-Bericht,  1832,  p.  202.) 

Sp.Gr.  4-025.     H.  =:  10  — 1/5. 

Crystallized  in  thin  unequiangular  six-sided  prisms,  of  a 
greyish-white  color;  lustre  pearly,  inclining  to  adamantine; 
translucent;  sectile;  and,  when  in  thin  laminas,  flexible  like 
talc.  Contains  oxide  of  antimony,  a  copious  precipitate  of 
which  is  thrown  down  from  its  solution  in  muriatic  acid  by 
water.  Specimens  of  this  mineral  are  preserved  in  the  collec- 
tions of  Dresden  and  Halle,  but  their  locality  is  unknown. 


NATIVE  LEAD. 

Lead  is  described  as  occurring  in  the  metallic  state,  in 
small  masses,  in  the  lavas  of  the  island  of  Madeira,  and  other 
volcanic  districts,  forming  the  native  lead  of  some  mineralo- 
gists. It  has  lately  been  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Alston, 
in  Cumberland,  occurring  in  small  globular  masses  imbedded 
in  galena,  and  a  slaggy  substance,  accompanied  by  red  oxide 
of  lead,  blende  and  quartz.  The  vein  in  which  it  is  found, 
traverses  limestone.  It  is  said  that  the  lead  mines  of  Michi- 
gan, near  Anglaise  river,  have  furnished  specimens  of  the 
native  metal. 

SULPHURET  OF  LEAD. 

GALENA. 

Galena.  Bleiglanz,  W.  Plomb  Sulfure,  H.  Galene,  Bt.  Lead  Glance,  J.  Hexahe- 
dral  Lead  Glance,  M.  Bleisheweif,  Hausmann.  Plumbum  Galena,  Linn.  Plumbitei 
cubicus,  D. 

Its  composition  is  shown  by  the  following  analyses : 

Hanover.  Durham. 

Lead 79  6 83-00 85-13 

Sulphur 13-4 ]  6-41 13-02 

Silver 7-0 0-08 0-50 

Iron 0-0 0-00 0-50 


99-0  Beudant.  99-49  Westrumb.          98-65  Thomson. 

Lead 84-63 84-40 

Sulphur 13-21 13-20 

Carbonate  of  lime 0-00 1-40 


97-84  Robertson.  100-00  Beck.* 

It  consists  of  one  At.  lead,  one  At.  sulphur  —  86'55  lead, 
13-45  sulphur.     In  Beudant's  analysis  the  silver  is  included 

with  the  lead,  giving  the  same  result.     Formula  :  P1S1,  or  Pb. 
Sp.Gr.  7-4  — 7-6.     H.  =  27. 

*  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  p.  49      The  specimen  was  from  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y. 

45 


530 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


Silver  is  very  frequently  found  mixed  with  galena,  and  in 
extremely  variable  proportions;  its  presence,  however,  which 
can  only  be  ascertained  by  cupellation,  does  not  influence 
either  the  physical  or  external  characters  of  the  species  in  any 
way.  Externally  of  a  lead-grey  color,  occasionally  blackish- 
grey  ;  sometimes  irisated  superficially.  Primary  form  the 
Cube.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  the  cube  and  regular  octa- 
hedron, and  in  some  of  their  varieties;  structure  lamellar; 
cleavage  parallel  with  the  planes  of  the  cube,  highly  perfect 
and  easily  obtained;  the  fractured  surfaces  possess  a  brilliant 
metallic  lustre.  It  also  occurs  in  amorphous  masses,  possess- 
ing a  curved  lamellar  structure;  frequently  granular,  consist- 
ing of  small  crystalline  plates  irregularly  disposed  in  regard  to 
one  another ;  and  sometimes  almost  compact,  yielding  a  flat 
conchoidal  fracture,  and  presenting  little  lustre.  A  beautiful 
iridescent  tarnish  is  frequently  observable,  which  is  confined 
however  (as  in  some  other  minerals)  to  the  secondary  forms; 
the  faces  of  the  octahedron  appearing  iridescent,  while  those 
of  the  cube  are  not. 

B  B,  it  first  decrepitates,  but  when  heated  with  precaution 
it  melts,  and  yields,  after  the  sulphur  has  been  driven  off,  a 
globule  of  metallic  lead.  It  is  partly  soluble  in  nitric  acid, 
and  leaves  a  white  residue. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  cube.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of  which  the  solid  an- 
gles are  replaced  by  triangular  planes,  forming  the  passage  into  the  regu- 
lar octahedron,  fig.  3,  in  which  these  planes  are  complete.  Fig.  4,  the 
octahedron,  having  the  edges  replaced.  Fig.  5  :  in  this  each  edge  of  the 
octahedron  is  bevelled,  or  replaced  by  two  planes. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 90°  0'  H. 

PP'  or  P"  on  a'  or  a"    ....  125  15  — 

P  on  b 154  45  — 

P  or  P'  on  e1,  or  P'  or  P'"  on  e  135  00  — 

a  on  a'  or  a" 109  28  — 

&,  b,  or  b 150  30  — 

c  or  c 164  12  — 

a  or  a'  on  e'  or  a  or  a"  on  e  .  .  144  44  — 

e  on  e    .  160  31  — 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  531 

Galena  is  a  mineral  of  very  frequent  occurrence,  forming 
veins  and  beds  both  in  primary  and  secondary  rocks.  Veins 
in  gneiss  are  its  repositories  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony;  veins  in 
primitive  limestone  at  Sala  in  Sweden;  and  veins  in  clay-slate 
at  Clausthal  and  Neudorf  in  the  Hartz,  Przibram  in  Bohemia, 
and  elsewhere.  The  grauwacke  at  Leadhills,  and  the  killas  of 
Cornwall,  are  equally  interspersed  with  veins  of  galena;  and 
the  rich  repositories  of  Derbyshire,  Cumberland,  and  the 
northern  districts  of  England,  as  well  as  those  of  Bleiberg,  and 
the  neighboring  localities  in  Carinthia,  are  contained  in  tran- 
sition or  mountain  limestone.  The  general  forms  of  its  crys- 
tals are  the  cube  and  octahedron,  with  various  intervening 
modifications.  Individuals  of  very  large  dimensions  have  been 
obtained  at  Dufton  and  Alston  Moor  in  Cumberland ;  at 
Pfaffenberg  near  Neudorf,  and  at  Andreasberg,  in  the  Hartz ; 
in  Transylvania  and  Saxony,  and  from  Nertscbinsky,  Siberia. 
Leadhills  is  its  principal  Scottish  locality,  though  it  has  been 
noticed  also  in  large  octahedral  crystals  near  Inverkeithing  in 
Fifeshire,  at  East  Calder,  the  Isle  of  Isla,  and  elsewhere.  It 
is  associated  in  the  English  localities  with  calcareous  and  fluor 
spars,  with  blende,  calamine,  barytes,  witherite,  and  pearl  spar ; 
in  Greenland  with  cryolite  and  sparry  iron. — Allan's  Manual. 

In  the  province  of  Coquimbo  in  Chili,  sulphuret  of  lead 
occurs  associated  with  the  carbonate  and  red  oxide.  At 
Guancavellica,  in  Peru,  large  veins  of  it  are  extensively 
wrought.  It  is  found  also  near  Cocina  in  the  district  of  Tara- 
pacha,  and  at  Conchi  in  Bolivia.  —  Blake. 

The  compact  variety  chiefly  occurs  at  Freyberg  in  Saxony, 
in  the  Hartz,  Carinthia,  and  at  Leadhills.  The  galena  found 
near  Bear  Alston,  Cornwall,  contains  from  eighty  to  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  ounces  of  silver  per  ton  of  lead. 

Probably  the  most  extensive  lead  mines  in  the  known  world 
are  those  found  in  the  western  section  of  the  United  States, 
particularly  in  Washington,  Jefferson,  and  Madison  counties, 
Missouri;  and  at  Galena,  in  the  north-west  part  of  Illinois;  in 
Iowa,  and  the  territory  of  Wisconsin.  According  to  School- 
craft,  who  first  carefully  examined  these  deposits,  galena  is 
found  in  various  places,  from  the  Arkansas  river  to  the  North- 
western territory,  in  which  are  found  the  important  mines  of 
Prairie  du  Chien,  once  worked  by  the  Sacs  and  Fox  Indians. 
The  ore  is  in  irregular  masses,  principally  in  limestone,  or  im- 
bedded in  clay,  in  which  are  found  numerous  detached  masses 
of  quartz,  sulphate  of  barytes,  besides  carbonate,  and  sulphuret 
of  zinc.  It  is  so  abundant  that  the  miners  never  extend  the 
shafts  to  a  great  depth,  but  usually  penetrate  about  twenty 


532  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

feet  through  a  tenacious  mass  of  red  clay,  into  a  stratum  con- 
sisting of  crystalline  particles  of  carbonate  of  lime.  This 
stratum  is  nearly  horizontal,  and  varies  in  thickness  from  six 
to  twenty  feet.  It  is  succeeded  by  red  clay,  &c.  similar  to 
the  superficial  stratum.*  "  The  limestone  presents  vertical 
fissures,  which  are  filled  with  clay  and  masses  of  lead  ore, 
and  they  open  into  what  appear  to  have  been  large  caves,  which 
are  encrusted  by  galena  upon  the  sides,  roof  and  floor.  These 
caves  are  of  large  size,  large  enough  to  admit  wheelbarrows  or 
carts,  and  the  incrustation  of  a  foot  or  more  of  galena  around 
their  walls,  affords  no  small  profit  to  the  proprietors  and  miners. ;'t 
The  La  Motte  mines  are  the  oldest  and  richest  in  Missouri ; 
were  discovered  in  1720,  and  were  worked,  under  the  Spanish 
government,  long  before  the  country  came  into  the  possession 
of  the  United  States.  The  ore  yields,  in  the  large  way,  nearly 
seventy  per  cent.,  a  considerable  portion  being  lost  in  the  pro- 
cess. In  1822,  the  annual  product  had  been  upwards  of  three 
million  pounds  of  lead.  From  that  time  to  1833,  the  aggre- 
gate amount  was  sixty-three  million  eight  hundred  and  forty-five 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty  pounds.  In  1843,  there  were 
shipped  from  Galena  and  Dubuque,  and  the  other  points  on 
the  upper  Mississippi,  five  hundred  and  sixty-three  thousand 
seven  hundred  and  thirty-one  pigs  of  lead,  weighing  thirty-nine 
million  four  hundred  and  sixty-one  thousand  one  hundred  and 
seventy-one  pounds,  and  valued  at  $937,202. 

The  galena  at  the  Mineral  Point  lead  mines,  Wisconsin, 
sometimes  assumes  the  form  of  the  fossils  contained  in  the 
limestone.  One  specimen  is  a  limestone  cast  of  the  Plcuro- 
toma  angulata  (Sowerby),  of  which  the  upper  part  of  the  spine 
is  pure  galena.  There  can  be  perceived,  between  the  cast  and 
its  matrix,  a  thin  plate  of  galena  answering  to  the  space  filled 
by  the  original  shell,  which  has  thus  evidently  been  replaced 
by  the  sulphuret  of  lead.  Another  is  a  pure  galena  cast  of  a 
large  Turritella;  and  there  is,  besides,  a  specimen  consisting 
of  cubic  crystals,  through  which  a  thin  valve  of  Strophomena 
is  inserted  edgeways,  shewing  that  the  lead  had  formed  and  crys- 
tallized around  it;  it  is  silicified,  and  very  thin  and  delicate.! 

There  are  numerous  other  localities  of  sulphuret  of  lead  in 
the  United  States,  but  they  are  of  little  comparative  importance 
in  a  commercial  point  of  view.  At  Rossie,  St.  Lawrence 
county,  N.  Y.,  large  sums  have  been  expended  in  working  the 

*  See  Schoolcraft's  view  of  the  Lead  Mines  of  Missouri.  Also,  a  paper  by  Dr.  E.  James, 
in  the  Journal  of  the  Acad.  of  Nat.  Sciences,  Phil.,  v.  376. 

f  James  T.  Hodge.    Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xliii.  56. 

J  Many  singular  specimens  of  this  kind  are  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  T.  R.  Conrad,  to 
whom  1  am  indebted  for  the  above  facts  concerning  them.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  533 

Parish  and  other  mines;  and  in  1838  upwards  of  three  million 
pounds  of  lead  were  obtained  from  them,  but  at  present  these 
mines  are  abandoned.  They  have  afforded  uncommonly  large 
and  beautiful  crystals,  richly  grouped  with  calcareous  spar,  and 
iron  and  copper  pyrites,  celestine,  etc.  At  Martinsburg, 
Lewis  county,  N.  Y.,  crystals  are  found  similar  to  fig.  2  and  3, 
and  sometimes  with  only  one  of  the  solid  angles  of  the  octahe- 
dron replaced.  At  Lowville,  they  are  associated  with  green 
fluor,  and  six-sided  prisms  of  calc-spar.  Fine  specimens  were 
formerly  found  at  Perkiomen,  Penn.,  associated  with  several 
salts  of  lead.  It  occurs  also  at  Southampton,  Mass.,  at  Eaton 
and  Shelburne,  N.  H.,  and  Lubec,  Me.,  with  sulphuret  of  zinc 
and  iron  pyrites.  Several  mines  of  lead  have  been  opened  in 
Connecticut.  That  at  Brookfield,  according  to  Shepard,  is 
contained  in  white  limestone,  and  is  associated  with  blende 
and  calamine.  That  at  Monroe,  yields  an  ore  very  rich  in 
silver,  containing,  by  Prof.  Silliman's  trials,  from  2  to  3*5  per 
cent,  compared  with  the  metallic  lead.  The  only  mine  at 
present  wrought,  besides  those  in  the  western  States,  is  that  of 
Davidson  county,  N.  C.,  where  the  ore  promises  to  be  abun- 
dant and  richly  remunerate  the  proprietors.  It  is  here  associated 
with  carbonate  and  phosphate  of  lead,  and  native  silver. 

SPECULAR  GALENA. —  Plomb  sulfure  speculaire,  H.  consists  of  an 
extremely  thin  coating  of  lead  on  quartz,  or  some  other  substance,  and 
exhibits  an  appearance  of  polish,  and  a  lustre,  from  which  the  name  of 
Slickenside,  or  looking-glass  lead  ore,  has  been  derived.  It  is  found  prin- 
cipally in  the  mines  of  Derbyshire. 

BLUE  LEAD.  — Blau  Bleierz,  W.  Plomb  sulfure  prismatique  epigene, 
H.  Plomb  bleu,  Br.  Piomb  noir,  Bt.  This  is  evidently  pseudomorphous 
of  phosphate  of  lead.  It  occurs  massive,  likewise  in  six-sided  prisms  of  a 
color  between  lead-grey  and  indigo-blue,  which  sometimes  are  narrower 
near  the  terminations  than  across  the  middle,  and  which  are  superficially 
dull  and  rough  ;  the  fracture  is  even,  or  flat  conchoidal,  with  a  glimmering 
metallic  lustre  ;  it  is  soft,  somewhat  sectile,  and  easily  frangible.  Specific 
gravity  5-4.  It  has  been  found  at  Zschoppau  in  Saxony  ;  at  Huelgoet 
near  Poullaouen  in  France,  accompanying  carbonates  of  lead  and  copper  ; 
and  in  the  mine  of  Huel  Hope  in  Cornwall.  The  prisms  internally  con- 
sist of  fibrous  galena,  occasionally  mixed  with  a  translucent  substance,  of 
a  rich  brown  color  by  transmitted  light,  and  greatly  resembling  some 
varieties  of  phosphate  of  lead  ;  or  they  consist  almost  wholly  of  this  sub- 
stance, the  surface  only  appearing  to  have  passed  into  the  sulphuret; 
other  specimens  consist  of  remarkably  compact  galena,  and  they  all  bear 
the  external  appearance  of  the  ordinary  sulphuret  of  lead. 

Galena  is  distinguished  from  plumbago  by  its  weight,  and  by  its  not 
affording  distinct  traces  on  paper  ;  from  sulphuret  of  molybdena  also  by  its 
structure,  which  is  never  foliated  ;  and  from  the  brilliant  metallic  varieties 
of  blende,  by  the  surfaces  of  its  crystals  resuming  their  lustre  instantly 
when  breathed  upon,  while  those  of  blende  remain  dull  for  some  time. 

The  SULPHURET  OF  LEAD  AND  ANTIMONY,  and  the  SULPHURET 
OF  LEAD,  ANTIMONY,  AND  SILVER,  may  be  classed  with  this  species , 
45* 


534  NATIVE    METALS   AND. 

the  difference  in  their  chemical  composition  being  insufficient  to  distinguish 
them  otherwise  than  as  varieties. 

SULPHURETTED  SULPHATE  OF  LEAD.  —  Is  earthy,  of  various  colors 
from  pure  white  to  a  deep  lead-grey,  and  so  highly  inflammable  as  to  take 
fire  and  burn  on  being  held  in  the  flame  of  a  candle.  It  occurs  in  the 
Dufton  lead  mines,  in  the  midst  of  the  regular  veins.  It  is  merely  a  mix- 
ture of  sulphur  with  sulphate  of  lead.  Contains,  by  analysis  of  Prof. 
Johnston,*  sulphur  8-71,  sulphate  of  lead  90-38. 

The  SUPERSULPHURET  OF  LEAD,  of  Dr.  Thomson,  from  the  North 
of  England,  contains  of  common  galena  98  21,  of  sulphur  1-79,  or  seven 
At.  lead,  eight  At.  sulphur.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  burns  with  a  blue  flame, 
then  decrepitates,  melts,  and  leaves  a  globule  of  metallic  lead.  Heated  in 
a  glass  tube  the  sulphur  sublimes,  and  the  common  galena  remains. 

ARGENTIFEROUS  GALENA  is  not  supposed  to  be  an  atomic  combination, 
as  the  specimens,  on  analysis,  give  very  different  proportions  of  silver. 

The  lead  mines  of  Great  Britain  produce  annually  from  forty-five  to 
forty-eight  thousand  tons  of  smelted  lead,  which  is  principally  obtained 
from  the  sulphuret. 

COBALTIC    GALENA. 

Cobaltic  Galena,  or  Cobaltic  Lead  Glance,  J.  and  M.     Cobaltbleierz,  Hausmann.     Plum- 
bites  Cobalticus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-44.     Soft  and  sectile. 

Contains  lead  62-89,  arsenic  22'47,  sulphur  0'47,  iron  2-11, 
cobalt  0-94,  arsenical  pyrites  1*44  (the  loss  of  9-76  being  at- 
tributed to  intermixed  calcareous  spar)  —  Du  Menil.  Formu- 
la, supposing  the  lead  and  arsenic  only  as  essential,  PlAs.  It 
occurs  in  minute  moss-like  groups  of  crystals,  or  cleavable 
masses.  Color  lead-grey,  inclining  to  blue;  opake  ;  lustre 
metallic  and  shining.  Soils  a  little.  Splits  into  fragments  B  B, 
and  communicates  a  smalt-blue  color  to  glass  of  borax. 

It  occurs  in  a  vein  of  clay-slate  with  brown  spar,  traversing 
grauwacke,  at  Clausthal  in  the  Hartz. 

BOURNONITE.t 

Triple  Sulphuret.  Endellione,  Bournon.  Schwarz  Speissglaserz,  W.  Spiesglanzbleier/, 
Klaproth.  Bleifuhlerz,  Hausmann.  Plombe  Sulfure  Antimonifere  (in  part),  H. 
Diprismatic  Copper  Glance,  M.  Axifrangiblo  Antimony-Glance,  or  Bournonite,  J. 
Cyprites  rectangulus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuret  of  lead,  sulphuret  of  copper,  and 
sulphuret  of  antimony. 

Clausthal.        Pfaffenberg.  Cornwall.  Mexico. 

Lead 42-50 40-84 41-0 42-C2 40-2 

Sulphur  . .  .18-00 20-31 20-0 17-00 17-8 

Antimony. .  19-75 26-28 25-0 24-23 28  3 

Copper  . . .  .11-75 12-65 13-0 12-80 13  3 

Iron 5-00 0-00 0-0 1-20 0-0 

JDufie- 

97-00  Klap.  100-08  H.  Rose.    99-0  Smithson.     97-85  Hatchett.      99-6  j    noy. 

*  Report  of  British  Association  for  the  Advancement  of  Science,  (1832,)  p.  572. 
t  Bournonite,  in  honor  of  the  Comte  de  Bournon,  who  first  described  this  mineral,  and 
who  gave  it  the  name  of  Endellione,  from  the  parish  in  Cornwall  in  which  it  was  found. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


535 


The  mean  of  the  above  analyses  gives  the  following  numbers : 

Atoms. 

Sulphur 18-62 9-31.... 3 

Lead 41-37 3-18. . .  .1 

Antimony 24-71 3-09. . .  .1 

Copper 12-74 3-18 1 

These  numbers  obviously  correspond  with  three  At.  sulphur, 
one  At.  antimony,  one  At.  lead,  one  At.  copper  :  or,  the  mine- 
ral is  composed  of  one  At.  StSl,  one  At.  P1S1,  one  At.  CpSl. 
Formula  :  StSl+PlSl+CpSl. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-79  —  5  83.     H.  =  2'5  —  3'0. 

Color  approaching  to  steel-grey,  with  a  shining  lustre;  but 
occasionally  the  crystals  appear  of  a  dull  lead-grey,  with  a 
tinge  of  black.  Primary  form  a  Right  rectangular  prism.  It 
occurs  crystallized  in  this  form,  variously  modified  ;  structure 
lamellar,  affording  cleavage  planes  parallel  to  the  lateral  faces 
of  the  primary  and  both  its  diagonals ;  fracture  uneven  or  flat 
conchoidal,  with  a  brilliant  metallic  lustre  ;  it  is  very  brittle, 
and  yields  to  the  pressure  of  the  nail.  B  B,  it  decrepitates, 
then  melts,  emitting  a  white  sulphurous  vapor,  after  which 
there  remains  a  crust  of  sulphuret  of  lead,  enclosing  a  globule 
of  copper.  Readily  soluble  in  heated  nitric  acid.* 


Fig.  1,  a  rectangular  prism,  of  which  the  lateral  edges  are  replaced, 
converting  the  crystal  into  an  eight-sided  prism.  In  fig.  2,  two  opposite 
edges  of  each  terminal  plane  are  replaced  by  planes  inclining  on  the  ter- 
minal planes,  so  as  to  reduce  them  greatly.  Fig.  3,  a  made,  in  which 
two  crystals  similar  to  fig.  2,  but  elongated,  cross  each  other. 


*  The  solution  is  of  a  sky-blue  color,  and  gives,  with  sulphuric  acid,  a  white  precipitate 
of  sulphate  of  lead  :  producing,  with  excess  of  caustic  ammonia,  an  azure  blue  solution.  — 
Von  Kobell. 


536 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


M  on  T 90°  00' 

P  on  M  or  T 90  00 

al  or  al' 146  48 

61 175  50 

62 165  00 

63 154  00 

64 136  30 

cl 173  15 

c2 136  9 

M  on  al  or  al' 114  00 

a5 143  20 

62 115  15 

64  or  64' 133  40 

65 151  52 

dl  or  dl'    ......  136  48 

dSordS' 1 54  48 

T  on  al 109  50 

c2 134  00 

dl 133  00 

al  on  al" 66  30 

a2 175  10 


al  on  a3 165°  00' 

a4 150  20 

a5 147  35 

a6 179  24 

a7 164  5 

a8 168  00 

64 152  36 

c2 146  35 

64  on  64' 87  30 

dl 120  20 

a5 151  30 

C2 119  22 

c2  on  c2' 88  00 

dl  on  al  or  al" 123  15 

a5 149  5 

a7 132  52 

a8  or  a8' 142  40 

dl 93  40 

dl  on  d2 168  33 

d3 161  58 

d4 172  15 


The  most  magnificent  crystals  of  Bournonite  are  found  in 
the  mines  of  Neudorf  in  the  Hartz,  where  they  occasionally 
exceed  an  inch  in  diameter.  It  occurs  accompanying  quartz, 
fahlerz,  and  phosphorescent  blende,  at  Kapnik  in  Transylvania, 
in  compressed  crystals,  which,  from  their  peculiar  macled 
arrangement,  produce  the  variety  termed  in  German  radelerz 
or  wheel-ore  (usually  called  cog  wheel-ore) ;  also  with  pearl 
spar  and  quartz,  at  a  mine  near  Servos  in  Piedmont ;  at 
Braunsdorf  and  Gersdorf  in  Saxony ;  at  Clausthal  and  Andreas- 
berg  in  the  Hartz  ;  in  some  of  the  gold  mines  of  Hungary  and 
Transylvania ;  in  Peru ;  in  Mexico,  and  in  Cornwall. 

PRISMATOIDAL,  COPPER  GLANCE.  —  Prismatoidal  Copper  Glance,  M. 
Prismatic  Antimony-Glance,  J.  Cuivre  Sulfure  Prismatol'de,  JVecker. 
Contains  lead  29-90,  sulphur  8-60,  antimony  16.65,  arsenic  6-04,  copper 
17-35,  iron  1-40  —  Schrotter.  Specific  gravity  5-7 — 5-8.  Hardness  = 
2-0  —  30.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  cleavable  parallel  to  the 
axis  in  the  direction  of  the  small  diagonal  of  the  base.  It  is  generally 
somewhat  decomposed,  externally  coated  with  oxide  of  iron,  and  when 
fresh  fractured,  presents  a  blackish  lead-grey  color.  B  B,  it  gives  very 
nearly  the  same  results  as  Bournonite.  It  occurs  with  carbonate  of  iron 
at  St.  Gertraud,  near  Wolfsberg  in  Carinthia. 


NATIVE    MINIUM. 

Native  Minium,  Smithson.     Plombe  Oxyde  Rouge,  H. 

Color  aurora-red,  mixed  with  yellow,  similar  to  that  of  fac- 
titious minium.  It  occurs  amorphous  and  pulverulent,  but 
when  closely  examined  exhibits  a  crystalline  structure.  B  B, 
on  charcoal,  it  is  first  converted  into  litharge,  and  then  into 
metallic  lead.  It  is  supposed  to  be  an  oxide  of  lead,  and  to 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  537 

arise  from  the  decomposition  of  galena,  in  veins  of  which  it 
commonly  occurs.  According  to  Mr.  Smithson  it  possesses 
the  properties  of  sesquioxide  of  lead. 

It  is  found  in  Grassington  Moor  in  Craven,  and  at  Grasshill 
Chapel,  in  Weirdale,  Yorkshire.  On  the  continent,  near 
Badenweiller ;  and  in  Siberia. 

At  the  lead  mines  in  Weythe  county,  Virginia,  according  to 
Prof.  W.  B.  Rogers,  red  oxide  of  lead,  mixed  with  a  small 
proportion  of  yellow  oxide,  has  until  lately  been  mistaken  for 
ferruginous  clay  and  disregarded,  but  it  is  now  highly  valued 
for  its  productiveness  in  metal. 

SELENIURET    OF    LEAD. 

Selenblei.    Plomb  Seleniure,  Levy.     Claustha]ie,".Betu/a?ii.     Seleniet  of  lead,   Thomson. 

PJumbites  Selenicus,  D. 
Clausthal.  Tilkerode.  Atoms. 

Lead 70-98 71-81 5-49 

Selenium 28-11 27-59 .5-57 

Cobalt 0-83 0-00 

99-92  Turner.*  99-40  H.  Rose. 

It  is  obviously  a  simple  seleniuret  of  lead.     Formula:  PISel. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-2  —  8-8,  Haidinger;  67  —  6'8,  Silliman. 
Crystalline  form  unknown.  Color  lead-grey  inclining  to 
bluish;  lustre  metallic ;  cleavage  indistinct ;  fracture  granular 
and  shining.  Bears  considerable  resemblance  to  fine  granular 
galena.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  is  quickly  decomposed,  and 
affords,  besides  the  usual  phenomena  arising  from  the  presence 
of  lead,  the  odor  of  decayed  horse-radish,  a  brownish  matter 
being  at  the  same  time  deposited  on  the  charcoal;  heated  over 
the  spirit-larnp  in  a  glass  tube  closed  at  one  extremity,  the 
selenium  almost  instantly  sublimes,  and  forms  a  red  ring  within 
the  tube,  at  the  open  extremity  of  which  its  peculiar  odor  is 
very  perceptible.  It  is  a  rare  substance,  occurring  only  in  the 
massive  state  in  veins  of  hematite,  near  Clausthal,  and  Tilke- 
rode in  the  Hartz,  sometimes  with  particles  of  native  gold. 
It  was  discovered  by  M.  Zinken  in  1823. 

At  the  latter  locality  the  following  compounds  have  likewise  been  met 
with. 

1.  SELENIURET  OF  LEAD  AND  COPPER.  —  Lead  47-43,  copper  15-45, 
selenium  34-26,  silver  1-29.  —  Rose.  Specific  gravity  7-0.  Occurs  in 
amorphous  masses  of  a  lead-grey  color.  Is  ductile  and  sectile.  Fuses 
readily  B  B,  yielding  oxide  of  lead,  and  reddish  metallic  grains.  Acted 
upon  l>y  nitric  acid. 

This  mineral,  StUniure  cuivre-plombique,  has  been  found  by  M.  Kers- 
ten,  at  the  Fredericksgliick  mine  near  Hildbourghausen,  with  seleniet  of 
lead. 

*  Rammelsberg  (Handwb'rterbuch,  ii.  140)  credits  this  analysis  to  Stromeyer,  and  refers 
to  Poggendorf 's  Annalen,  ii.  403. 


538  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

2.  SELENIURET  OF  LEAD  AND  COBALT.  —  Lead  63-92,  cobalt  3  14, 
selenium  31-42,  iron  0-45.  —  H.  Rose.     Specific  gravity  7-697.     Has  much 
the  aspect  of seleniuret  of  lead.     Gives  off  in  the  closed  tube  a  sublimation 
of  selenium,  and  exhibits  with  the  fluxes  the  re-action  of  cobalt,  by  color- 
ing them  blue. 

3.  SELENIURET  OF  LEAD  AND  MERCURY.  —  Lead  55-84,  mercury 
16-94,  selenium  24-97.  —  H.  Rose.     Specific  gravity  7-8  —  7-87.    Exhibits 
a  very  distinct  cubical  cleavage.    In  the  matrass  yields  a  crystalline  subli- 
mation of  the  seleniuret  of  mercury. 

The  first  variety,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  consists  of  one  At.  seleniet 
of  lead,  eight  At.  seleniet  of  copper  ;  the  second  of  five  At.  seleniet  of  lead, 
one  At.  seleniet  of  cobalt ;  the  third  of  three  At.  seleniet  of  lead,  one  At, 
sesquiseleniet  of  mercury.  See  table  of  formulas. 

PLOMBGOMME. 

Bleigummi.      Hydrous   Aluminate   of  Lead,    Smithson.      Plomb   Hydro-Alumineux,   H. 
Sexaluminate  of  lead,  Thomson.     Cronalus  resiniformis,  D. 

Combination  of  the  oxide  of  lead,  alumina,  and  water. 

Huelgoet.  Atoms. 

Protoxide  of  lead 40-14 2.87 1 

Alumina 37-00 16-44. . .  .5-72 

Water 18-80 16-71. . .  .5-82 

Sulphuious  acid 0-20 

Lime,  oxides  of  iron  and  manganese 1-80 

Silica 0-60 

98-54  Berzelius. 

Supposing  the  alumina  to  act  the  part  of  an  acid,  it  is  an 
aluminate  of  lead,  as  thus  atomically  expressed  by  Dr.  Thom- 
son:  PlAl6+6Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-425.     H.  —  4-0  —  5-0. 

This  mineral  is  of  a  yellow  color,  sometimes  tinged  with 
brown.  It  occurs  in  small  reniform  masses,  composed  of  many 
concentric  spherical  layers,  which  are  externally  splendent, 
often  resembling  mammillated  chalcedony,  sometimes  possess- 
ing a  degree  of  pearly  lustre  on  their  inner  surfaces,  and  occa- 
sionally irisated.  The  concentric  layers,  when  broken  across, 
are  without  splendor,  and  rarely  present  slight  appearances  of 
a  radiated  texture,  but  are  without  any  regular  crystalline 
structure.  Fracture  conchoidal ;  translucent.  When  suddenly 
heated  it  decrepitates  violently ;  but  when  approached  with 
caution  it  becomes  white  and  opake,  although  it  does  not  fuse. 
With  borax  it  forms  a  colorless  transparent  glass,  but  without 
reducing  the  lead,  which,  however,  is  effected  on  the  addition 
of  soda.  It  acquires  negative  electricity  by  friction. 

It  was  supposed  to  occur  only  at  Huelgoet  near  Poullaouen 
in  Brittany,  associated  in  clay-slate  with  galena,  blende,  and  iron 
pyrites.  But  more  recently  it  has  been  brought  from  Nussiene 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Beaujeu,  in  France.  There  are  certain 
varieties  of  mammillated  blende  to  which  it  bears  much  resem- 
blance. 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  539 

BITELLURET    OF    LEAD. 

Dr.  Thomson.      (Outlines,  &c.,  i.  555.) 

This  is  the  mineral  from  Altai,  first  described  and  analyzed 
by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  and  hitherto  classed  with  black  tellurium. 
Its  constituents  were  found  by  him  to  be  as  follows : 

Atoms. 

Tellurium 38-37 9-<5 

Le:id 60-85 4-69 

Silver 1-28 0-09 

100-50* 

If  we  include  the  silver  with  the  lead,  the  atoms  of  tellurium 
are  almost  exactly  twice  those  of  the  lead.  Formula  :  P1T12. 
Sp.  Gr.  8-159.  H.  not  stated. 

Color  tin  white,  very  similar  in  appearance  to  that  of  native 
antimony,  sectile,  easily  reducible  to  a  fine  powder.  B  B,  on 
charcoal,  gives  a  blue  tinge  to  the  flame.  In  the  reducing 
flame  melts  into  a  bead,  which  becomes  smaller  and  smaller, 
and  at  last  leaves  nothing  but  a  minute  globule  of  silver. 
Round  the  assay  is  formed  a  metallic  shining  ring  of  telluret 
of  lead;  at  a  little  further  distance  a  brownish  yellow  matter, 
which  tinges  the  flame  blue,  and  is  totally  dissipated  by  heat. 

CARBONATE    OF    LEAD. 

Diprismatic  Lend  Baryte,   M.     Weiss   Bleierz,  W.     Plombe    Carbonate,  H.     Ceruse, 
Beudant.     Kohlensaures  Blei,  L.     White  Lead  Ore,  J.     Cronalus  rhombicus,  D. 

Combination  of  carbonic  acid,  and  protoxide  of  lead. 

Leadhills.  Zellerfeld.  Nertschinsk.  Atoms. 

Carbonic  acid 18-0 16-0 15-5 16-418 5-966 

Protoxide  of  lead .  .82-0 81-2 84-5 83-534 5-966 

Lime 0-0 0-9 0-0    Water..  0-060 

Oxide  ofiron 0-0 0-3 0-0 0-000 

98-0  Klaproth.         98-4  Westrumb.     100-0  John.        100-000  Thomson. 

The  last  analysis  gives  exactly,  and  the  others  very  nearly, 
one  atom  of  each  constituent,  and  the  mineral  is  therefore  a 
simple  carbonate  of  lead.  Formula:  PIC. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-3  —  66.     H.  =  3'0  —  3-5. 

Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  Either  colorless  or 
white,  passing  into  grey  and  greyish-black  ;  tinged  also  green 
and  blue  by  admixture  with  ores  of  copper.  It  occurs  in  tabu- 
lar crystals,  in  six-sided  prisms  variously  terminated,  and  in 
other  rnacled  crystals  of  different  forms.  It  cleaves  parallel  to 
the  planes  P,  M,  and  M'  of  the  following  figures,  but  not  dis- 
tinctly, being  frequently  interrupted  by  conchoidal  fracture ; 

*Poggendorf's  Annalen,  xviii.  68. 


540 


NATIVE    METALS    AND 


the  lustre  of  the  planes  produced  by  cleavage  is  somewhat  ada- 
mantine ;  the  fracture  small  conchoidal,  with  a  resinous  lustre  ; 
transparent  or  translucent ;  when  transparent  it  is  doubly 
refractive  in  a  high  degree  ;  very  brittle.  It  also  occurs  mas- 
sive. Its  powder  thrown  upon  live  coal  emits  phosphorescent 
light.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  becomes  yellow,  then  red,  and  is 
immediately  reduced  to  the  metallic  state,  the  charcoal  being 
covered  with  the  yellow  fumes  of  lead  ;  with  the  fluxes  it  forms 
a  diaphanous  glass.  It  effervesces  in  dilute  muriatic  acid, 
especially  if  warm. 

Made  s. 


M  on  M' 117°  00' 

P  on  M  or  M' 90 

a 149 

/ 90 

h 90 

M  or  M  on  a  or  a' 115 

M  or  M'  on/ 148 

M  on  61  or  M'  on  61' ...  144 

62 62   ...  146 

63 63  ...  124 

cl 100 

M  on  h 121 

i 150 

There  are  few  substances  whose  crystallizations  are  more 
complex  than  the  carbonate  of  lead.  The  circumstance,  too, 
of  its  crystals  being  usually  macled,  in  general  small,  and  the 
number  of  their  facets  very  numerous,  accounts  for  its  having 
long  puzzled  mineralogists. 

Leadhills  and  Wanlockhead  are  well  known  as  the  Scotch 
localities  of  this  mineral ;  it  there  occurs  with  other  ores  of 
lead,  particularly  the  phosphate,  sulphate,  sulphato-tri-carbo- 


00' 
00 
14 
00 
00 
30 
32 
15 
12 
42 
24 
26 
00 

a  on  ot'  .  .    .  .    . 

67° 

12' 

00 
00 
6 
32 
20 
00 
00 
]6 
43 
16 
21 
30 

a  on  61  or  61  • 

149 

61  on  61 

130 

62 

162 

63  

.  160 

cl  on  cl  

.  140 

.,61  

134 

63 

151 

.  109 

C2  

.  125 

c3  

145 

^ 

151 

M  on  M"  (macles)  .  . 

.  125 

METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS.  541 

nate,  and  cupreous-sulphate,  accompanying  galena  in  transition- 
slate.  Very  beautiful  crystals  are  found  in  the  mining  districts 
of  Saxony,  particularly  at  Johanngeorgenstadt ;  at  Nertschinsk 
and  Beresof  in  Siberia,  near  Bonn  on  the  Rhine,  at  Clausthal 
in  the  Hartz,  at  Tarnovvitz  in  Silesia,  at  Bieiberg  in  Carinthia, 
and  at  Mies  and  Przibram  in  Bohemia.  In  England  it  has 
also  been  met  with  at  Alston  Moor,  at  Kesvvick,  and  in  Corn- 
wall, where,  particularly  at  the  mine  of  St.  Minvers,  it  occurs 
in  snow-white  and  easily  frangible  acicular  crystals,  so  delicate 
as  almost  to  preclude  the  possibility  of  transport.  —  Allan's 
Manual. 

Within  the  last  five  years  a  remarkable  locality  of  this 
mineral  has  been  discovered  in  Davidson  county,  N.  C.,  speci- 
mens of  which,  from  their  pure,  white  silky  lustre,  and  their 
beautifully  delicate  crystallizations,  are  rarely  surpassed  by 
the  finest  from  Saxony.  Interesting  specimens  of  this  mineral 
were  formerly  found  at  the  Perkiomen  lead  mine,  Penn.,  and 
a  choice  selection  of  them,  comprising  various  crystalline  modi- 
fications, may  be  seen  in  the  rich  collection  of  minerals  belong- 
ing to  J.  P.  Wetherell,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia.  The  mine  is 
now  abandoned.  The  lead  mines  in  Weythe  county,  Virginia, 
yield,  in  some  instances,  quite  a  large  proportion  of  carbonate, 
of  which  beautifully  pure  crystalline  specimens  are  quite  com- 
mon. It  was  found  by  Mr.  Hodge,  at  the  Mine  La  Motte  Mis- 
souri, in  beautiful  white  crystals,  with  carbonate  of  copper.  It 
occurs  sparingly  with  the  galena  at  Lubec,  Maine. 

EARTHY  CARBONATE  OF  LEAD.  —  Bleierde,  W.  Plomb  carbonate 
terreux,  H.  Indurated  and  friable  eartby  lead-ore,  J.  Color  grey,  occa- 
sionally tinged  green,  yellow,  or  red,  also  reddish-brown  ;  massive,  dis- 
seminated and  pulverulent ;  commonly  dull  and  opake,  sometimes  friable, 
soft,  and  heavy.  It  occurs  in  several  European  countries,  commonly  asso- 
ciated with  the  preceding. 

SULPHATO-CARBONATE    OF    LEAD. 

LANARKITE. 

Prismatoidal  Lead  Baryte,  Haidinger.    Schwefel  und  Kohlensaures  Blei  of  the  Qermans. 
Lanarkile,  Eeudant.     Dyoxylite,  Shepard.    Cronalus  flexilis,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  the  analyses  of  Brooke  and  Dr. 
Thomson,  of 

Carbonate  oflead 46-9 46-04 

Sulphate  oflead 53-1 53-96 


100-0  Brooke.*        100-00  Thomson. 

These  numbers  give  exactly  one  atom  carbonate  of  lead,  one 
atom  sulphate  of  lead.     Formula:  P1C+P1S1. 

*  See  Edin.  Phil.  Jour.,  iii.  117,  in  which  Mr.  Brooke  has  described  several  new  salts  of 
lead,  from  Leadhills,  Scotland. 

46 


542  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

Sp.  Gr.  68  —  7-0.     H.  —  25. 

Color  greenish-white,  pale-yellow,  or  grey.  Primary  form 
a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  59°  15'  and  120°  45'.  The  crystals 
are  seldom  distinct,  always  minute  and  aggregated  lengthwise, 
presenting  a  character  approaching  to  fibrous  :  and  owing  to 
their  minuteness,  the  relations  of  the  planes  of  the  following 
figure,  to  those  of  the  primary  crystal,  have  not  been  ascer- 
tained. Cleavage  perfect  and  easily  obtained,  parallel  to  a 
plane  which  replaces  the  acute  lateral  edges  of  the  primary; 
the  laminae  resulting  from  cleavage  are  flexible,  like  gypsum; 
lustre  adamantine;  streak  white ;  translucent. 


a  on  &  

111°  00' 

b  on  b  over  summit  .  . 
a  on  c  .  . 

.  .  130   5 
106  45 

d 

73  45 

e  

123  20 

conf  

.  .  133   0 

d  on  e  . 

.  136  54 

It  is  soluble  in  nitric  acid  without  perceptibly  effervescing, 
leaving  a  residue  of  the  sulphate  of  lead  ;  and  B  B,  on  charcoal 
fuses  into  a  globule  which  is  white  when  cold,  and  is  nearly 
reduced  to  metallic  lead. 

Until  Mr.  Brooke  analyzed  and  published  a  description  of  it 
in  1821),  this  mineral  was  supposed  to  be  a  variety  of  carbonate 
of  lead.  It  occurs  among  other  species  of  lead  ore  at  Lead- 
hills  in  Scotland.  A  massive  variety  has  also  been  brought 
from  Siberia. 

SULPHATO-TRI-CARBONATE    OF    LEAD. 
SUSANNITE. 

Axotomous  Lead  Baryte,  M.  Rhombohedrischer  Schwefel  Kohlensaures  Blei,  Leowhard. 
Leadhillite,  Beudant.  Susan nite,  Brooke.  Rhomboidal  Carbonate  of  Lead.  Cronalns 
acrotomus,  D. 

It  is  composed  of 

Carbonate  of  lead 72-5 72-7 71-1 

Sulphate  of  lead 27-5 27-3 30-0 

100-0  Brookp.          100-0  Stromeyer.     101-1  Berzelius. 

Carbonate  of  lead 68-0 72-57 

Sulphate  of  lead 29-0 27-43 

97-0  Irwing.  100-00  Thomson. 

Its  constitution  is  three  atoms  carbonate  of  lead,  one  atom 
sulphate  of  lead,  and  hence  the  propriety  of  the  name  given  by 
Brooke.  Formula:  3PIC+P1S1. 

Sp.  Gr.  62  —  6-4.     H.=r25. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


543 


Color  white,  passing  into  pale-yellow,  green,  or  grey.  This 
species  occurs,  as  carbonate  of  lime  does,  under  two  different 
crystalline  forms.  According  to  Brooke,  the  primary  form  is 
an  Acute  rhomboid  of  72°  30'  and  107°  30'.  As  determined 
by  the  optical  investigations  of  Sir  David  Brewster,  and  the 
crystallographical  researches  of  Haidinger,  the  primary  form 
is  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism  of  120°  20'  and  59°  40'.*  The 
crystals  seldom  exceed  an  inch  in  diameter,  generally  they  are 
much  smaller,  and  when  macled,  as  is  not  unfrequently  the 
case,  they  present  forms  which  are  with  difficulty  determinable. 
Cleavage  perfect  and  easily  obtained  parallel  to  a,  of  each  of 
the  following  figures,  or  perpendicular  to  the  axis  of  the  acute 
rhomboid,  and  Right  rhombic  prism,  according  to  Brooke. 
It  is  translucent ;  streak  white ;  lustre  resinous,  inclining  to 
adamantine  ;  pearly  on  the  face  a,  which  is  one  of  the  most 
distinguishing  characteristics  of  the  species.  B  B,  it  intu- 
mesces  and  becomes  yellow,  but  re-assumes  its  white  color 
on  cooling.  It  effervesces  briskly  in  nitric  acid,  leaving  a 
white  residue  of  sulphate  of  lead. 


P  on  P'  or  P" .  .   .  107°  30'  B. 

P'  on  P" 72    30 

Pon  a Ill    30 

a  on  o- in    30 

dl 131    58 


a  on  6 90°  29'  H. 

c  on  a 90  14 

P  on  a Ill  42 

P'  on  a HI  18 

g  on  a 128  23 

g'on  a 128  5 

e  on  c 120  20 

6  on  c   .  .119  50 


*  Brooke  regards  this  as  a  Right  rhombic  prism,  M  on  M'  =  ]20°.  (Art.  Mineralogy, 
Encyclopaedia  Metropolitana,  p.  501.)  I  have  here  inserted  Brooke's  original  figure,  which 
has  been  omitted  by  Mr.  Allan,  and  which  represents  the  most  commonly  occurring 
secondary  form  of  this  mineral.  [AM.  ED.  ] 


544 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


This  substance  also  occurs  with  other  ores  of  lead  at  Lead- 
hills,  Scotland;  and  under  similar  circumstances  it  has  been 
found  in  Spain. 


CUPREOUS    SULPHATO-CARBONATE    OF    LEAD. 

CALEDONITE. 


Paratomous  Lead  Baryte,  Haidinger.     Bchvvefel  und  Kohlensaures  Blei  und  Kupfer  of  the 
Germans,      Calcedonite 
Cronalus  diatomous,  D. 


Germans.      Calcedonite,  Beiulant.     Cupreous   Sulphate-Carbonate  of  Lead,  Brooke. 


Its  constituents,  as  determined  by  Brooke's  analysis,  are  car- 
bonate of  lead  32'8,  carbonate  of  copper  11-4,  sulphate  of  lead 
55*8;  corresponding  very  nearly  with  7.4-PlSH-5PlC-h4CpC. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-4.     H.  =  25  — 3-0. 

Color  bright  verdigris-green,  or  bluish.  Primary  form  a 
Right  rhombic  prism  of  95°  and  85°,  parallel  to  the  planes  of 
which  it  cleaves  indistinctly.  It  also  cleaves  in  a  direction 
parallel  to  the  shorter  diagonal  of  the  prism,  i.  e.  to  plane  h  of 
the  following  figure;  the  planes  M  and  M'  often  appear  as  a 
dihedral  termination  to  prismatic  crystals.  Sometimes  its 
crystals  are  large  and  well  defined,  at  others  it  appears  in 
small  tufts  radiating  from  their  common  point  of  attachment. 
Translucent;  streak  greenish-white;  lustre  resinous;  rather 
brittle.  It  is  not  so  hard  as  carbonate  of  lead,  but  is  harder 
than  the  sulphato-tri-carbonate.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  is  re- 
duced. Soluble  with  feeble  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  leav- 
ing a  residue  of  sulphate  of  lead. 


MonM' 95°  00' 

P  on  M  or  M' 90  00 

a2 108  00 

c 126  00 

el  or  el' 126  00 

c2  or  e2' 115  30 


M  on  el 144°  00' 

h 132  42 

a2  on  a2' 143  42 

--  on  e2 140  40 

c  on  h 144  30 

el  on  el' 108  00 

<?2  on  e2'  .                           .  128  35 


—  h 90    00 

The  above  figure  and  measurements  are  by  Brooke. 
It  is  found,  with  the  two  preceding  varieties  of  lead  ore,  at 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  545 

Leadhills  in  Scotland,  and  was  shown  to  be  a  new  mineral  by 
Brooke.  —  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.,  iii.  19.  It  is  the  scarcest  of 
all  the  lead  ores  that  have  been  found  at  the  Lead  hills.  It 
had  before  been  regarded  as  a  green  carbonate  of  copper. 

OXIDO-CHLOR1DE   OF   LEAD. 

CERASITE.* 

Berzelite,  Levy.  Muriate  of  Lead,  P.  Peritomous  Lead  Baryte,  M.  Saltsaures  Blei 
von  Mendipo/tfte  Germans.  Bichloride  of  Lead.  Kerasite.  Oxido-Chloride  of  Lead, 
Thomson.  Cronalus  peritomus,  D. 

Composition  not  exactly  determined,  it  being  difficult  to  as- 
certain whether  the  carbonate  of  lead,  which  is  in  small  pro- 
portions in  this  species,  is  combined,  or  only  mixed  with  it. 
Berzelius  supposes  it  to  be  a  combination  of  one  atom  of  chlo- 
ride, with  two  atoms  of  the  oxide  of  lead,  mixed  with  carbonate  of 
lead,  and  gives  this  formula:  Pb€l+2Pb,  which  requires  6T62 
oxide  of  lead,  38-38  chloride  of  lead.  In  the  specimens  ana- 
lyzed by  Berzelius,  there  were  accidentally  present  about  three 
per  cent,  of  carbonic  acid,  and  a  little  water  and  silica.f 
Sp.  Gr.  7-0  —  7-1.  H.  =  25  —  3-0. 

Occurs  in  crystalline  masses,  having  a  fibrous  and  radiated 
columnar  structure.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of 
102°  27'  and  77°  33',  parallel  to  all  the  faces  of  which  it  cleaves 
with  facility.  Color  white,  with  a  yellow  or  reddish  tinge; 
feebly  translucent  or  opake;  and  presenting  a  pearly  lustre  on 
the  faces  of  cleavage.  Fracture  conchoidal  or  uneven.  B  B, 
on  charcoal  it  is  reduced,  and  emits  fumes  of  muriatic  acid ; 
and  in  a  mixture  of  salt  of  phosphorus  and  peroxide  of  copper 
the  flame  assumes  an  intense  blue  color.  Is  soluble  with 
slight  effervescence  in  dilute  nitric  acid. 

Churchill  in  the  Mendip  Hills  of  Somersetshire,  is  the  prin- 
cipal locality  of  this  rare  species ;  it  is  there  found  disposed 
on  earthy  black  manganese.  It  also  accompanies  the  murio- 
carbonate  of  lead  at  Cornwall,  in  the  form  of  very  thin  irregu- 
larly curved  transparent  crystals,  without  any  well  denned 
lateral  or  terminal  planes,  as  described  by  Brooke.  It  is  said 
to  occur  as  a  product  of  sublimation  upon  the  lava  of  Vesu- 
vius ;  but  from  that  locality  the  specimens  are  so  indistinct  as 
to  render  its  identity  doubtful. 

The  Dichloride  of  Lead,  of  Dr.  Thomson,  appears  to  be 
the  same  mineral  which  he  has  described  as  an  oxido-chloride 
of  lead,  he  having  calculated  its  composition  from  a  different 
view  of  the  analytical  results  of  Berzelius,  as  stated  in  Allan's 
Manual,  from  which  he  had  copied  them.f 

*  From  xtqae,  horn.         f  Poggendorfg  Annalen,  i.  272,         J  See  Outlines,  &c.,  i.  557, 

46* 


546  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

CHLORIDE   OF   LEAD. 
COTUNNITE. 

Cotunnia,  Monticclli  and  Covelli.     Cotunnitc,  Kubcll.     Cronalus  Vesuvianus,  D. 

It  contains,  according  to  Berzelius : 

Atoms. 

Lead 74-52 5-7 

Chlorine 25-48 5-66 


100-00 

It  is  thus  a  simple  chloride  of  lead.     Formula:  PIChl. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-897.     Slightly  scratched  by  the  nail. 

In  extremely  minute  aciculnr  crystals  of  a  white  color. 
Lustre  adamantine,  occasionally  silky,  or  pearly.  Fuses  with 
facility  before  the  blowpipe,  coloring  the  flame  blue,  and 
emitting  a  white  smoke,  which  is  condensed  on  the  charcoal ; 
with  soda  globules  of  reduced  lead  are  formed  ;  in  the  matrass 
it  fuses  and  is  sublimated  ;  and  in  about  twenty-seven  times 
its  weight  of  cold  water  is  entirely  dissolved. 

This  substance  was  observed  by  Monticelli  and  Covelli  in 
the  crater  of  Vesuvius,  after  the  eruption  of  1822;  it  was  ac- 
companied with  muriate  of  soda,  muriate  and  sulphate  of  cop- 
per, and  other  salts.  It  is  named  in  compliment  to  one  of  the 
medical  men  of  Naples.  —  Allan's  Manual. 


CHLORO-CARBONATE   OF    LEAD. 

Hornblei,  W.  Plomb  Corne,  Br.  Plomb  Muriate,  Bt.  Corneous  Lead-Ore,  J.  Bloi- 
Hornerz,  Leonhard.  Plomb  Murio-Curbonate,  Lciry.  Brachyt vpous  Lead  Baryte,  M. 
Kerasine,  Beudant.  M  uric-Carbonate  of  Lead.  Cronalus  quadratus,  D. 

This  mineral  from  the  results  obtained  by  Klaproth,  and 
corrected  by  Dr.  Thomson,  is  composed  as  follows : 

Atoms. 

Cblorine 13-56 3-01 

Carbonic  acid 8-5! 3-09 

Lead 39-17 3-01 

Protoxide  of  lead 43-32 3-09 

104-50* 

It  thus  appears  to  be  constituted  of  one  atom  chloride  of 
lead,  one  atom  carbonate  of  lead.     Formula:  PlC+PlChl. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-0  —  6-1      H.  =  3-0.~" 

Color  white,  greyish,  or  yellow.  Primary  form  a  Right 
square  prism  ;  in  which  it  occurs  either  perfect,  or  having  the 
lateral  and  also  the  terminal  edges,  and  its  solid  angles,  re- 
placed. It  affords  bright  cleavages  parallel  to  all  the  primary 
planes,  and  to  both  the  diagonal  planes  of  the  prism;  struc- 
ture lamellar;  fracture  conchoidal,  with  a  splendent  adaman- 
tine lustre;  transparent  or  translucent;  sectile,  and  easily 

*  This  excess  is  owing  to  a  slight  overrating  of  the  oxide  of  lead,  and  the  carbonic  acid 
in  the  mineral. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


547 


frangible.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  fuses  into  a  transparent  glo- 
bule, which  becomes  pale-yellow  on  cooling.  With  salt  of 
phosphorus,  mixed  with  deutoxide  of  copper,  it  colors  the 
flame  green  or  bluish-green. 


P  onM 

90°  00' 

-^y. 

P  on  a 

123   6 

P  on  b 

112  22 

M  on  a 

126  20 

de 

M  on  b 

145  47 

M  on  d 

135  00 

Mon  e 

153  26 

v 

The  smaller  figure  is  from  a  crystal  in  the  British  Museum,  a  Cornish 
specimen,  and  the  other  from  one  in  the  possession  of  Brooke,  by  whom  all 
the  measurements  of  both  have  been  determined.  He  remarks,  that  from 
the  inclination  of  P  on  a,  the  ratio  of  a  terminal  edge  to  a  lateral  edge,  is 
found  to  be  as  35  to  38  very  nearly.* 

The  finest  crystals  of  this  species  have  been  obtained  in 
Cromford  Level,  near  Matlock  in  Derbyshire,  with  carbonate 
and  sulphuret  of  lead  and  fluor.  Of  these  some  splendid  speci- 
mens, exceeding  an  inch  in  length,  are  preserved  in  the  Brit- 
ish Museum.  More  recently  very  fine  crystals  have  been 
brought  from  Cornwall,  where  it  is  accompanied  by  chloride 
of  lead.  It  is  described  also  as  occurring  at  Badenweiller  in 
Germany. 

In  the  United  States  a  few  specimens  of  a  green  color,  on 
galena  and  blende,  were  many  years  since  discovered,  at  the 
lead  mine,  Southampton,  Mass. 


PHOSPHATE   OF   LEAD. 

Rhombohedral  Lead  Baryte  (in  part),  M.  Phosphorsaures,  Blei,  Leonkard.  Pyromor- 
phite,  Beudant.  Griln  Bleierz,  W.  Plomb  Phosphate,  H.  Brown  Lead  Ore.  Crona- 
lus  hexagonus,  (Var.  speciosus,)  D. 

Combination  of  protoxide  of  lead,  phosphoric  acid,  and  mu- 
riatic acid. 

Huelgoet.  Tschopau. 

Protoxide  of  lead 7«-58 74-216 

Phosphoric  acid 19-73 15-727 

Muriatic  acid 1-65.  .Chloride  of  lead. .  10-054 


99  96  Klaproth. 


99-997  Wohler 


Formula  by  Beudant  from  the  last  analysis :  3Pb3iM-PbCh2, 
Sp.  Gr.  69  —  7-0.     H.  =  35  —  4-0. 


*  Article  by  Brooke,  Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.,  new  series,  xi.  175 ;  since  the  date 
the  last  edition  of  this  work. 


548 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


It  is  of  various  shades  of  green,  yellowish-green,  yellow 
ash-grey,  and  brown.  Primary  form  the  Regular  six-sided 
prism,  in  which  it  also  occurs  crystallized,  generally,  how- 
ever, modified  on  the  edges;  traces  of  cleavage  are  visible 
parallel  to  all  the  faces  of  the  prism  c  c1  c"  replacing  its  ter- 
minal edges,  thereby  affording  cleavages  parallel  to  the  planes 
of  a  six-sided  pyramid ;  it  also  occurs  botryoidal,  reniform 
and  massive,  and  often  barrel-shaped,  or  contracted  at  the 
ends  of  the  prisms.  Fracture  imperfect  conchoidal  and  dull. 
Surface  of  M  always  striated  horizontally  ;  P  rough  and  often 
indented ;  streak  white  or  yellow ;  semi-transparent  to  trans- 
lucent on  the  edges;  lustre  resinous;  easily  frangible,  but  less 
so  than  sulphate  or  carbonate  of  lead.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it 
melts  in  the  outer  flame  into  a  globule,  which  crystallizes  on 
cooling,  and  becomes  brown ;  in  the  reducing  flame  the  glo- 
bule appears  bluish,  is  luminous  while  hot,  and  on  cooling 
crystallizes  with  large  facets  of  a  lighter  color,  approaching 
the  aspect  of  mother-of-pearl.  It  is  acted  upon  by  nitric  acid. 


M  on  M' 120°  00' 

P  on  M  or  M' 90    00 

M  or  M'  on  d' 150    00 

M  on  c'  or  M'  on  c"  .  .  131    45 

P  on  c  or  c'' 138    30 

c?  on  c  or  c" 110      5 


M 


d 


It  occurs  with  galena  in  primitive  and  secondary  rocks. 
Finely  crystallized  specimens  are  found  at  Zschopau  and 
other  places  in  Saxony;  at  Przibram  and  Mies  in  Bohemia; 
at  Badenweiller  in  Baden  ;  in  Cornwall ;  at  the  Leadhills  in 
Scotland;  and  in  Siberia.  The  brown  varieties  occur  prin- 
cipally at  Poullaouen  and  Huelgoet  in  Brittany,  at  Wanlock- 
head  in  Scotland,  and  at  Bleistadt  in  Bohemia.  At  the  last 
named  locality  the  crystals  have  their  extremities  enlarged  into 
a  kind  of  capping,  retaining  the  same  hexagonal  shape,  and 
appearing  not  unlike  the  blunt  head  of  a  nail. 

In  the  United  States,  extremely  rich  specimens  of  this  min- 
eral have  been  met  with  in  the  Washington  Lead  Mine,  David- 
son county,  N.  C.,  associated  with  other  salts  of  this  metal, 
and  sometimes  with  native  silver.  At  Perkiomen,  Penn.,  small 
hexahedral  prisms  were  found  several  years  since. 

CHROMO-PHOSPHATE  OF  LEAD. —  Dr.  Thomson.  This  occurs  in 
crystals  having  precisely  the  same  form  with  the  simple  phosphate  of 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  549 

lead,  and  is  found  in  the  Wanlock  Head  Mine,  Scotland,  in  considerable 
quantity.  It  is  of  a  beautiful  orange-yellow  color,  without  any  of  the  red 
tinge,  which  characterizes  chromate  of  lead.  It  has  not  been  analyzed,  but 
Dr.  Thomson  found  it  to  contain  two  per  cent,  of  chromate  of  lead  mixed 
also  with  chloride  of  lead.* 

POLYSPH^ERITE. 

JBreithaupt.     (Berzelius*  Jahres  Bericht,  1832,  p.  202.) 

Sp.  Gr.  5-83  —  5  89.     H.  —  3  —  4. 

In  roundish  masses,  having  internally  a  radiated  structure  ; 
color  brown  or  yellow  ;  lustre  greasy  ;  fracture  conchoidal.  It 
scratches  mica,  but  is  scratched  byfluor  spar.  Contains  oxide 
of  lead,  phosphoric  acid,  and  magnesia.  From  the  mines  of 
Freyberg  in  Saxony,  where  it  accompanies  blende,  galena, 
quartz,  and  iron  pyrites.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

ARSENIATE   OF    LEAD. 

Plomb  Arseniate,  H.  Rbombohedral  Load  Baryte,  M.  Rhombohedral  Lead  Spar,  J. 
Mimetese,  Beudant.  Arseniksaures  Blei,  Leonhard.  Gorlandite,  Brooke.  Cronalus 
hexagonus,  (Var.  alliaceus,)  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  muriatic  acid,  and  oxide 
pf  lead. 

Johanngeorgenstadt.  Cornwall. 

Protoxide  of  lead 75-59 77-51 69-76 

Phosphoric  acid 1-32 7-50 0-00 

Arsenic  acid 21-20 12-5U 26-40 

Muriatic  acid 1-89...  ..  1-50 1-58 


100-00  Wbhler.  100-00  Rose.  97-74  Gregor. 

Beudant,  adopting  the  first  analysis,  gives  the  proportion  of 
oxide  of  lead  as  67'89,  and  chloride  of  lead  9'60 ;  according 

to  which  the  formula  is  thus  stated  by  him  :  3Pb3Ar+PbCh2. 

Sp.  Gr.  69  —  7-3.     H.  =  35  —  40. 

Color  various  shades  of  yellow,  passing  into  hyacinth-  and 
aurora-red  —  frequently  very  brilliant.  Primary  form  the  Regu- 
lar six-sided  prism,  in  which  it  likewise  occurs  either  perfect 
or  having  the  terminal  edges  replaced ;  also  mammillated, 
reniform,  and  compact.  The  structure  of  the  crystals  is  lam- 
ellar, yielding  indistinctly  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the  planes  of 
the  prism ;  it  is  translucent,  rarely  transparent ;  external  lus- 
tre of  the  crystal  resinous  ;  easily  frangible  ;  fracture  imper- 
fect conchoidal,  or  uneven.  B  B,  on  charcoal  it  fuses  with 
difficulty,  emits  arsenical  vapors,  and  is  reduced  to  globules 
of  metallic  lead. 


*  See  a  paper  by  Dr.  Thomson  on  the  minerals  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Glasgow. 
Load.  Edinb.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  xvii.  405.    1840. 


550 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


M 


M 


M  on  M' 120°  e.g. 

P   on  M  or  M' 90     — 

M  on  r 130     — 


The  largest  crystals  of  this  species  have  been  found  at 
Johanngeorgenstadt  in  Saxony ;  but  at  that  locality  they  are 
now  rare.  Latterly  it  has  occurred  in  beautiful  translucent 
yellow  crystals,  disposed  on  quartz  at  Huel  Alfred  in  Corn- 
wall;  and  at  Caldbeck  Fell  in  Cumberland,  aggregated  in 
opake,  orange-yellow,  colored  individuals,  which  consist  each 
of  three  hexagonal  prisms  curved  towards  their  terminations 
in  a  manner  often  beautifully  symmetrical.  The  varieties  from 
Leadhills  are  more  remarkable  for  the  richness  of  their  colors 
than  the  beauty  of  their  crystalline  forms,  being  generally  ag- 
gregated, grouped  in  rosettes,  forming  superficial  coatings  and 
otherwise  indistinctly  defined.  The  orange  phosphate  from 
this  locality  has  been  ascertained  by  the  Rev.  W.  Vernon  to 
contain  about  one  per  cent,  of  the  chromate  of  lead,  to  which 
admixture  he  attributes  the  splendid  tinges  of  that  variety.  — 
Allan's  Manual. 

Mammillated  arseniate  of  lead  occurs  at  Huelgoet ;  the  reni- 
form  and  orbicular  varieties  are  met  with  at  the  Puy  de  Dome 
in  Auvergne,  and  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Baden ;  while  the 
filamentous  or  capillary  kind  is  found  at  St.  Prix  in  the  de- 
partment of  the  Saone  in  France. 

The  HEDYPHAIT  of  Breithaupt,  described  as  a  white,  shining,  massive 
mineral,  having  a  specific  gravity  equal  to  5-404,  and  containing,  accord- 
ing to  Kersten,  oxide  of  lead  52-95,  muriatic  acid  2-03,  arsenic  acid  22-78, 
phosphoric  acid  6-20,  and  lime  14-03  —  is  evidently  a  variety  of  this  spe- 
cies. It  is  from  Langbanshyttan  in  Sweden. 


SULPHATE   OF   LEAD. 

ANGLESITE. 

Blei  Vitriol,  W.  Plomb  Sulfate,  II.  Bt.  Vitriol  de  Plomb  Natif,  Br.  Prismatic  Lead 
Baryte,  M.  Tri-prismatic  Lead-spar,  J.  Anglesite,  Beudant.  Cronalus  Anglesea- 
nus,  D. 

Combination  of  sulphuric  acid  and  protoxide  of  lead. 

Zellerfeld.  Anglesea.  Leadhills, 

Protoxide  of  Lead 72-9146 71-0 74-045 

Sulphuric  acid 26-0914 24-8 25-655 

Water 0-1242 2-0 0-800 

Protoxide  of  iron  and  manganese. .  0-2805 1-0 0-000 

99-4107  Stromeyer.  98-8  Klaproth,   100-500  Thomson. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


551 


Dr.  Thomson's   analysis  gives  5*13  atoms   sulphuric  acid, 
and  5'28  atoms  protoxide  of  lead.     The  mineral  when  pure  is 
therefore  a  simple  sulphate  of  lead.     Formula:  P1S1. 
Sp  Gr.  623  —  6-31.     H.  —  3  0.  " 

Color  white,  grey,  or  yellowish ;  frequently  tinged  blue  or 
green  by  the  oxide  of  copper.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  rhom- 
bic prisms  with  dihedral  terminations,  but  the  crystals,  when 
the  prism  is  short,  assume  the  general  form  of  an  octahedron; 
the  structure  is  perfectly  lamellar;  it  cleaves  parallel  only 
to  the  planes  of  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  103°  42'  and  76° 
18',  which  therefore  is  the  form  of  its  primary  crystal. 


M  on  h 128C 

cl 127 

M  on  i  or  M'  on  t 160 

a  on  a1 79 

a  or  a'  on/ 129 

cloncl' 104 

c2    .                      ...  142 


10' 
56 
42 
30 
28 
30 
20 


MonM' 103°  42' 

P  on  M  or  M' 90  00 

a 140  36 

eore 115  40 

f 90  00 

h 90  00 

M  on  e  or  M'  on  e'   ....  153  20 

M  or  M'  on/ 141  52 

When  reduced  to   thin   lamina?   it  is  often  colorless  and 

transparent,  with  a  splendent  lustre;  fracture  conchoidal  and 

resinous;  brittle,  and  yields  to  the  nail.     It  also  occurs  mas- 

I  sive.     B  B,  it  decrepitates,  then  melts  ;  fuses  in  the  oxidating 

I  flame  into   a  transparent  globule,  which   becomes  milky  on 

I  hardening;  and  in  the  reducing  flame  effervesces,  and  is  soon 

reduced  to  the  metallic  state. 

The  finest  specimens  of  this  species  are  found  at  the  mines 
1  of  Wanlockhead  and  Leadhills  in  Dumfries-shire,  often  in  tab- 
ular-shaped crystals  some  inches  in  diameter.    Pary's  Mine  in 
I  Anglesea,  and    Mellanoweth    in    Cornwall,  are  its   principal 
English  localities;  while  on  the  continent  it  is  best  known  at 
!  Clausthal  and  Zellerfeld  in  the  Hartz,  and  at  Badenweiller  in 
the  Brisgau.     Small  but  extremely  perfect  transparent  crys- 
tals have  been  brought  from  Fondon  in  Granada;  while  the 
massive  and  compact  varieties  are  chiefly  from  Siberia,  Anda- 
lusia and  Alston  Moor. 

Many  of  the  ores  of  lead  are  unquestionably  derived  from 


552  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

the  decomposition  of  galena,  and  none  more  distinctly  so  than 
the  sulphate  which  is  frequently  met  with  at  Leadhills,  either 
occupying  the  cavities  of  cubical  crystals,  or  disposed  on  a 
surface  of  galena,  which  has  all  the  appearance  of  having  been 
acted  upon  by  acids.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

In  the  United  States,  very  fine  crystals  of  this  mineral  have 
been  found  at  the  Perkiomen  lead  mine,  Penn.  They  are  vari- 
ously modified,  sometimes  by  four-sided  pyramids  correspond- 
ing with  the  sides  of  the  prism,  the  edges  of  these  pyramids 
being  also  replaced  ;  and  a  less  frequent  form  in  which  they 
have  been  met  with,  is  that  of  an  elongated  octahedron  passing 
into  the  Trihexaedrc  of  Haiiy. 


CUPREOUS    SULPHATE   OF    LEAD. 

LINARITE. 

Diplogenic  Lead  Baryte,  Tlaidinvcr.  Schwefelsaures  Blci  und-Kupfer,  L.  Sulfate  cle 
Plomb  Cuivreux,  Bcudant.  Cupreous  Sulphate  of  Lead,  Brooke.  (Jhronalus  rhomboi- 
deus,  D. 

Composed,  according  to  the  analyses  of  Brooke  and  Dr. 
Thomson,  of  sulphate  of  lead,  oxide  of  copper,  arid  water,  in 
these  proportions : 

Sulphate  of  lead 74-4 74-8 

Oxide  of  copper ]«•<) 19-7 

Water 4-7 5-5 

97-1  Brooke.  100-0  Thomson. 

These  analyses  correspond  with  one  atom  sulphate  of  lead, 
one  atom  oxide  of  copper,  and  one  atom  water.  Formula: 
PlSl+Cp-f-Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-3  —  5-4.     H.  =  25  —  30. 

Of  a  deep  azure-blue  color,  greatly  resembling  that  of  the 
brightest  and  more  translucent  varieties  of  blue  carbonate  of 
copper.  Primary  form  a  Right  oblique-angled  prism;  cleav- 
age very  perfect  parallel  to  M,  less  so  to  T  ;  translucent ; 
lustre  vitreous  or  adamantine;  streak  pale  blue. 

M  on  T 102°  45' 

P  on  M  or  T 90    00 

/I 90    00 

T  on/1 161    30 

M  on  d 120    3a 

M  return  on/2    ....  104    50 

The  above  measurements  are  by  Brooke. 

It  is  found  at  the  Leadhills  in  Scotland,  and  at  Linares  in 
Spain;  but  it  is  an  exceedingly  rare  mineral. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


553 


MOLYBDATE  OF  LEAD. 

Bleigelb,  Hausmann.  Gelb-Bleierz,  W.  Plomh  Molybdate.  H.  Bt.  Plomb  Jaune,  Br. 
Yellow  Lead  Ore.  Pyramidal  Lead  Baryte,  M.  Pyramidal  Lead  Spar,  J.  Melinose, 
Beudant.  Carinthite,  Brooke.  Cronalus  pyramidalis,  D. 

It  is  composed  of  protoxide  of  lead  and  molybdic  acid,  ac- 
cording to  the  following  analyses  : 


Molybdic  acid  ........  34-25  ....... 

Protoxide  of  lead  .....  64-4-2  ....... 

Oxide  of  iron  .........  0-00  ....... 


38-00 40-5 00-000 

58-00 59-0 40-293 

..  3-00 0-0 61-903 


98-67  Klaproth.         99-00  Hatchett.     99-5  Gobel.    102-196  Melling. 

The  three  last  analyses,  which  nearly  agree  with  each  other, 
correspond  with  one  atom  molybdic  acid,  one  atom  protoxide 
of  lead.  The  mean  of  these  gives  4*40  At.  molybdic  acid,  4'58 
At.  protoxide  of  lead.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  mineral 
is  a  simple  molybdate  of  lead.  Formula  :  P1M1. 
Sp.  Gr.  6-69  —  676.  H.  =  3-0. 

Color  generally  orange  or  wax-yellow,  passing  into  grey  or 
brown,  rarely  aurora-red.  Primary  form,  the  Octahedron  with 
a  square  base.  It  occurs  crystallized  in  flat  and  in  acute  four- 
sided  pyramids  variously  modified,  and  in  tabular  crystals ; 
structure  perfectly  lamellar;  yields  to  cleavage  parallel  to  the 
planes  of  the  primary,  and  also  to  the  common  base  of  the  two 
pyramids;  fracture  uneven,  passing  into  small  conchoidal, 
with  a  glistening  resinous  lustre;  translucent,  soft,  and  brit- 
tle. It  rarely  occurs  massive. 

1.  2.  3.  4.  5. 


Fig.  1,  an  octahedron,  exhibiting  only  the  planes  of  cl  of  the  following 
figure,  and  much  flatter  than  the  primary.  Fig.  2,  the  same  of  which  the 
summits  and  edges  of  the  common  base  of  the  pyramids,  are  replaced  by 
planes  ;  these  planes  are  increased  and  complete  in  fig.  3,  producing  a 
crystal  nearly  in  the  proportions  of  the  cube.  Fig.  4,  an  octahedron,  of 
which  all  the  solid  angles  and  the  edges  of  the  pyramids  are  replaced. 
Fig.  5,  a  tabular  crystal  arising  from  the  deep  replacement  of  the  summits 
of  a  crystal  similar  to  fig.  2,  combined  with  the  planes  of  fig.  4,  which 
replace  the  lateral  solid  angles.  Fig.  6,  a  quadrangular  prism  (fig.  3) 
terminated  by  acute  pyramids. 


Primary. 


554  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

P  on  P'  or  P'  on  P'"  .  .  .  131°  15'  j  a  on  &1 172°  7' 

P  on  P'  or  P"  on  P1"  ...  99  50  i 62 143  24 

P  or  P'  on  a 114  15  cl  on  c'l 128  23 

P  on  62 150  38  cl" 76   0 

a  on  cl  or  c'l 142    10  I  c2  on  c2' 99    30 

B  B,  it  decrepitates;  on  charcoal  it  fuses  into  a  dark-grey 
mass,  in  which  globules  of  reduced  lead  are  visible;  with  a 
little  borax  it  forms  a  brownish  globule,  and  with  a  larger 
quantity  a  blue  or  greenish-blue  glass.  Slowly  and  with  diffi- 
culty soluble  in  nitric  acid,  leaving  a  residue. 

At  Schwarzenbach,  Bleyberg,  and  Windisch-Kappel  in  Ca- 
rinthia,  the  molybdate  of  lead  occurs  in  beds  and  veins  of  lime- 
stone, along  with  other  ores  of  lead.  It  is  also  met  with  at 
Retzbanya  in  Hungary,  and  at  Moldawa  in  the  Bannat,  where 
its  crystals  bear  at  first  sight  much  resemblance,  particularly 
in  color,  to  the  chromate.  Crystals  of  the  same  color  have 
more  recently  been  brought  from  Siberia,  by  Prof.  G.  Rose.* 

In  the  United  States,  this  rare  mineral  has  been  found  along 
with  various  other  salts  of  lead,  at  Perkiomen,  Montgomery 
county,  Penn.  According  to  J.  P.  Witherell,  Esq.,  it  occurs 
in  rectangular  four-sided  tables  with  bevelled  edges,  and  in  low 
octahedrons  replaced  on  the  edges  and  angles.  Color  orange- 
yellow  and  wax-yellow.  It  was  formerly  found  at  the  lead 
mine,  Southampton,  Mass. 

TRISMOLYBDATE  OF  LEAD  of  Dr.  Thomson,  is  the  mineral  brought 
from  Pamplona  in  South  America,  hy  M.  Boussingault,  and  analyzed  by 
him.  It  contains  protoxide  of  lead  73-8,  molybdic  acid  10-0  ;  the  rest  be- 
ing a  mixture  of  carbonic,  phosphoric,  muriatic  and  chromic  acids,  with 
earthy  matter.  It  is  not  crystallized;  occurs  in  small  greenish-yellow 
concretions  ;  specific  gravity  6-00.  Dr.  Thomson  supposes  its  constitu- 
tion to  be  three  atoms  oxide  of  lead,  one  atom  molybdic  acid.  As  it  has 
been  but  imperfectly  developed,  it  is  here  added  only  as  a  variety. 

CHROMATE    OF    LEAD. 

Hemi-Prismatic  Lead  Baryte,  M.  Prismatic  Lead  Spar,  or  Red  Lead  Spar,  J.  Roth- 
bleierz,  W.  Kallochrom,  Hausmann.  Chromsaures  Blei,  Leonhard.  Plomb  Chro- 
mate Rouge,  H.  Crocoise,  Beudant.  Chronalus  hyacinthus,  D. 

Combination  of  chromic  acid  and  lead. 

Protoxide  of  lead 68-50 63-96 67-912 

Chromic  acid 31-50 34-40 31-725 


100-00  Berzelius.  98-36  Thenard.  99-637  Plaff. 

*Theee  crystals  are  supposed  by  Prof.  G.  Rose  to  be  only  colored  by  a  small  portion  of 
chromate  of  lead  ;  but  Prof.  Johnston  has  analyzed  this  mineral  from  the  Bannat,  and 
finds  it  to  be  pure  chromate-  of  lead  in  the  form  of  the  molybdate  ;  whence  he  infers  the 
dimorphous  character  of  that  salt.  —  (Lond.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Mag.,  xii.  387.)  Prof.  G. 
Rose  has  since  examined  the  red  crystals  from  the  same  locality,  and  has  not  confirmed 
the  results  obtained  by  Prof.  Johnston,  though  he  supposes  they  may  contain  a  little 
chromic  acid.  —  (Ann.  des  Mines,  t.  xvii.  p.  655.)  From  the  analogous  composition  of 
chromic  and  molyhdic  acids,  and  from  the  fact  that  one  may  replace  the  other  without 
altering  the  crystalline  form  of  the  mineral,  it  is  probable  that  some  of  the  crystals  are 
entirely,  and  others  only  in  part,  composed  of  chromate  of  lead.  [AM.  ED.] 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS 


555 


Taking  Berzelius'  numbers,  the  atoms  of  oxide  of  lead  and 
chromic  acid,  are  4*89  of  the  former,  and  4-85  of  the  latter 
thus  constituting  a  simple  chromate  of  lead.    Formula:  PICh. 
Sp.  Gr.  5-95  —  6'6.     H.  =  2-5. 

Color  deep-red  or  hyacinth-red.  Primary  form  an  Oblique 
rhombic  prism.  Occurs  in  very  distinct  crystals ;  also  mas- 
sive. Cleavage  parallel  to  M,  perfect ;  translucent,  some- 
times only  on  the  edges;  lustre  adamantine;  streak  orange- 
yellow.  B  B,  it  becomes  black  and  decrepitates,  if  quickly 
heated ;  it  may  be  fused,  however,  into  a  black  slag,  contain- 
ing globules  of  metallic  lead.  It  colors  glass  of  borax  green  ; 
and  is  soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid,  forming 
with  it  a  yellow  solution. 


M  on  M 93°  30' 

P  on  M  or  M 99  10 

e 119  10 

/ 133  0 

h 102  5 

M  or  M  on  c2 133  10 

J 146  25 

h 136  35 

e  on/ 140  3 

/on/ 118  58 


Of  this  rare  and  beautiful  mineral,  there  are  only  a  few 
known  localities,  the  principal  of  which  is  Siberia;  it  occurs 
near  Beresof,  in  narrow  veins  traversing  decomposed  gneiss, 
and  associated  with  gold,  iron-pyrites,  galena,  quartz,  and 
Vauquelinite.  It  has  also  been  discovered  near  Nische-Tag- 
ilsk,  Siberia.  In  Brazil,  at  Conghonnas  do  Campo,  it  occurs 
in  equally  splendid  crystals,  though  more  sparingly,  in  decom- 
posed granite. 

MELANOCHROITE.* 


Melanochroite,  Hermann. 

It  contains  by  Hermann's  analysis, 


(Pogg.  Ann.,  xxviii.  162.)      Subsesquichromate  of  Lead, 
Thomson.    ChronaJus  rubeus,  D. 


Atoms. 
Chromic  acid  ..............  23-31  ..................  3-58  ......  1 

Protoxide  of  lead  ..........  76-69  ..................  5-47  ......  1-52 


100-00 


It  thus  appears  to  consist  of  one  atom  chromic  acid,  one  and 


,  dark  color. 


556  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

a  half  atom  protoxide  of  lead ;  or,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson,  it 
is  a  subsesquichromate  of  lead.     Formula:  Pl^Ch. 

Sp.  Gr.  5-75. 

This  mineral  occurs,  along  with  the  preceding,  at  Beresof 
in  Siberia.  Its  form  is  that  of  a  rhombic  prism,  having  two 
faces  enlarged,  so  as  to  impart  to  it  a  tabular  shape.  Color 
hyacinth-  or  orange-red  ;  lustre  resinous  ;  nearly  opake.  Very 
soft,  slightly  brittle,  easily  reduced  to  powder.  B  B,  it  does 
not  decrepitate,  but  retains  its  shape  until  it  fuses;  and  on 
cooling  assumes  a  crystalline  structure.  Its  matrix  is  calca- 
reous, and  it  is  associated  with  galena  and  Vauquelinite. 

VAUQUELINITE. 

Chromate  of  Lead  and  Copper.    Hemi-Prismatic  Olive  Malachite,  Haidinger.    Cupreo- 
chromate  of  Lead,  Thomson.     Cronalus  Vauquelini,  D. 

The  following  is  the  composition  of  this  mineral,  according 
to  Berzelius : 

Atoms. 

Chromic  acid 28-33 4-35 

Protoxide  of  lead 60-87 4-35 

Oxide  of  copper 10-80 2-14 


100-00 

It  is  thus  evidently  a  compound  of  two  atoms  chromate  of 
lead,  one  atom  oxide  of  copper.  Formula:  2PlCh+Cp.  But 
the  oxide  of  copper  is  usually  supposed  to  be  combined  with 
chromic  acid,  and  accordingly,  Beudant  has  given  this  for- 
mula :  2PlCh2-fCpCh2 — which  answers  to  the  chemical 
formula  of  Rammelsberg  ;  or  2Pb3Cr2+Cu3Cr2.* 
Sp.  Gr.  58.  H.  =  2-5  — 3-0. 

Primary  form  supposed  to  be  an  oblique  rhombic  prism. 
This  substance  occurs  in  mammillated  masses,  or  minute  and 
generally  macled  crystals,  aggregated  irregularly,  and  consti- 
tuting a  thin  crust,  occasionally  with  a  tendency  to  the  form 
of  stalactites,  which  sometimes  are  hollow,  sometimes  include 
the  chromate  of  lead  of  a  dingy  orange  color.  The  crystals 
are  black,  occasionally  with  a  tinge  of  green,  and  when  viewed 
under  the  microscope,  often  appear  splendent;  or  they  are 
without  lustre,  and  brown.  Streak  siskin-green  or  brownish. 
Fracture  uneven ;  faintly  translucent  or  opake.  B  B,  on  char- 
coal it  intumesces  slightly,  and  fuses  into  a  dark-grey  globule 
of  metallic  brilliancy,  surrounded  by  small  beads  of  reduced 
lead ;  but  the  globule  suffers  no  change.  Partly  soluble  in 
nitric  acid. 

*  This  supposes  the  ratios  of  the  atoms  as  6:2:1,  instead  of  2  : 2 : 1,  as  above  stated ; 
the  oxygen  of  the  constituents  being  thus  given— 13-03,  4-36,  2-18.  See  Beudant,  Traite, 
ii.  670. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  557 


p  on  pr  over  the  summit  ....  134°  30' 
P  on  h  ..............  149    00 


It  was  first  observed  by  Berzelius  accompanying  chromate 
of  lead,  from  Beresof  in  Siberia.  It  is  found  also  at  Pont 
Gibaud  in  the  Puy  de  Dome  ;  and,  it  is  said,  in  Brazil,  along 
with  the  chromate  of  lead  from  that  country. 


TUNGSTATE    OF    LEAD. 

Scheelsaures  Blei,   L.    Plomb  Tungstate.  Levy.    Scheelitine,  Beudant.    Scheelate  of 
Lead.    Cronalus  ponderosus,  D. 

Combination  of  tungstic  acid  and  oxide  of  lead. 

Oxide  of  lead 48-28 48-0 

Tungstic  acid 51-72 52-0 


100-00  Lampadius.       100-0  Levy. 

The  last  analysis  gives  3'40  At.  oxide  of  lead,  3  36  At. 
tungstic  acid.  It  is  therefore  a  simple  tungstate  of  lead. 
Formula :  PIT n. 

Sp.  Gr.  8-1.     H.  =  30. 

Primary  form,  according  to  Levy,  an  octahedron  with  a 
square  base,  P  on  P  over  the  base  131°  30'.  It  has  a  single 
distinct  cleavage  parallel  to  its  base.  Occurs  in  aggregated, 
indistinctly  pronounced  four-sided  prisms,  whose  terminal 
edges  are  replaced  by  octahedral  planes.  Color  yellowish- 
grey;  faintly  translucent;  lustre  resinous ;  fracture conchoidal 
and  shining.  B  B,  it  melts,  and  gives  off  vapors  of  lead,  leav- 
ing a  dark-colored  metallic-like  crystalline  globule;  when 
sufficiently  roasted  to  drive  off  the  lead,  it  yields,  with  borax, 
a  yellow  bead,  which  becomes  transparent  and  deep-red  on 
cooling ;  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus,  at  a  certain  degree  of 
saturation,  affords  a  blue  one  in  the  reducing  flame. 

Tungstate  of  lead  occurs  at  Zinnwald  in  Bohemia,  associated 
with  quartz  and  mica.  Levy  mentions  it  as  accompanying  the 
molybdate  of  lead  at  Bleiberg  in  Carinthia. 

VANADATE    OF    LEAD. 

Vapadinsaures  Blei,  Lconhard.    Johnstonite,  Brooke.    Chronalus  Vanadicus,  D. 

Zimapan. 

Contains  Vanadate  of  lead.. , 74-00 

Chloride  of  lead 25-33 

Hydrous  oxide  of  iron 0-67 

100-00  Berzeliua. 

The  formula  given  by  Berzelius  is  :  Pb€lPb2+Pb3V2. 

47* 


558  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

Wicklow. 

Protoxide  ofleacl 66-326 

Vanadic  acid 23-436 

Lead 7-063 

Chlorine 2-446 

Peroxide  of  iron  and  silica. .  0'163 

99-434  R.  D.  Thomson. 

The  formula  obtained  from  the  last  analysis  by  Dr.  Thom- 
son is:  PlChl+6Pl3Vn. 

Sp.  Gr,  6-99  —  7-23.     Scratched  by  the  knife. 

Occurs,  though  rarely,  in  indistinct  hexagonal  prisms,  gene- 
rally in  globules.  Primary  form,  according  to  Brooke,  a 
Rhomboid.  Color  varying  from  straw-yellow  to  reddish-brown  ; 
opake,  and  dull.  The  fractured  surfaces  present  a  resinous 
lustre;  streak  white  ;  fracture  conchoidal ;  brittle.  B  B,  in 
the  forceps,  it  fuses,  and  on  cooling  retains  its  yellow  color  ; 
if  kept  some  time  in  fusion,  however,  it  is  changed  into  a  steel- 
grey  porous  mass,  which  upon  charcoal  yields  immediately 
globules  of  lead.  Per  se  on  charcoal  it  fuses  readily,  exhales 
the  odor  of  arsenic,  is  reduced,  and  leaves,  after  heating  in  the 
inner  flame,  a  steel-grey  very  fusible  slag,  which  exhibits  the 
re-actions  of  chromium.  It  forms  green  solutions  with  the 
sulphuric  and  muriatic  acids;  and  a  beautiful  yellow  solution 
with  nitric  acid. 

This  mineral  was  first  noticed  at  Zimapan  in  Mexico,  by 
Del  Rio.  Rose  also  observed  it  at  Beresof  near  Ekatherine- 
burg  in  Siberia,  associated  with  phosphate  of  lead  ;  and  latterly 
it  has  occurred  in  considerable  quantity  among  some  of  the 
old  workings  at  Wanlockhead,  in  Dumfries-shire,  where  at 
first,  from  the  resemblance  it  bears  to  that  species,  it  was  mis- 
taken for  arseniate  of  lead.  It  is  there  found  in  small  globular 
masses  sprinkled  over  calamine,  or  in  thin  coatings  on  the  sur- 
face of  that  mineral.  Isolated  and  perfect  crystals  are  rare, 
but  occasionally  the  larger  globules  exhibit  traces  of  six-sided 
prisms. — Allan's  Manual.  It  has  also  been  found  at  the 
Leadhills  in  Scotland. 


SELENITE    OF    LEAD. 

Kersten.     (Poggcndorf's  Annalen,  xlvi.  277.)     (Berielius*  Rapport  Jlnnud,  1840,  p.  117.) 

This  is  a  new  mineral  brought  to  our  knowledge  by  the 
above-named  chemist.  It  accompanies  common  seleniuret  of 
lead,  and  it  probably  derives  its  origin  from  the  decomposition 
and  oxidation  of  that  mineral. 

It  has  a  sulphur-yellow  color,  and  appears  in  the  form  of 
small  protuberances,  which  have  a  greasy  appearance.  Its 


METALLIFEROUS   MINERALS.  559 

fracture  is  fibrous ;  it  is  brittle,  and  presents  faces  of  cleavage 
in  one  direction.  Decrepitates,  B  B,  without  giving  out  any 
sensible  quantity  of  water.  By  heating  it  red  hot  in  a  close 
tube,  it  melts  into  a  dark-colored  mass,  and  gives  out  selenium  ; 
at  a  more  elevated  temperature  it  sublimates  selenic  acid. 
Treated  alone,  on  charcoal,  it  melts,  is  reduced  to  a  scoria,  and 
gives  a  particle  of  lead,  surrounded  by  an  areola  of  selenium. 
The  flux  indicates  a  trace  of  copper.  The  solution  of  the 
mineral  in  nitric  acid  resembles  in  every  respect  a  solution  of 
selenite  of  lead,  with  a  trace  of  selenite  of  copper.  This 
mineral  is  the  first  example  of  selenium  being  found  in  nature, 
in  the  state  of  an  oxide.  It  is  found  in  the  Friederichsgliick 
mine,  near  Hildbourghausen,  and  is  sometimes  mixed  with 
oxide  of  copper  and  hydrated  peroxide  of  iron.  But  a  quanti- 
tive  analysis  of  this  mineral  is  yet  wanted  to  complete  our 
knowledge  of  this  species. 

GEOKRONITE.* 

M.  Svanberg.   (K.  V.  Aca&.  Handllngar,  1839,  p.  184. )    (  Berzelius*  Jahres  Bericht,  xx.  203.) 

It  contains,  according  to  Svanberg's  analysis : 

Scala.  Galizien. 

Lead 66-452 64-89 

Copper 1-514 1-60 

Iron 0-417 0-00 

Zinc 0-111 0-00 

Antimony 9-576 16-00 

Arsenic 4-695 0-00 

Sulphur 16-262 16-00 

99-027  Svanberg.         99-39  Sauvage. 

The  formula  answering  to  the  first  analysis,  by  Svanberg,  is 
thus  stated : 


As2Sl3 

This  mineral  was  found  in  the  silver  mine  of  Scala  in  Sweden, 
and  more  recently  it  has  been  met  with  in  the  province  of 
Galizien  in  Spain.  It  has  hitherto  been  confounded  with  weiss- 
giiltigerz.  It  is  amorphous,  without  cleavage ;  its  fracture  being 
lamellar  in  one  direction,  and  in  the  other  granular  and  con- 
choidal.  Its  color  is  lead-grey,  and  it  possesses  metallic  lustre. 
In  hardness  it  is  between  mica  and  calcareous  spar.  Specific 
gravity  5*88.  Isopake;  streak  similar  to  the  color  of  the  mine- 
ral. B  B,  it  melts  easily,  exhibiting  the  reactions  of  antimony, 
lead  and  arsenic,  and  is  finally  volatilized  by  continued  applica- 
tion of  heat,  leaving  only  a  small  residuum  on  the  charcoal. 

*  From  yjj,  earth,  and  r.Qovog,  Saturn  j  the  symbol  of  which  represented  lead  with  the 
early  chemists. 


560  NATIVE   METALS   AND 

BOULANGERITE. 

Sulphuret  of  Lead  and  Antimony. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  by  Boulanger,  (Ann.  des 
Mines,  second  series,  viii.  575,)  and  was  found  at  Molieres, 
department  of  Gard,  in  France.  Specimens  from  the  Staross- 
erentni  mine  atNertschinsk,  have  more  recently  been  examined 
by  Hausmann,  and  analyzed  by  MM.  Bromeis  and  Bruel. 
(Bcrzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1640,  p.  122.)  These  are  the 
results  of  the  analyses  : 

Molieres.  Nertschinsk. 

Lead 53-9 53'87 56-238 

Antimony 25-5 23-66 25-037 

Sulphur 18-5 19  11 18-215 

Iron 1-2 1-78 0-000 

Copper 0-9     Silver 0-05 0-000 

100-0  Boulanger,       98-47  Bruel.  99-540  Bromeis. 

The  formula  stated  by  Rammelsberg,  and  with  the  required 
numbers  of  which  the  last  analysis  very  nearly  agrees,  is  — 

Pb3Sb. 

Sp.  Gr.  —  5'97.  Hardness  not  stated. 
Color  bluish-grey.  Lustre  metallic.  Occurs  in  masses, 
which  exhibit  on  fracture  a  crystalline  structure.  Is  not 
described  as  presenting  a  distinct  crystallization.  B  B,  it 
readily  fuses,  giving  out  sulphurous  acid  and  fumes  of  white 
oxide  of  antimony  ;  on  charcoal  it  shows  the  presence  of  lead. 
Is  easily  attacked  by  nitric  acid,  and  boiling  muriatic  acid 
decomposes  it  with  the  extrication  of  sulphuretted  hydrogen. 


KOBELLITE.* 

Jlf.  Setterberg.     (K.  V.  AcaA.  Handlingar,  1839,  p.  188.)     (Berz.  Rap.  Jinn.,  1840,  p.  118.) 

This  is  a  new  mineral  species  found  in  the  cobalt  mines  of 
Hvena  in  Sweden.  Its  analysis  gave  M.  Setterberg  the  fol- 
lowing constituents  : 

Sulphuret  of  lead 46-36 

Sulphuret  of  antimony 12-70 

Sulphuret  of  hismuth 33-18 

Sulphuret  of  iron 4-72 

Sulphuret  of  copper 1-08 

Guange 1-45 

9<H9 

These  results  correspond  with  the  formula:  3FeSl,2St2SI3 

+12PlSl,BsSl ;  or  Fe3Sb2+12PbBi. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-29  —  6  32.     Hardness  not  stated. 

*  In  honor  of  M.  Von  Kobell,  to  whom  mineralogy  is  much  indebted. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  561 

It  has  the  appearance  of  sulphuret  of  antimony,  but  is  more 
brilliant.  It  possesses  a  radiated  crystalline  structure.  Streak 
and  powder  black.  It  dissolves  in  chlorhydric  acid  with  the 
evolution  of  sulphydric  acid  gas.  Exposed  B  B,  it  melts  and 
produces  a  yellow  deposit  on  the  charcoal ;  the  greater  part 
volatilizes,  a  small  metallic  globule  only  remaining.  No  fur- 
ther description  has  been  given,  and  we  are  without  any  know- 
ledge of  its  crystalline  form. 

SULPHURET    OF   ZINC. 

Blende,*  W.    Zinc  Sulfure,  H.  Bt.    Dodecahedral  Garnet  Blende,  M.    Dodecahedral 
Zinc  Blende,  J.      Zincum  sterile,  Linn.     Blackjack.     Acarpia  dodecahedra,  D. 

The  sulphuret  of  zinc,  mixed  with  variable  proportions  of 
the  proto-sulphuret  of  iron  ;  in  some  varieties  also  from  two  to 
three  per  cent,  of  proto-sulphuret  of  cadmium. 

England.  Pyrenees.  Locality  not  given. 

Zinc 61-5 63-0 66-34 

Sulphur 33-0 33-6 33-66 

Iron 4-0 3-4 0-00 

Gangue 1-5 0-0 0-00 

100-0  Berthier.  100-0  Berthier.  100-00  Arfvedson. 

Localities  not  given.  Ancram,  N.  Y. 

Zinc 66-00 66-63 61-64 

Sulphur 32-63 32-63 33-56 

Iron 1-37 0-74 4-30 

Gangue 0-00 0-00 0-50 


100-00  Thomson.  100-00  Thomson.          100-00  Beck,  f 

It  is  evident  that  the  mineral,  when  pure,  is  composed  of 
one  atom  zinc  and  one  atom  sulphur,  or  is  a  simple  sulphuret; 
requiring,  according  to  Berzelius,  66'72  of  zinc,  and  3328  of 

sulphur.     Formula  :  ZS1  or  Zn. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-0  —  42.     H.  i=  35  —  4-0. 

Color  brown,  yellow,  blackish-brown,  red,  and  black,  rarely 
green.  Primary  form  the  Rhombic  dodecahedron.  It  occurs 
crystallized  and  amorphous  ;  the  forms  of  its  crystals  are  very 
numerous  ;  structure  perfectly  lamellar,  and  mechanically  di- 
visible with  facility  into  the  dodecahedron,  octahedron,  obtuse 
rhomboid,  acute  rhomboid,  and  irregular  tetrahedron ;  the 
lustre  of  the  fragments  is  splendent,  sometimes  adamantine  ; 
it  is  translucent  or  opake,  yields  to  the  knife,  is  moderately 
brittle,  and  easily  frangible  in  the  direction  of  the  laminae. 
Streak  varying  with  the  color,  from  white  to  reddish-brown. 
When  strongly  heated  in  the  oxidating  flame  of  the  blowpipe, 
it  emits  vapors  of  zinc,  which  deposit  on  the  charcoal ;  but  it 

*  From  the  German,  signifying  glistening ;  in  allusion  to  its  shining  crystals, 
t  Mineralogy  of  New  York,  p.  408. 


562 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


is  infusible,  even  with  the  addition  of  borax.  It  gives  out  an 
hepatic  odor  when  pulverized  and  digested  in  sulphuric  acid. 
Some  varieties  are  highly  phosphorescent  when  rubbed  or 
struck  with  the  steel. 

Though  the  forms  and  colors  of  blende  are  extremely  various, 
the  perfect  cleavage  which  it  presents  parallel  to  the  faces  of 
the  dodecahedron  is  highly  characteristic.  It  may  be  distin- 
guished also  from  those  varieties  of  galena,  garnet,  and  tin, 
which  it  occasionally  resembles,  by  the  facility  with  which  it 
yields  to  the  knife. 

1.  2.  3.  4.  5. 


Fig.  1,  the  primary;  a  rhombic  dodecahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same,  of 
which  eight  of  the  solid  angles  are  replaced  hy  as  many  triangular  planes; 
which,  in  fig.  3,  are  increased  greatly,  forming  the  passage  of  the  rhombic 
dodecahedron  into  the  regular  octahedron,  fig.  4.  Fig.  5  is  an  octahedron, 
which  has  received  an  increase  of  crystalline  laminae  progressively  di- 
minishing in  size,  on  opposite  faces;  this  crystal  forms  the  passage  of  the 
octahedron  into  the  tetrahedron,  fig.  6,  in  which  the  triangular  planes  of 
fig.  5  have  received  a  still  further  increase  of  laminae.  Fig  7,  a  regular 
octahedron,  of  which  the  six  solid  angles  are  replaced  by  quadrangular 
planes,  which  are  increased  and  complete  in  fig.  8,  the  cube.  Fig.  9,  a 
crystal  in  the  general  form  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  (fig.  1),  but  modi- 
fied in  part  with  the  small  equilateral  triangular  planes  of  fig.  2,  and  of 
which  the  edges  are  alternately  replaced  by  isosceles  triangular  planes 
inclining  on  the  solid  angles. 


P  on  P'  or  P" 120°  00'  00"  H. 

P,  P',  or  P"  on  a  ...  135  00  00   — 

P  on  e,  or  e> 144  44  08   — 

a  on  e,  ef,  or  e"   ....  125  15  52  — 

e  on  €'  or  e" 109  28  16  — 

e'  on  e"  over  a 70  31  44  — 

g  on  g  over  a 129  31  18  — 


Blende  (the  black-jack  of  English  miners)  is  a  mineral  of 
very  frequent  occurrence,  being  met  with  in  beds  and  veins 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  563 

accompanying  most  of  the  ores  of  silver  and  lead.  It  is  found 
not  only  crystallized  as  above,  and  in  macles,  but  massive, 
fibrous,  and  botryoidal.  The  dark-colored  crystalline  varieties 
are  principally  from  Derbyshire,  Cumberland,  and  Cornwall, 
though  many  splendid  specimens  are  also  brought  from  Tran- 
sylvania, Hungary,  and  the  Hartz.  A  transparent  bright- 
yellow  variety  accompanies  Bournonite  and  fahlerz  at  Kapnik  ; 
a  still  more  brilliant  one  of  an  oil-green  color  occurs  at  Schem- 
nitz ;  while  Sahla  in  Sweden,  Ratieborzitz  in  Bohemia,  and 
several  of  the  Saxon  localities,  are  celebrated  for  the  splendid 
brown  and  black  crystals  which  they  afford.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

Very  large  and  beautiful  crystals  have  been  brought  from  the 
Silver  mines  of  Peru  and  Chili.  A  specimen  of  remarkable 
richness,  in  transparent  dodecahedrons,  of  an  oil-green  color, 
is  in  the  cabinet  of  Dr.  Martin  Gay. 

This  ore  is  abundant  at  several  places  in  the  United  States, 
and  usually  accompanying  galena,  as  at  Perkiomen,  Penn., 
Eaton,  N.  H.,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y.,  Lubec,  Me.,  South- 
ampton, Mass.,  Middletown,  Conn.,  and  among  the  lead  mines 
of  Missouri  and  Wisconsin.  It  rarely  occurs  in  distinct  crystals 
at  these  localities,  but  remarkably  brilliant  and  perfect  crystals, 
of  a  fine  honey  or  wax-yellow  color,  and  nearly  transparent, 
are  frequently  met  with  in  the  limestone  at  Lockport,  and  on 
Goat  Island,  near  Niagara  Falls.  They  are  in  the  form  of 
figs.  1  and  4,  and  also  present  various  modifications  of  these 
forms.  Prof.  Beck  found  very  perfect  tetrahedrons  (fig.  6) 
sometimes  having  their  solid  angles  replaced  by  tangent  planes, 
as  shown  in  fig.  5 ;  these  are  from  Sullivan  county,  N.  Y. 
The  black  blende  of  Shelburne  and  Warren,  N.  H.,  according 
to  Dr.  Jackson,  sometimes  occurs  in  tetrahedra  and  octahedra, 
but  it  usually  presents  large  foliated  masses  of  a  crystalline 
structure,  readily  cleaving  into  rhombic  dodecahedrons.  At 
the  former  place,  it  is  associated  with  argentiferous  galena, 
iron  and  copper  pyrites ;  at  the  latter,  it  forms  veins  in  tremo- 
lite,  and  is  supposed  to  be  abundant.  Dr.  Jackson  found  in  it 
three  per  cent,  of  cadmium. 

Though  this  ore  is  frequently  found  in  large  quantities,  the 
difficulty  of  reducing  it,  and  the  limited  extent  to  which  it  can 
consequently  be  applied,  render  it  a  production  of  little  impor- 
tance ;  it  is  however,  in  some  instances,  employed  as  an  ore  of 
zinc.  According  to  De  la  Beche,  it  was  not  considered  worth 
raising  in  Cornwall,  in  1839,  though  it  is  one  of  the  most  abun- 
dant ores  that  occur  there.  It  is  abundantly  associated  with  the 
ores  of  copper  and  with  lead,  but  more  rarely  with  oxide  of  tin. 
Ordnance  Survey  of  Cornwall,  Devon,  fyc. 


564  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

CADMIFEROUS  BLENDE.  —  The  splendent  fibrous  blende  of  Przibram 
possesses  a  lustre  very  nearly  metallic,  especially  after  fresh  fracture  ;  its 
structure  is  radiated,  the  fibres  are  shining,  and  of  a  brown  color,  and  it 
contains  a  small  proportion  of  cadmium.  It  has  been  examined  by  Lowe, 
who  found  it  to  contain  two  per  cent,  sulphuret  of  cadmium,  three  and  two- 
thirds  per  cent,  sulphuret  of  iron,  and  ninety-four  and  one-third  per  cent, 
of  sulphuret  of  zinc.*  A  white  fibrous  variety  in  botryoidal  concretions 
also  occurs  in  Fowey  consolidated  mines;  the  massive  in  many  other 
Cornish  localities,  and  in  the  United  States. 

VOLTZITE. 

M.  Fournet.    (Poggendorf's  dnnalcn,  xxxi.  62.)     Oxysulphuret  of  Zinc. 

This  mineral  occurs  at  Hosiers,  near  Point  Gibaud,  Dept. 
Puy  de  Dome,  and  is  thus  constituted,  according  to  the  analy- 
sis of  M.  Fournet : 

Sulphuret  of  zinc 82-92 

Oxide  of  zinc 15-31 

Oxide  of  iron 1-84 


100-10 

These  numbers  approach  very  nearly  five  atoms  sulphuret  of 
zinc,  to  one  atom  oxide  of  zinc.     Formula:  5ZS1+Z. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-5.      H.  =  3  66. 

Its  color  is  yellowish-red,  interspersed  with  brown  streaks  ; 
lustre  pearly,  in  some  directions  vitreous  or  resinous:  opake  or 
feebly  translucent.  It  is  not  crystallized,  but  presents  the 
form  of  hemispherical  masses,  which  are  divisible  in  very  thin 
layers,  and  have  a  conchoidal  or  irregular  fracture.  Soluble 
in  hydrochloric  acid,  with  the  disengagement  of  sulphydric 
acid  gas.  It  has  been  named  in  honor  of  M.  Voltz,  engineer 
in  chief  of  mines. 

RIOLITE. 

Seleniet  of  Zinc.    Seleniet  of  Zinc  and  Mercury.     Riolite,  Brooke.    Rionite,   Shepard. 
Zincites  flammans,  D. 

Its  constituents,  according  to  the  analysis  of  Del  Rio,  are  as 
follows : 

Selenium 49- 

Zinc 24-0 

Mercury 19-0 

Sulphur 1-5 

Lime 6-0 

9JK5 

The  sulphur  is  supposed  to  be  accidental,  and,  according  to 
Berzelius,  the  formula  may  be  thus  stated:  2Z2Sel3+HSel. 
Sp.  Gr.  5-56.     H.  not  stated. 

It  has  a  lead-grey  color  ;  lustre  metallic  ;  opake.  Occurs 
massive,  and  has  a  granular  structure.  B  B,  it  burns  with  a 

*  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1837,  p.  192. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  565 

fine  violet-colored  flame,  and  exhales  selenium  with  the  strong 
odor  of  horse-radish.  When  heated  in  a  retort,  selenium, 
mercury,  and  a  little  sulphur  sublime,  and  there  remains  oxide 
of  zinc  easily  soluble  in  acids. 

This  mineral  was  found  by  Del  Rio,  at  Calebras,  in  the 
mining  district  of  El  Doctor  Mexico,  and  has  been  named  in 
honor  of  its  discoverer. 

RED   OXIDE    OF    ZINC. 

STERLINGITE. 

Mangancsian  Oxide  of  Zinc,   Thomson.     Prismatic  Zinc  Ore,  M.     Zink  Oxyd,  L.     Zinc 
Oxyde  Manganesifere,  B.     Red  Zinc,  or  Red  Oxide  of  Zinc,  J.     Rutilus  Brucii,  D. 

Combination  of  oxide  of  zinc  and  oxide  of  manganese.  Dr. 
Bruce  discovered  iron,  but  he  does  not  state  the  proportion, 
and  it  was  probably  owing  to  the  impurity  of  the  specimen. 
The  analysis  by  Berthier,  shows  it  to  consist  of  seven  atoms 
oxide  of  zinc,  and  one  atom  sesquioxide  of  manganese. 

New  Jersey.  New  Jersey.          Atoms. 

Oxide  of  zinc 92-0 88-0 16-58. . .  .6-9 

Oxide  of  iron  and  manganese  ..  8-0  Sesqui-oxide  of  manganese.  .12-0 2-4  ....1 

100-0  Bruce.  100-0  Berthier. 

The  constitution  of  the  mineral  is  thus  shown  to  be  seven 
atoms  oxide  of  zinc,  one  atom  sesquioxide  of  manganese.  For- 
mula: Z7Mn. 

'  Sp.  Gr.  5-4  —  5-5.     H.  =  40  —  45. 

Color  aurora-  or  vermilion-red,  inclining  to  yellow.  Pri- 
mary form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  about  125°  and  55°.  It 
occurs  massive,  disseminated,  and  micaceous,  but  never  in  dis- 
tinct crystals  ;  the  structure  is  lamellar ;  principal  cleavage 
parallel  to  the  terminal  plane  of  the  prism  ;  translucent  when 
reduced  to  thin  lamina,  or  opake ;  with  an  adamantine  or 
shining  lustre  ;  but  on  exposure  it  becomes  dull  and  covered 
by  a  pearly  crust ;  streak  orange-yellow  ;  fracture  conchoidal ; 
brittle,  and  easily  scratched  by  the  knife.  It  is  infusible  B  B, 
without  addition,  covering  the  charcoal  with  zinc  fumes  when 
exposed  to  the  reducing  flame;  but  with  borax  melts  into  a 
transparent  yellow  bead,  and  with  salt  of  phosphorous  forms  a 
colorless  one.  It  is  soluble  without  effervescence  in  nitric  acid, 
and  is  supposed  to  derive  its  red  color  from  the  manganese  it 
contains.  In  crucibles  at  a  white  heat  in  contact  with  charcoal, 
the  oxygen  is  taken  up,  and  the  zinc  volatilizes,  and  may  be 
collected  in  the  ordinary  way,  much  purer  than  that  usually 
obtained  from  the  sulphuret  by  distillation. 

This  mineral  is  known  to  occur  only  in  Sussex  county,  N.  J., 
where  it  forms  an  extensive  bed  in  limestone,   accompanied 
48 


566  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

by  Franklinite,  Troostite,  &,c.  It  is  scattered  in  small  quan- 
tities through  various  parts  of  the  valley  of  Sparta,  but  at 
Franklin  and  Sterling,  particularly  the  latter,  the  greatest 
workable  quantities  exist  to  invite  the  attention  of  capitalists. 
It  is  probably  the  richest  deposit  of  zinc  ore  of  which  we  have 
any  knowledge. 

Mitscherlich  has  described  some  minute  six-sided  prisms, 
formed  artificially  in  the  iron  furnaces  of  Konigshiitte  in 
Silesia,  which  he  believes  to  belong  to  this  species. 


SILICEOUS    OXIDE    OF    ZINC. 

Electric  Calamine.  Prismatic  Zinc  Baryte,  M.  Prismatic  Calamine,  J.  Galmei  (in  pnrt\ 
W.  Zinc  Oxyde  Silicifere,  H.  Hydrous  Silicate  of  Zinc,  Dr.  Thomson.  Zincalus 
peritomus,  D. 

Combination  of  oxide  of  zinc,  silica,  and  water. 

Limbourg.  Altenberg.  Brisgau.  Leadhills. 

Oxide  of  zinc 66-83 66-37 64-5 66-8 

Silica 24-89 26-23 25-5 2:i-2 

Water 7-46 7-40 10-0 10-8 


99-19  Berzelius.     100-00  Berzelius.      100-0  Berthier.      100-8  Thomson. 

It  consists,  according  to  these  analyses,  of  one  At.  silica, 
one  At.  oxide  of  zinc,  one  At.  water.  The  water  is  rather 
less  than  one  atom,  but  Dr.  Thomson  supposes  that  the  de- 
ficiency is  in  consequence  of  the  mineral  having  undergone  a 
kind  of  efflorescence.*  Formula:  ZS+Aq. 
Sp.  Gr.  3-3  — 3-6.  H.  =  5'0. 

Most  prevalent  color  white,  occasionally  blue,  green,  yellow, 
or  brown.  Primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism.  It  occurs 
crystallized,  stalactitic,  mammillated,  botryoidal,  and  massive. 
The  crystalline  forms  are  numerous;  the  crystals  are  mostly 
disposed  in  radiated  groups  ;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  M  ; 
fracture  uneven  ;  streak  white  ;  lustre  vitreous  ;  varies  from 
transparent  to  opake  ;  yields  to  the  knife,  but  is  much  harder 
than  the  carbonate  of  zinc.  When  gently  heated  it  is  strongly 
electric ;  some  varieties  become  so  by  friction.  B  B,  it  slightly 
decrepitates,  loses  its  transparency,  intumesces,  and  emits  a 
green  phosphorescent  light ;  it  is  infusible  without  addition, 
but  is  soluble  with  borax  into  a  clear  glassy  globule,  which 
becomes  opake  on  cooling.  Reduced  to  powder  it  dissolves  in 
heated  sulphuric  and  muriatic  acid,  and  the  solution  gelatinizes 
on  cooling. 

*See  a  paper  by  Dr.  Thomson  on  the  minerals  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Glasgow. 
Lond.  Edinb.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.  xvii.  406,  1840. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


567 


M  on  M' 108°  40' 

M  or  M'  on  a 132    35 

M  on  h 128    40 

a  on  c  ore' 115    00 

c  on  c'  .  .  126    36 


This  species  and  the  following,  are  frequently  found  asso- 
ciated in  veins,  with  blende,  iron  and  lead.  Considerable 
quantities  occur  at  Bleiberg  and  Raibel  in  Carinthia,  often  in 
extremely  delicate  crystals.  Several  beautiful  varieties  are  met 
with  near  Freiburg  in  the  Brisgau,  at  Retzbanya  in  Hungary, 
Tarnowitz  in  Silesia,  and  Altenberg  near  Aix-la-Chapelle. 
Concentric  botryoidal  groups  occur  in  the  Mendip  Hills,  and 
at  Warilockhead  in  Dumfries-shire  ;  and  numerous  pseudomor- 
phic  crystals,  assuming  different  forms  of  the  carbonate  of  lime, 
are  found  in  Derbyshire,  and  at  Schemnitz  in  Hungary. 

According  to  Prof.  Wm.  B.  Rogers,  electric  calamine  is  very 
abundant  in  the  lead  mines  of  Weythe  county,  Virginia,  both 
massive  and  in  groups  of  small  radiating  crystals. 

CARBONATE    OF    ZINC. 

Galmei  (in  part),  VV.  Zinc  Carbonate,  H.  Calamine.*  Rhombohedral  Zinc  Baryte,  M. 
Zinc  Spath,  L.  Rhombohedral  Calamine,  J.  Smithsonite,  Beudant.  Anhydrous  Car- 
bonate of  Zinc,  Thomson.  Zincalus  rhombohedrus,  D. 

Its  constituents  are  carbonic  acid  and  oxide  of  zinc,  as  here 
shown  : 

Somerset.  Derby.  Altai. 

Oxide  of  zinc 64-8 65-2 62-5 

Carbonic  acid 35-2 34-8 36-0 

100-0  Smithson.       100-0  Smithson.         98-5  John. 

There  is  a  considerable  loss  in  the  last  specimen,  but  there 
is  a  near  agreement  in  the  atoms  deduced  from  the  two  first 
analyses:  in  the  second,  oxide  of  zinc  12'44  At,  carbonic 
acid  12-29  At.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the  mineral  is  a 
simple  carbonate  of  zinc.  Formula:  ZC. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-2  —  4-5.     H.'  =  5-0. 

Calamine  is  found   crystallized,   compact,  pseudomorphic^ 


*  From  the  Latin,  calamus,  a  reed  ;   when  in  fusion,  it  adheres  to  the  base  of  the  fur- 
nace, in  the  form  of  reeds. 


568  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

earthy,  and  cupriferous.  Color  commonly  greyish  or  yellow- 
ish, but  also  occurs  of  various  shades  of  green  and  brown. 
Primary  form  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  107°  40'.  It  is  found  in 
obtuse  and  acute  rhombs,  and  in  long  quadrilateral  tables 
which  sometimes  are  modified  ;  structure  perfectly  lamellar, 
yielding  to  cleavage  parallel  to  all  the  primary  planes  ;  the 
external  lustre  of  the  crystals  is  between  vitreous  and  pearly ; 
translucent  or  opake,  and  yields  easily  to  the  knife.  It  dis- 
solves with  effervescence  in  nitric  or  muriatic  acid,  but  it  does 
not,  like  the  silicate  of  zinc,  form  a  jelly  with  them.  B  B,  it 
is  infusible,  but  loses  its  transparency,  the  carbonic  acid  is 
driven  off,  and  the  residue  acts  like  pure  oxide  of  zinc.  With 
salt  of  phosphorus  it  fuses  into  a  transparent  glass,  which  be- 
comes, in  the  reducing  jet,  clouded  on  flaming,  and  forms  a 
white  enamel  when  cold.  It  is  negatively  electrified  by  friction. 

Most  of  the  localities  of  the  foregoing  species  are  also  com- 
mon to  this.  A  dark-brown  colored  variety,  and  another  of  a 
beautiful  bright  green,  are  found  in  Siberia.  Dognatzka  and 
the  Bannat  in  Hungary;  Reibel  and  Bleiberg  in  Carinthia ; 
Tarnowitz  in  Silesia;  Aix-la-Chapelle  ;  Mendip  in  Somerset- 
shire: Matlock  in  Derbyshire;  Wanlockhead  and  the  Lead 
Hills  in  Scotland  ;  all  produce  it  in  considerable  abundance. 
It  is  a  very  rare  ore  in  the  mining  districts  of  Cornwall  and 
Devon,  but  one  or  two  mines  of  it  are  still  in  work.  A  com- 
pact, fibrous,  semi-transparent  variety,  of  a  pale-yellow  color, 
disposed  in  concentric  laminae,  also  occurs  at  Alston  Moor  in 
Cumberland. 

In  a  paper  by  J.  P.  Witherell,  Esq.,  (Jour.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 
Philad.,  v.  314,)  this  mineral  is  described  as  occurring  at  the 
Perkiomen  lead  mine  in  globular  and  reni form  masses,  of  a 
pale-blue  or  brown  color,  and  possessing  a  radiated  structure. 
At  Brookfield,  Conn.,  it  occurs  in  limestone,  in  the  form  of  an 
impalpable  powder,  accompanying  blende  and  galena.  Dr. 
Houghton  has  also  detected  it  in  the  copper  region  of  Michi- 
gan. At,  the  zinc  mines,  both  at  Franklin  and  Sterling,  N.  J., 
carbonate  of  zinc  forms  thin  incrustations  upon  the  laminae  of 
the  red  oxide,  as  well  as  upon  Franklinite.  It  seems  to  form 
constantly  by  the  decomposition  of  the  ore,  and  the  absorbtion 
of  carbonic  acid  from  the  atmosphere. 

This  species,  however,  does  not  so  often  occur  crystallized  as 
the  siliceous  oxide,  being  more  generally  stalactitic,  reniform, 
mammillated,  cellular,  and  amorphous;  sometimes  imperfectly 
fibrous;  and  frequently  assuming  the  aspect  of  calcedony. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  569 

HYDROUS    BICARBONATE  OF   ZINC. 

The  difference  between  this  mineral  and  the  preceding,  was 
pointed  out  by  Smithson,  in  Nicholson's  Journal,  vi.  76.  It 
accompanies  the  anhydrous  carbonate,  but  has  never  been 
found  in  crystals.  Mr.  Smithson  obtained  the  following  con- 
stituents, from  a  specimen  from  Bleyberg  : 

Carbonic  acid 13-52 

Oxide  of  zinc 69-36 

Water 15-10 

97-98 

These  numbers,  as  viewed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  give  very  nearly 
one  atom  carbonic  acid,  two  atoms  oxide  of  zinc,  two  atoms 
water ;  and  therefore  constitute  a  hydrous  dicarbonate  of  zinc. 
Formula:  Z2C+2Aq. 

Sp.  Or.  3  584  —  3'598.     H.  =  2  —  25. 

Does  not  phosphoresce  when  scraped.  When  plunged  into 
water  it  absorbs  about  one-third  of  its  weight  of  that  liquid. 
B  B,  it  becomes  yellow,  but  recovers  its  color  on  cooling. 
Before  the  reducing  flame  it  is  entirely  dissipated,  abundance 
of  flowers  of  zinc  being  deposited  on  the  charcoal.  With 
borax  and  biphosphate  of  soda  it  fuses  with  effervescence  into 
a  clear  colorless  glass,  which  becomes  opake  on  cooling,  if 
over  saturated.  Carbonate  of  soda  has  no  action  on  it. 

AURICHALCITE* 

M.  Bottger.     (Poggendorf's  rfnnalen,  xxxviii.  495.) 

This  mineral,  from  Loktewsk  in  Altai,  analyzed  by  the  above 
named  chemist,  gave  the  following  constituents  : 

Oxide  of  copper 28-19 

Oxide  of  zinc 45-84 

Carbonic  acid 16-06 

Water 9-93 

100-02 

Cu2  " 


Formula  :  2  «   -  • 

Zn2  3        Zn 

It  occurs  amorphous,  sometimes  granular,  and  at  other  times 
in  radiating  masses  of  a  green  color,  slightly  transparent  and 
of  little  hardness.  In  the  alembic  it  gives  out  water,  and  be- 
comes black  ;  on  charcoal,  exposed  to  the  inner  flame,  it  is 
reduced  to  a  zinc  slag,  and  with  fluxes  shows  the  reaction  of 
copper.  With  soda  and  borax  it  is  reduced  to  a  globule  of 
copper. 

*  Thus  named,  because  it  contains  the  elements  of  Jaiton  aurichalcum. 

48* 


570  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

Berzelius  observes  that  this  mineral  differs  not  essentially 
from  the  green  cupreous  calamine  of  M.  Patrin,  which  occurs 
near  Kleopinski,  in  drusses,  in  a  carbonate  of  zinc,  very  rich  in 
cadmium.  He  supposes  it  to  contain  more  carbonate  of  cop- 
per; and  the  green  calamine  of  M.  Patrin  is  crystallized,  and 
has  a  pearly  lustre.* 


WILLELMINE. 

Willelmine,  Levy  and  Beudant.     Willemit,  Lconhard.     Zincalus  acrotomus,  D. 

A  specimen  analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson  gave  the  following 
constituents  : 

Atoms. 

Oxide  of  zinc (58-77 M  09 

Silica Sli-97 13-48 

Peroxide  of  iron 1-48 

Alumina,  zinc  and  iron !•  14 

Water 1-25 


A  specimen,  which  seems  to  have  been  purer,  was  analyzed 
by  M.  Levy,  who  obtained  results  that  approach  nearer  to  one 
atom  oxide  of  zinc,  and  one  atom  silica,  viz.  of  Z —  72*38,  of 
S  — 27-67,  in  100  parts  :  equal  to  13*79  At.  of  the  former,  and 
13-83  At.  of  the  latter.  It  is  evident,  therefore,  that  the 
mineral  is  a  simple  anhydrous  silicate  of  zinc.  Formula  :  ZS. 
Sp.  Gr.  4-18.  H.  —  5— 5-5. 

Crystallized  in  regular  six-sided  prisms,  terminated  by  rhom- 
bic faces  inclined  to  one  another  at  an  angle  of  about  128°. 
Primary  form  an  Obtuse  rhomboid  of  128°.  Color  white,  yel- 
low, red,  or  reddish-brown.  The  crystals  vary  from  transparent 
to  translucent.  Cleavable  in  one  direction,  perpendicular  to 
the  axis.  B  B,  it  decrepitates,  coloring  the  flame  green,  but 
does  not  fuse.  Forms  a  jelly  in  nitric  or  muriatic  acid. 

It  occurs  in  the  calamine  deposits  of  the  Vielle  Montagne, 
near  Aix-la-Chapelle. 

A  silicate  of  zinc  from  Franklin,  N.  J.,  analyzed  by  Van- 
uxem  and  Keating,  agrees  very  nearly  in  composition  with  the 
species  above  described.  They  obtained  oxide  of  zinc  71*33, 
silica  25*00,  oxide  of  manganese  2'66,  peroxide  of  iron  0*67. 


SULPHATE    OF   ZINC. 

Prismatic  Vitriol  Salt,  M.     Pyramidal  Vitriol,  J.     Gallizinite,  Beudant.     Zink  Vitriol, 
Karsten.     Zinc  Sulphate,  H.     White  Vitriol,  A.     Vitriolum  Zincicuai,  D. 

It  is  a  hydrous  sulphate  of  zinc. 

*  Rapport  Annuel  for  1840,  p.  135. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS. 


571 


Schemnitz.  Rammelsberg. 

Oxide  of  zinc 26-5 27-5 

Sulphuric  acid 29-8 22-7 

Oxide  of  manganese 0-7 0-5 

Oxide  of  iron 0-4 0-0 

Water 40-8 49-3 

100-2  Beudant.         100-0  Klaproth. 

Beudant's  formula,   deduced   from    his   own    analyses,  is: 

ZSl3+6Aq. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-036.      H.  =:  20  —  25. 

Greyish-,  yellowish,  reddish-,  or  greenish-white.  Primary 
form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  90°  42'.*  It  seldom  occurs 
distinctly  crystallized,  generally  massive,  stalactitic,  botryoidal, 
reniform,  and  investing ;  cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  the  face 
o;  fracture  conchoidal ;  lustre  vitreous;  streak  white;  trans- 
parent or  translucent ;  with  a  nauseous  metallic  taste.  B  B. 
it  is  fusible  with  ebullition,  giving  off  its  sulphuric  acid,  and 
covering  the  charcoal  with  a  white  coating.  It  is  readily  solu- 
ble in  water. 


M 


M 


M  on  I 129°    2' 

M  on  M 90    42 


It  occurs  principally  in  the  deserted  galleries  of  old  mines, 
frequently  with  blende,  and  is  supposed  to  arise  from  the  decom- 
position of  that  mineral.  It  is  found  at  Rammelsberg  near 
Goslar,  in  the  Hartz,  in  Austria,  Hungary,  at  Fahlun  in  Swe- 
den, and  at  Holy  well  in  Flintshire ;  but  it  is  a  rare  species. 


HOPEITE.t 

( Trans.  Royal  Soc.  Edin.,  x.  107.) 

"  A  compound  of  some  of  the  stronger  acids,  —  as  phosphoric 
or  boracic  —  zinc,  an  earthy  base,  a  little  cadmium,  and  a 
great  deal  of  water."  But  no  complete  analysis  has  been 
published. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-46  —  276.     H.  =  2-5  -—  3-0. 


*  91°  7'  and  88°  53'  according  to  Beudant.     Traite,  ii.  480. 

fin  honor  of  Dr.  Hope,  Regius  Professor  of  Chemistry  in  the  University  of  Edinburgh. 


572 


NATIVE    METALS   AND 


Primary    a   Right  rhombic   prism    M    on   M'  =  1010  24'. 

Cleavage  perfect  parallel  to  /.  Color  greyish-white  ;  transpa- 
rent or  translucent;  lustre  vitreous,  inclining  to  pearly  on  the 
face  e ;  streak  white.  Surface  of  p  deeply  striated  longitudi- 
nally ;  rest  of  the  faces  smooth.  Entirely  soluble  without 
effervescence  in  the  muriatic  and  nitric  acids,  but  is  acted 
upon  very  slowly  by  sulphuric.  Neither  phosphorescent  nor 
electric  by  heat.  Yields  water  in  the  matrass,  and  melts,  B  B, 
into  a  clear  colorless  globule,  which  tinges  the  flame  green. 

With  carbonate  of  soda  it  gives  a  scoria,  which,  when  hot, 
is  of  a  yellowish  color.  The  oxide  of  zinc  condenses  round  it 
in  great  quantity  on  the  charcoal,  and  next  the  scoria  is  a  red- 
dish-yellow tint,  which  does  not  vanish  on  cooling,  and  indi- 
cates the  presence  of  cadmium.  A  solution  of  cobalt  commu- 
nicates a  fine  bluish  tint  to  the  melted  assay.  From  the  cha- 
racters above  stated,  Hopeite  is  probably  a  phosphate  of  zinc, 
containing  cadmium  ;  but  it  has  not  yet  been  subjected  to  an 
analysis. 


M  on  M  over  g 101°  24' 

M  on  g 140    42 

M  on  / 129    18 

I  on  s 130    47 

P  on  s  .  139    13 


M 


This  is  a  very  rare  substance  ;  it  was  noticed  by  Sir  David 
Brewster ;  and  has  hitherto  been  found  only  in  the  calamine 
mines  of  Altenberg,  near  Aix-la-Chapelle. 


MARMATITE. 

M.  Boussingault.    (Jinn,  de  Chim.  et  dc  Phys.,  xliii.  312.) 

This  mineral  is  composed  of  sulphuret  of  zinc  and  sulphuret 
of  iron,  and  the  analyses  of  two  specimens  by  the  above-named 
chemist,  gave  the  proportions  as  follow  : 

Atoms. 

Sulphuret  of  zinc 77-5 76-8 12-48 

Sulphuret  of  iron 22-5 23-2 4-22 

100-0  100-0 

The  atoms  of  the  former  are  to  those  of  the  latter  constitu- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  573 

ent,  nearly  as  three  to  one;  consequently,  the  formula  for  this 

mineral  is  thus  expressed  :  FS1+3ZS1;  or  Fe+3Zn. 

It  occurs  in  black  foliated  masses,  and  very  much  resembles 
blende  in  many  of  its  characters,  whence  it  has  been  called 
the  "  blende  of  Marmato."  It  probably  offers  an  example,  more 
common  than  is  generally  supposed,  of  sulphuret  of  zinc  and 
sulphuret  of  iron  chemically  combined.  According  to  Von 
Kobell,  it  is  readily  soluble  in  muriatic  acid,  giving  out  sulphy- 
dric  acid  gas.  No  sulphur  is  set  free.  With  excess  of  ammo- 
nia, an  abundant  precipitate  of  protoxide  of  iron  is  thrown 
down.  Pure  zinc  blende  gives  a  precipitate  with  ammonia, 
which  is  either  entirely  soluble  in  excess,  or  leaves  behind  only 
a  few  red  flocks  of  oxide  of  iron;  Marmatite  is  also  more 
easily  decomposed  by  muriatic  acid.  It  occurs  at  Marmato  in 
the  province  of  Popayan,  Columbia. 


SULPHURET   OF    CADMIUM. 

Greenockite  of  Prof,  Jameson. 

This  rare  mineral,  formerly  supposed  to  be  simple  sulphuret 
of  zinc,  was  shown  by  Lord  Greenock  to  be  a  different  sub- 
stance, and  on  analysis  by  Mr.  Connell  of  Edinburgh,  it  was 
found  to  consist  of  22  56  sulphur,  77  30  cadmium,  and  there- 
fore, to  constitute  a  new  species.  Nearly  the  same  results  have 
been  obtained  by  Dr.  Thomson,  viz.  sulphur  22*4,  cadmium 
77'6.*  It  evidently  consists  of  one  atom  of  each  of  its  elements. 
Sp.  Gr.  4  842.  H.  =  2  75. 

Translucent  to  transparent.  Lustre  vitreous,  sometimes 
almost  adamantine.  It  is  always  crystallized  in  six-sided  py- 
ramids, the  summits  being  sometimes  replaced  by  a  more  acute 
pyramid.  Some  of  the  crystals  are  regular  six-sided  prisms. 

It  occurs  with  prehnite  in  an  amygdaloidal  rock  at  Bishop- 
town,  in  Renfrewshire,  and  also,  according  to  Dr.  Thomson, 
on  the  Cochno  burn,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Clyde.  It  was 
named  by  Prof.  Jameson  in  honor  of  Lord  Greenock,  whose 
examination  of  it  ultimately  led  to  a  true  knowledge  of  its 
character. 

NATIVE    QUICKSILVER. 

Mercury.  Gediegen  Quecksilber,  W.  Mercure  Natif,  H.  Bt.  Liquid  Mercury,  M.  and  J. 
Hydrar^yum.  Argentum  Vivurn.  Spuma  argenti.  .Liquor  ^Eternalis,  Pliny.  Hydrar- 
gyrum fluidum,  D. 

Fluid  mercury  is  the  pure  metal  as  produced  by  nature;  it 

*Lond.  Edin.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  xvii.  418,  1840. 


574  NATIVE    METALS   AND 

presents  no  determinate  form,  but  occurs  in  small  globules  dis- 
seminated through  its  matrix. 

It  is  of  a  silver-white  color,  with  a  splendent  metallic  lustre. 
Specific  gravity  13-6.  It  volatilizes  entirely  B  B,  at  less  than 
a  red  heat;  becomes  solid  at  a  temperature  of — 40°  ;  and  is 
easily  soluble  in  nitric  acid. 

It  occurs  in  most  of  the  mines  producing  the  ores  of  quick- 
silver, particularly  those  of  Idria  in  Carniola,  Almaden  in 
Spain,  and  the  Palatinate.  At  Idria  it  is  found  in  a  kind  of 
slate-clay,  which  forms  the  upper  portion  of  the  mines;  and 
from  this  source  is  obtained  by  means  of  washing.  Near  Li- 
mach,  and  at  Guancavella,  in  Peru,  it  is  found  with  the  sul- 
phuret.  Mercury  is  used  in  various  chemical  and  pharmaceu- 
tical preparations  ;  in  the  amalgamation  of  gold  and  silver  ores, 
for  which  purpose  vast  quantities  are  annually  exported  from 
Europe  to  the  South  American  continent ;  in  the  formation  of 
artificial  cinnabar,  and  fulminating  powder  for  percussion 
guns  ;  in  silvering  mirrors  ;  making  thermometers  and  barome- 
ters ;  and  for  many  other  purposes. 

The  quantity  of  native  quicksilver  annually  obtained  from 
the  Almaden  mines,  is  about  twenty-two  thousand  quintals, 
two-thirds  of  which  is  consumed  at  the  Mexican  mines  in  amal- 
gamation. In  consequence  of  the  high  price  demanded  for  it, 
many  of  the  Mexican  silver  mines  have  been  abandoned,  and 
great  hopes  are  entertained  that  some  other  material  or  process 
may  be  found  as  a  substitute.  Since  1828,  the  price  has  raised 
from  $60  to  $130  per  quintal. 

NATIVE   AMALGAM. 

Naturlisches  Amalgam,  W.     Mercure  Argental,  H.  Bt.     Dodecahedral  Mercury.  M.  and  J. 
Amalgaine,  JVec/cer.     Amalgam,  Haus.  and  L.      Hydrargirum  dodecahedrum,  D. 

Union  of  mercury  and  silver. 

Mercury 64-0 72-5 

Silver 36-0 27-5 

1UOO  Klaproth.        100-0  Cordier. 

The  specimen  analyzed  by  Klaproth,  consists  of  two  atoms 
mercury  to  one  atom  silver ;  while  Cordier's  numbers  give 
three  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter.  It  would  seem,  there- 
fore, supposing  both  analyses  correct,  that  they  constitute  two 
distinct  species.  Formula  :  H2Ag  or  H3Ag. 

Sp.  Gr.  100  — 14  1.     H.=  l-0  —  35. 

Silver-white,  or  greyish.  Primary  form,  a  Rhombic  dodeca- 
hedron. It  occurs  in  a  semi-fluid  state  ;  also  massive  ;  and 
occasionally  forms  large  and  very  perfect  crystals,  with  nume- 
rous modifications  of  the  rhombic  dodecahedron  ;  but  no  dis- 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  575 

tinct  cleavage  has  been  observed ;  has  a  flat  conchoidal  frac- 
ture; is  soft,  cracks  when  cut,  and  acquires  vitreous  electricity 
from  friction  when  isolated.  B  B,  the  mercury  is  volatilized, 
and  a  bead  of  silver  remains.  It  whitens  the  surface  of  cop- 
per when  rubbed  warm  upon  it.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid. 


P  or  P  on  P 120°  2' 

P  on  a 135  00 

6 154  00 

i 150  00 

k 160  40 

a  on  & 161  2 

i  on  k  .  .                     .  169  5 


It  is  found  principally  at  Rosenau  in  Hungary,  and  at  Mos- 
chellandsberg  in  Deux  Fonts,  accompanied  by  quicksilver  and 
cinnabar,  in  ferruginous  and  argillaceous  veins,  and  is  de- 
scribed as  occurring  at  those  points  where  veins  of  silver  and 
mercury  traverse  one  another. 

SULPHURET    OF    MERCURY. 

Peritomous  Ruhy  Blende,  M.  Prismato  rhomboidal  Ruby-blende,  J.  (Juecksilber-Le- 
bererz.  Zinnober,  W.  Mercure  Sulfure,  H.  Bt.  Cinnabar,  A.*  Minium.  Rubella 
peritoma,  D. 

Combination  of  mercury  and  sulphur. 

Japan.  Idria. 

Mercury 84-50 85-00 

Sulphur 14-75 14-25 

99-25  Klaproth.  99-25  Klaproth. 

Klaproth  appears  to  be  the  only  chemist  who  has  analyzed 
this  mineral.  His  results,  divided  by  the  atomic  weights, 
indicate  one  atom  of  each  of  the  elements,  or  a  simple  sul- 
phuret  of  mercury.  Formula  :  H  SI. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-7  —  8-2.     H.  =  2-0  —  2-5. 

It  varies  in  color  from  carmine,  through  cochineal-red,  to 
lead-grey;  in  this  last  case  it  is  opake,  and  has  a  metallic  lus- 
tre; when  it  is  red  it  is  more  or  less  translucent,  and  exhibits 
an  adamantine  lustre.  Primary  form  an  Acute  rhomboid  of 
71°  48'  and  108°  12',  in  which  it  also  occurs  crystallized;  but 
the  crystals  are  mostly  modified  by  secondary  planes ;  also 

*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  a  red-colored  grain. 


\ 
.-.%!     \ 


576  NATIVE    METALS    AND 

massive,  fibrous,  and  pulverulent.  Structure  lamellar,  in  the 
massive  sometimes  curved,  with  a  shining  lustre;  cleavage 
highly  perfect  parallel  to  P,  the  primary  rhomboid ;  streak 
bright  scarlet.  B  B,  it  melts,  and  is  volatilized  with  a  blue 
flame  and  sulphurous  odor.  On  being  sublimated  it  crystal- 
lizes in  columnar  masses.  It  is  soluble  in  nitro-muriatic  acid. 

P  on  P' 71°  48' 

P  on  bl 157    20 


Figure  and  measurements  on  the  authority  of  Haiiy. 

The  Lcbc.rerz  or  Hepatic  Cinnabar  is  dark-red,  sometimes 
nearly  iron-grey  ;  it  occurs  both  compact  and  slaty ;  and,  be- 
ing generally  mixed  with  impurities,  such  as  bituminous  mat- 
ter or  clay,  affords  a  brownish  streak,  and  is  always  opake. 

The  best-defined  crystals  of  cinnabar  are  found  in  the  coal 
formation  of  Moschellandsberg  and  Wolfstein,  in  the  Palati- 
nate, though  it  also  occurs  in  beds  traversing  gneiss  at  Reich- 
enau,  in  Upper  Carinthia,  in  grauwacke  at  Dumbrawa  in 
Transylvania,  and  in  limestone  at  Neurnarktel  in  Carniola. 
Well-crystallized  specimens  are  mentioned  also  from  Japan, 
Mexico,  and  Brazil.  The  principal  repositories  of  this  ore, 
however,  are  Almaden  in  Spain,  and  Idria  in  Carniola,  where 
it  occurs  almost  exclusively  massive,  and  whence  it  is  obtained 
in  large  quantities  as  an  ore  of  mercury.  The  variety  termed 
coralincrz,  from  the  latter  locality,  consists  of  curved  lamellar 
concretions,  which  present  the  form  and  apparent  structure  of 
fossilized  shells. 

Cinnabar  is  the  most  abundant  and  most  important  ore  of 
mercury,  which  is  obtained  from  it  in  a  metallic  state  by  sub- 
limation. Vermilion  is,  in  fact,  pure  cinnabar,  being  a  com- 
pound of  mercury  and  sulphur,  in  nearly  the  same  proportions 
as  in  this  species.  —  Allan's  Manual.  In  Peru  sulphuret  of 
mercury  was  observed  by  Mr.  Blake  in  connection  with  mag- 
netic iron,  iron  pyrites  and  galena,  at  Guancavellica — the 
only  place  in  South  America  where  it  has  been  obtained  in 
large  quantity.  In  Chili  it  is  found  at  several  places  near  the 
town  of  Copiapo  and  Coquimbo.  Near  Limach  it  is  found 
with  native  mercury. 


METALLIFEROUS    MINERALS.  577 

BICHLORIDE    OF    MERCURY. 

Horn  Quicksilver.  Qupcksilber  Hornerz,  W.  Mercure  Muriate,  H.  Chlorquecksilber, 
Bcrr.el.ius.  Pyramidal  Pearl  Kerate,  M.  Pyramidal  Corneous  Mercury,  J.  Muriate  of 
Mercury.  Calomel,  Beudant.  Ceratus  quadratus,  D. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  mineral  has  been  accurately 
analyzed,  but  its  composition  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  with 
the  artificial  calomel,  which  consists  of  chlorine  15'26  of  mer- 
cury 84'74 ;  or  one  atom  chlorine  to  two  atoms  mercury. 
Formula;  IPChl. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-48.      H.  =  1  -5  —  2'0. 

Color  greyish-white,  grey,  yellowish  and  greenish-grey ; 
sometimes  occurs  crystallized  in  distinct  quadrangular  prisms 
terminated  by  pyramids.  Primary  form  a  Right  square  prism. 
It  is  also  in  tubercular  crusts;  sometimes  fibrous  ;  rarely  com- 
pact ;  is  occasionally  translucent,  with  an  adamantine  or  vitre- 
ous lustre ;  and  is  sectile ;  fracture  conchoidal  or  uneven. 
B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  is  totally  volatilized  if  pure  ;  in  the  ma- 
trass it  affords  a  white  sublimation,  and  mixed  with  soda  forms 
numerous  globules  of  mercury. 


M  on  M 90°  00' 

M  or  M  on  cl  or  cl 129    30  ? 

c2  or  c2 158    00 

d 135    00 

aond 119    30? 


M 


The  preceding  figure  and  measurements  are  on  the  authority  of  Brooke. 

The  principal  locality  of  this  rare  mineral  is  Moschellands- 
berg  in  Deux  Fonts,  where  the  crystals  are  often  large  and 
well  defined,  coating  the  cavities  of  a  ferruginous  gangue,  and 
associated  with  cinnabar;  but  it  is  also  met  with  in  the  quick- 
silver mines  of  Idria  in  Carniola,  at  Almaden  in  Spain,  and  at 
Horzowitz  in  Bohemia. 

CHLORIDE  OF  MERCURY,  or  NATIVE  CORROSIVE  SUBLIMATE. 
The  existence  of  this  species,  though  affirmed  by  some  mineralogists,  is 
very  doubtful;  and  we  have  no  accurate  or  even  partial  descriptions  of  it. 

IODIC    MERCURY. 

lodore  de  Mercure,  or  Mercure  lodure,  Necker.    Iod-Q,uecksilber,  Del  Rio  and  Leonhard. 

In  spots  of  a  fine  lemon-yellow  color,  in  the  variegated  sand- 
stone of  Casas  Viegas,  Mexico.     Exposed  to  the  air,  as  well 
as  in  ammonia,  it  changes  to  black.    It  resembles  the  artificial 
protiodide  of  mercury.  —  Shepard. 
49 


CLASS    VIII. 
COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS 


THIS  class,  with  one  exception,  consists  of  those  minerals  of 
which  the  base  is  sulphur  or  carbon.  It  includes  substances  of 
the  most  opposite  external  characters ;  both  the  hardest  and 
the  softest  in  nature.  Selenium,  also,  which  is  a  non-metallic 
substance,  and  most  nearly  allied  to  sulphur,  may  very  properly 
be  comprised  under  the  same  head. 


SULPHUR. 

Naturlicher  Schwefel,  W.     Soufre,  H.     Prismatic  Sulphur,  M.  and  J.     Sulphur  pyra- 

midalis,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  19  —  2-1.     H.  — 1-5  — 2-5. 

Color  when  pure,  citron-yellow ;  from  accidental  admixture 
sometimes  red,  brown,  yellowish-grey,  and  even  green.  Pri- 
mary form  an  Octahedron  with  a  rhombic  base,  P  on  P  106° 
39'  according  to  Phillips.*  It  occurs  massive,  disseminated, 
investing  other  minerals,  and  crystallized  in  the  form  of  an 
acute  four-sided  pyramid,  either  perfect  or  variously  modified  ; 
cleavage  imperfect  and  interrupted  ;  fracture  conchoidal,  un- 
even in  the  impure  varieties ;  lustre  shining  and  resinous, 
varying  from  transparent  to  translucent  on  the  edges;  very 
brittle.  It  burns  readily  with  a  lambent  blue,  or  white  flame, 
according  to  the  low  or  high  degree  of  temperature,  emitting 
at  the  same  time  a  pungent  smell  of  sulphurous  acid,  and 
fuses  into  a  brown  liquid.  It  acquires  resinous  electricity  by 
friction. 


*  The  primary  form,  according  to  Haidinger,  is  a  Right  rhombic  prism  M  on  M'  101°  59/; 
and  this  seems  to  be  adopted  by  Brooke. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

3.  4.  5. 


579 


Fig.  1,  the  primary  octahedron.  Fig.  2,  the  same  elongated.  Fig.  3, 
the  same,  having  its  summits  replaced.  Fig.  4  :  in  this  two  opposite  solid 
angles  of  the  octahedron  are  replaced  by  rhombic  planes.  Fig.  5  :  in 
this  the  edges  of  the  base  of  the  pyramid  are  deeply  replaced  by  quadran- 
gular planes.  In  fig.  6,  the  summits  of  the  primary  are  replaced  by  four 
triangular  planes,  forming  a  low  pyramid  on  each.  These  replacements 
are  also  shown  by  the  succeeding  figures,  the  last  of  which Jias  the  acute 
pyramidal  edges  replaced  by  tangent  planes. 

8* 


P  on  P 106°  30' 

P  on  P  over  v 85      5 

P  on  P' 143    25 

d  on  d 

v  on  v 

y  on  y 

d  on  a  . 


179    45 * 

Sulphur  occurs  principally  in  two  kinds  of  repositories, 
either  in  gypsum  and  salt  rocks,  as  in  the  valleys  of  Noto 
and  Mazara  in  Sicily,  at  Conil  near  Cadiz  in  Spain,  and  at 
Cracow  in  Poland  ;  or  in  the  vicinity  of  active  and  extinct 
volcanoes.  In  the  latter  case  it  is  the  result  of  sublimation, 
forming  either  crystals  in  the  clefts  and  cavities  of  the  rock, 
or  crusts,  stalactites,  and  loose  efflorescent  coatings.  In  small 
quantities  it  is  likewise  met  with  in  certain  metalliferous  veins, 
as  in  Savoy,  Switzerland,  Hanover,  &,c.  In  Iceland  it  is  de- 
posited by  hot  springs,  and  many  of  the  natural  medicinal  wa- 


*  Only  the  three  first   measurements  are  by  Phillips.    The  others,  with  fig.  8,  have 
been  copied  from  Haiiy. 


580  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

ters  both  of  this  and  other  countries  hold  it  largely  in  solution. 
In  Sicily,  crystals  of  sulphur  two  or  three  inches  in  diameter 
are  occasionally  met  with;  and  by  much  the  larger  proportion 
of  what  is  used  for  commercial  purposes  is  obtained  from  that 
island  ;  at  Radoboy,  near  Crapina  in  Croatia,  it  occurs  in  im- 
bedded spheroidal  masses,  of  a  brown  tinge,  which  is  owing 
to  bitumen;  and  in  the  dark-reddish  colored  sulphur  of  the 
Lipari  Islands,  Stromeyer  detected  selenium.  —  Allan's  Man- 
ual. Fine  specimens  of  native  sulphur  have  been  brought 
from  the  Sandwich  Islands.  According  to  Dana,  the  crystal- 
lized variety  is  particularly  beautiful  at  the  sulphur  bank, 
Lua  Pele,  Hawaii.  In  various  parts  of  the  Andes,  throughout 
the  whole  range  of  this  extensive  chain  of  mountains,  sulphur 
is  found  in  great  abundance,  occurring  in  craters  of  extinct 
volcanoes ;  in  beds  in  gypsum,  and  forming  veins  in  porphyry, 
trachyte  and  mica  slate.  In  the  northern  part  of  Chili,  it 
forms  large  beds  in  gypsum,  and  on  the  high  ridge  of  the  Cor- 
dillera, about  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  Copiapo  in 
a  south-eastern  direction,  are  extensive  mines,  the  sulphur  of 
which  is  remarkably  pure,  much  of  it  not  requiring  to  be  re- 
fined before  it  is  used.  In  the  province  of  Quito,  in  Peru,  in 
mountains  of  porphyry  and  of  mica  slate,  there  are  large  veins 
of  sulphur.  In  the  southern  part  of  Peru,  on  the  western  side  of 
the  main  range  of  the  Andes,  it  is  found  in  spheroidal  masses 
scattered  over  the  plain.  It  is  abundant  also  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  the  volcanoes  of  Putana  and  Soras,  in  the  western  part 
of  Bolivia.  These  latter  places  afford  fine  crystals.  —  Blake. 
In  the  United  States  native  sulphur  has  been  found  in  very 
small  quantity  associated  with  gypsum,  as  in  Cayuga  and 
Onondaga  counties,  N.  Y.,  and  in  thin  layers  of  efflorescences 
covering  leaves,  twigs,  &,c.,  in  the  vicinity  of  sulphur  springs, 
which  are  charged  with  sulphydric  acid  gas.  According  to 
Prof.  Beck,  it  occurs  in  a  pure  form  in  granite  near  West 
Point.  But  usually  the  small  quantities  of  sulphur  that  have 
been  met  with  arise  from  the  decomposition  of  iron  pyrites. 

NATIVE    SELENIUM. 

This  is  a  very  rarely  occurring  substance,  and  forms  usually 
a  thin  red  coating  on  sulphur,  or  sometimes  small  globular  or 
botryoidal  masses,  with  smooth  and  bright  surfaces.  Fracture 
conchoidal.  Lustre  vitreous.  Translucent.  Color  pale  dull 
red.  It  is  found  in  an  uncombined  state  only  in  the  Lipari 
Islands.  It  exists  in  combination  with  sulphur  at  Fahlun  in 
Sweden,  and  was  originally  discovered  by  Berzelitis.  Its  com- 
bination with  sulphur  (sulpho-selenite)  gives  rise  to  a  brownish 
colored  mineral,  massive,  occurring  with  salamoniac  in  the 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 


581 


same  islands.  Its  combinations  with  silver,  lead,  copper,  and 
one  or  two  other  metals,  have  been  described  under  their  ap- 
propriate heads  in  this  treatise ;  as  has  also  its  single  occur- 
rence as  an  acid  combined  with  oxide  of  lead. 

DIAMOND.* 

Octahedral  Diamond,  M.  J.    Diamond,  W.  and  H.     Adamant.    Adamas  octahedrus,  D. 

Pure  carbon.     Symbol,  C. 

Sp.  Gr.  3  55.     H.  =  10-0. 

Diamonds  are  either  colorless,  or  of  a  yellowish,  bluish, 
yellowish-green,  clove-brown,  or  rose-red  tinge.  Primary  form 
the  Regular  octahedron ;  always  found  in  detached  crystals, 
the  varieties  of  form  in  which  are  numerous ;  the  faces  often 
convex,  giving  its  crystals  a  spherical  appearance ;  frequently 
macled ;  structure  perfectly  lamellar,  yielding  readily  to  cleav- 
age parallel  to  the  planes  of  the  octahedron ;  lustre  brilliant 
adamantine ;  fracture  conchoidal ;  varies  from  transparent  to 
nearly  opake.  At  a  heat  less  than  the  melting  point  of  silver 
(viz.  at  14°  Wedgewood)  it  gradually  dissipates,  burns,  and, 
combining  with  nearly  the  same  quantity  of  oxygen,  forms  the 
same  volume  of  carbonic  acid  as  charcoal,  whence  it  appears 
to  consist  of  pure  carbon.  It  is  not  acted  upon  by  acids  or 
alkalies ;  possesses  vitreous  electricity  when  rubbed ;  and,  af- 
ter exposure  to  the  solar  rays,  presents  in  the  dark  a  distinct 
phosphorescence. 

1.  2.  3.  4.  5.  6. 


For  transitions  of  figs.  1,  2,  3,  4,  5,  see  Red  Oxide  of  Copper,  p.  486. 

The  crystal  represented  by  the  annex- 
ed figure  was  selected,  as  exhibiting,  with 
more  than  usual  beauty  and  precision, 
the  planes  of  the  primary  octahedron  P, 
P',  P",  and  P'",  and  those  of  the  cube  a, 
a',  and  a",  which  are  generally  flat  and 
brilliant.  The  numerous  faces  dl  and 
d2  are  uniformly  convex  ;  each  of  these 
faces  is  in  reality  a  series  of  planes,  as 
is  manifest  on  other  crystals,  but  in  no 
instance  sufficiently  perfect  for  the  use 
of  the  reflective  goniometer.  In  tbe  last 
of  the  small  preceding  figures,  these  faces 
are  shown  to  the  exclusion  of  the  planes 
The  true  angles  of  these  solids  are  : 


of  the  octahedron  and  cube. 


*  Perhaps  from  adamas  of  Pliny,  signifying  unconquerable.     It  is  probable  that  Pliny, 
when  speaking  of  the  gem  called  adamas,  had  in  view,  among  other  things,  the  diamond; 

49* 


582  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

P  on  P'  or  P" 109°  28'  16" 

P  on  a,  a',  or  a" 125    15  52 

a  on  a'  or  a" 90    00  00 

The  rocks  hitherto  considered  as  the  matrix  of  the  diamond 
are  secondary  ones,  as  several  kinds  of  sandstone,  consisting 
of  aggregated  quartz  pebbles;  it  is  also  found  in  strata  of 
iron-shot  sand  and  clay,  and  in  the  alluvium  of  plains  and 
rivers. 

Hindostan  and  Brazil  are  the  principal  localities  of  the  dia- 
mond, and  in  both  these  countries  it  is  confined  to  the  tropics. 
In  India,  where  it  has  for  ages  been  an  article  of  commerce, 
it  is  met  with  in  the  district  between  Golconda  and  Masulipa- 
tam,  near  Parma  in  Bundelcund,  where  some  of  the  most  mag- 
nificent specimens  have  been  found;  and  extensively  on  the 
Mahanuddy,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Ellore.  Up  to  the  com- 
mencement of  the  last  century,  diamonds  where  wholly  derived 
from  India  and  Borneo.  In  1829,  they  were  first  discovered 
in  the  Ural  Mountains  by  the  expedition  under  Baron  Hum- 
boldt ;  they  are  found  in  the  same  alluvial  deposits  with  the 
gold.  In  Brazil,  the  district  of  Minas  Gesaes  comprehends, 
so  far  as  is  known,  the  whole  diamond  grounds  of  the  Ameri- 
can continent.  Diamonds  occur  among  the  gold  sands  in 
the  river  Gumil,  province  of  Constantine,  in  North  Africa. 
They  have  been  sold  by  the  natives  to  the  Sardinian  Consul, 
Peluzo,  who  sent  them  to  France.  Two  of  these  were  pur- 
chased for  the  Garden  of  Plants.  Bronginart  reminds  us,  that 
long  ago,  the  Carthaginians  traded  with  diamonds  they  brought 
from  the  interior  of  Africa.  M.  Parrat  has  examined  a  dia- 
mond found  in  the  Ural  mountains,  and  now  in  the  collection 
of  the  Countess  Porlier,  in  which  is  enclosed  a  black  mass  re- 
sembling coal.  He  concludes  that  this  diamond  was  formed 
by  volcanic  heat,  and  that  the  black  mass  is  coal,  which  did 
not  become  crystallized  into  the  transparent  gem.*  Colored 
diamonds  of  large  size  are  comparatively  few  in  number.  -The  ;x 
Maximilian  or  Austrian  diamond,  is  of  a  yellow  color,  and 
rose  cut.  It  passed  from  the  hands  of  the  Grand  Duke  of 
Tuscany  into  the  imperial  family,  and  is  valued  at  £} 55,000. 
George  IV.  diamond,  is  of  a  rich  and  splendid  blue  color.  It 
was  purchased  from  Mr.  Eliason  of  London  for  <£22,000.  Its 
weight  is  twenty-nine  and  a  half  carats.  Probably  one  of  the 

but  it  is  plain  from  the  fables  he  relates  of  it,  that  this  substance  "  of  the  highest  value 
among  all  human  things,  and  for  a  long  time  known  to  kings  only,  and  to  very  few  -of 
them,"  was  unknown  to  him.  It  is  evident  from  his  description  that  he  mistook  fine 
crystals  of  quartz  for  diamonds,  or  rather  called  them  adamas.  —  See  Moore's  Ancient 
Mineralogy. 

*  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1839,  p.  297. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  583 

largest  and  most  beautiful  colored  diamonds,  is  a  rich  sky-blue 
brilliant  belonging  to  the  crown  jewels  of  France.  It  weighs 
sixty-seven  carats,  and  its  value  is  estimated  at  three  millions 
of  livres.  The  late  Duke  of  York  possessed  a  diamond  which 
approached  very  nearly  to  jet  black,  and  possessed  peculiar 
beauty  and  brilliancy.  The  largest  and  most  magnificent  spec- 
imens have  hitherto  been  brought  from  the  East.  The  Pitt 
or  Regent  Diamond,  for  instance,  the  prime  ornament  of  the 
crown  jewels  of  France,  weighing  one  hundred  and  thirty-six 
carats,  was  found  in  the  Golconda  district;  its  value  is  estima- 
ted at  twelve  millions  of  livres.  Though  not  the  largest,  it 
is  supposed  to  be  the  finest  in  the  world.  The  kings  of 
France  wore  it  in  their  hats,  and  Bonaparte  had  it  fixed  to 
the  pommel  of  his  sword.  That  of  the  ernperor  of  Russia,  the 
weight  of  which  is  one  hundred  and  ninety-three  carats,  is  said 
to  have  once  formed  the  eye  of  an  Indian  idol,  and  is  doubt- 
less from  the  same  vicinity.  Russia  has  several  large  dia- 
monds besides  those  which  adorn  the  imperial  sceptre.  One 
of  them  is  valued  at  .£369,800.  There  is  also  a  large  table 
diamond  belonging  to  the  imperial  treasury.  Holland  has  one 
of  thirty-six  carats,  valued  at  .£10,368.  Persia  has  several, 
four  of  them  large  ones  of  a  rose  cut,  besides  brilliants;  the 
two  principal  are  called  the  "Sea  of  Glory,"  and  the  "Moun- 
tain of  Splendor.3'  The  Rajah  of  Mattan  possesses  one  of 
three  hundred  and  sixty-seven  carats,  which  was  found  in 
Borneo ;  and  that  of  the  Great  Mogul  is  said,  in  its  rough 
state,  to  have  weighed  not  less  than  eight  hundred  carats. 
In  Brazil,  although  of  fine  water,  they  rarely  exceed  twenty 
carats.  It  is  stated  that  the  number  of  known  diamonds  of  the 
weight  of  thirty-six  carats  and  above,  does  not  amount  to  more 
than  nineteen  or  twenty.  According  to  Mawe,  the  number  in 
Europe  of  large  size  does  not  exceed  half  a  dozen.* 

PLUMBAGO.t 

Rhomboidal  Graphite,!.    Graphit,  W.    Fer  Carbure,  H.     Rbombohedral  Graphite  Mica, 
M.     Black  Lead.     Carburet  of  Iron.     Plumbago  Scriptoria,  D. 

Combination  of  a  considerable  quantity  of  carbon,  with  a 
small  proportion  of  iron. 

Cornwall.  Bustletown,  Penn. 

Carbon 91-9 96-0 94-4 

Iron 9-1 4-0 4-6 


100-0  Bertholet.      100-0  Saussure.         99-0  Vanuxem. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-08  —  2-45.     H.  =  1-0  —  20. 

*  See  Mawe  on  Diamonds  and  Precious  Stones  ;  also  his  Travels  in  Brazil  :  and  a  Me 
moir  on  the  Diamond,  by  John  Murray,  F.  G.  S.,  &c.     London,  1831. 

t  Plumbago,  from  its  drawing  like  lead  (its  streak  being  of  the  same  color).    Graphite  , 
from  the  Greek,  to  draw  ;  in  allusion  to  its  use. 


584  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

Color  iron  or  steel-grey.  Primary  form  a  regular  Six-sided 
prism.  It  occurs  in  kidney-shaped  masses,  or  disseminated  in 
rocks;  also,  though  rarely,  crystallized  in  regular  six-sided 
prisms,  of  which  the  summits  are  striated  parallel  to  three  of 
their  edges;  cleavage  perfect  perpendicular  to  the  axis.  It 
has  a  glistening  metallic  lustre,  a  granular  and  uneven  frac- 
ture;  is  unctuous  to  the  touch;  sectile,  and  the  thin  Iamina3 
very  flexible ;  not  very  brittle ;  streak  lead-colored  and  shining. 
B  B,  it  becomes  yellow  or  brown  after  long-continued  heat, 
but  is  infusible ;  and  is  not  affected  by  the  addition  of  any 
re-agent. 

It  belongs  chiefly  to  primitive  rocks,  and  to  the  coal  forma- 
tion. The  purest  and  most  esteemed  plumbago  is  found  at 
Borrowdale  in  Cumberland,  where  it  occurs  in  rocks  con- 
sisting chiefly  of  grauwacke,  and  whence  it  is  obtained  in  con- 
siderable quantity  for  the  manufacture  of  pencils.  It  occurs 
crystallized  at  Pargas  in  Finland,  in  Greenland,  and  in  the 
United  States;  in  scales  like  mica  at  Arendal  in  Norway; 
forming  irregular  masses  imbedded  with  particles  of  garnet 
in  gneiss,  at  Strathferran  near  Beauly  in  Aberdeenshire;  pass- 
ing into  a  kind  of  columnar  coal  at  Craigman  in  Ayrshire; 
at  Passau  in  Austria ;  in  Ceylon ;  and  many  other  places. 

Graphite  is  frequently  disseminated  through  the  primitive 
rocks  of  the  United  States,  associated  with  various  other  min- 
erals ;  as  with  the  Brucite,  spinelle  and  garnet,  in  Sussex 
county,  N.  J,,  and  Orange  county,  N.  Y. ;  the  apatite  and  zir- 
con, St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. ;  in  Bucks  county,  Penn., 
with  tabular  spar,  pyroxene  and  scapolite.  At  some  of  these 
localities,  it  is  pretty  uniformly  diffused  through  a  beautiful 
white  limestone  in  small  brilliant  compressed  laminae,  ex- 
tremely soft.  The  massive  variety  occurs  at  Ashford  and 
Cornwall,  Conn.;  Sturbridge,  Mass. ;  Thorn aston,  Me. ;  With- 
ingham,  Vt. ;  Goshen,  Antrim,  and  Bristol,  N.  H.  At  most  of 
these  last  named  localities  it  forms  veins  in  gneiss  which  are  of 
sufficient  extent  to  admit  of  profitable  mining.  In  Bucks 
county,  Penn.,  a  workable  deposit  of  it  exists  in  sienite. 
According  to  Dr.  Jackson,  the  plumbago  from  Antrim,  N.  H., 
is  soft  and  suitable  for  pencils.  The  handsomest  crystallized 
specimens  of  plumbago,  are  said  to  have  been  found  near 
Ticonderoga,  on  Lake  George. 

Besides  being  extensively  used  in  the  fabrication  of  pencils, 
graphite  is  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  crucibles,  particu- 
larly those  required  for  the  purposes  of  the  mint,  as  they  sustain 
intense  heat,  and  are  esteemed  for  their  tenacity  and  expansi- 
bility. It  is  also  used  to  diminish  friction,  to  protect  iron  from 
oxidation,  and  to  impart  a  polish  to  ornamental  iron  work. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  585 


ANTHRACITE/ 

Glanzkohle,  W.  Blind  Coal.  Anthracite,  H.  Bt.  Blende  Charbonneuse,  Br.  Non- 
bituminous  Mhieral  Coal,  M.  Kilkenny  Coal.  Glance  Coal,  J.  Kohlenblende,  L. 
Anthrax  lapideus,  D. 

Combination  of  carbon,  with  a  small   proportion  of  silica 
and  earthy  matter  and  water. 

Tarantaise.  Swansea,  Wales.        Lehigh.  Penn.        Rhode  Island. 

Carbon 72-05 92-56 90-1 90-03 

Silica 13-19 2-53 1-2 2-14 

Oxide  of  iron  .  347 1-58 0-2 2-50 

Alumina 3-29 009 1-1 0-00 

Water 000 3-33 66 4-90 

92-00  Dolomieu.    100  00  Regnault.         99  2  Vanuxem.       99-57  Vanuxem.f 

Mayenne.  Portsmouth,  R.  I.     Mansfield,  Mass. 

Carbon 91-98  Carbon 85-84 92 

Silica 3  16  Water 10-50 6 

Oxide  of  iron..  0-94  Oxide  of  iron,  silex  and  alumina. ..  3-66 00 

Water 3-92  Oxide  of  iron  and  alumina 0-00 2 


100-00  Regnault.  100-00  Jackson.   100  Jackson. 

It  appears  from  these  analyses,  that  the  American  and  foreign 
anthracites  present  about  the  same  composition.  The  mean  of 
twenty  analyses  of  anthracite  from  different  mines  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  Prof.  Rogers,  gives  about  eighty-seven  per  cent,  of 
carbon,  eight  of  water,  and  five  of  earthy  matter. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-4—  18.  H.  — 2-0  — 25. 

Of  this  substance  there  are  three  varieties.  Massive  An- 
thracite is  of  an  iron-black  color,  often  superficially  tarnished 
and  iridescent,  and  occasionally  with  a  splendent  metallic  lus- 
tre; fracture  conchoidal  and  shining;  is  light  and  brittle.  It 
burns  without  flame  or  odor,  leaving  a  whitish  ash,  when  con- 
taminated with  only  a  small  portion  of  oxide  of  iron.  It  oc- 
curs at  Meissner  in  Hesse. 

Slaty  Anthracite  has  a  brownish-black  color.  The  struc- 
ture is  imperfectly  slaty  in  one  direction,  with  a  somewhat 
metallic  lustre;  fracture  flat  conchoidal;  easily  frangible, 
somewhat  sectile,  and  brittle. 

The  deposits  of  anthracite  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
are  probably  more  extensive  than  those  of  any  other  country. 
The  States  of  Massachusetts  and  Rhode  Island,  afford  beds 
of  moderate  extent  and  thickness,  which,  however,  have 
been  but  partially  explored.  It  is  estimated  by  Prof.  Rogers 
that  the  anthracite  mines  of  Pennsylvania  furnished,  during 
the  year  1838,  upwards  of  nine  hundred  thousand  tons  of 
this  valuable  combustible.  The  quantity  now  supplied  is 
much  greater.  "  The  southern  anthracite  coal  basin  of 

*  Anthracite,  from  the  Greek  ;  consisting  of  carbon, 
t  Journ.  of  the  Acad.  of  Nat.  Scien.,  Philad.,  v.  17. 


586  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

Pennsylvania,  where  the  most  extensive  mining  operations 
are  carried  on,  occupies  an  area  of  sixty  miles  in  length,  and 
two  in  average  breadth,  having  in  the  middle,  an  aggregate 
thickness  of  coal,  exceeding  one  hundred  feet.  This  is  all 
above  the  water  level,  below  which  hundreds,  nay  thousands  of 
feet  of  coal  lie  still  untouched."  —  Prof.  Rogers1  Second 
Annual  Report  on  the  Geology  of  Pennsylvania* 

In  England  it  is  found  in  the  coal-formation  near  Walsal  in 
Staffordshire  (Stone  Coal) ;  in  Wales,  in  the  southern  parts  of 
Brecknockshire,  Carmarthenshire,  and  Pembrokeshire  ( Welsh 
Culm) ;  in  the  same  situation  near  Cumnock  and  Kilmarnock 
in  Ayrshire,  and  many  other  parts  of  Scotland  (Blind  Coal) ; 
and  at  Kilkenny  in  Ireland  (Kilkenny  Coal). 

Columnar  Anthracite  occurs  in  short  prismatic  concretions, 
either  straight  or  curved;  of  an  iron-black  color,  with  a  shin- 
ing metallic  lustre,  and  occasionally  tarnished  externally.  It  is 
opake,  soft,  light  and  brittle.  It  burns  without  flame  or  smoke. 
It  is  principally  found  at  the  Meissner,  in  Hessia,  forming  the 
upper  portion  of  a  bed  of  brown  coal,  which  is  covered  by 
basalt;  at  Craigman  in  Ayrshire,  also,  and  in  some  of  the 
Newcastle  pits,  it  occurs  in  contact  with  dykes  of  green- 
stone, at  the  former  frequently  passing  into  plumbago. 

These  varieties  being  more  difficultly  inflammable  than  bitu- 
minous coal,  are  principally  used  in  lime-kilns,  malt-kilns, 
iron  foundries,  and  such  like ;  for  when  ignited  in  considera- 
ble quantity  they  burn  with  a  strong  and  durable  heat ;  and 
indeed  much  of  the  difficulty  of  kindling  may  be  overcome  by 
the  addition  of  some  charcoal,  and  the  judicious  application 
of  a  current  of  air.  In  the  United  States,  particularly  in  New 
England,  where  bituminous  coal  is  not  found,  this  forms  the 
principal  fuel  of  the  maratime  cities,  and  is  applied  to  nearly 
every  purpose,  for  the  production  of  heat  in  the  domestic  use, 
in  the  arts  and  manufactures.  Recently  it  has  been  applied 
to  the  smelting  of  iron  ores  with  hot  air-blast,  in  Great  Britain 
and  the  United  States. —  See  Notes  on  the  Use  of  Anthracite 
in  the  Manufacture  of  Iron,  by  W.  R.  Johnson. 

Closely  allied  to  the  present  species  is  the  Mineral  Carbon 
or  Mineral  Charcoal,  which  occurs  in  thin  layers,  and  fibrous 
distinct  concretions  of  a  delicate  silky  black  color,  in  most  of 
the  coal  fields  of  Great  Britain;  at  Voitsberg  in  Styria;  Disko 
Island,  Greenland,  Pennsylvania,  and  elsewhere. 

*  For  an  interesting  account  of  the  vast  coal  deposits  of  Pennsylvania,  see  articles  by 
Prof.  Silliman,  in  the  Araer.  Jour,  of  Science,  vols.  xviii.  and  xix. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  587 

MINERAL    OIL. 

Under  this  term  is  comprehended  two  substances,  Naphtha 
and  Petroleum  ;  both  of  which  are  liquid,  highly  inflammable, 
and  lighter  than  water. 

I.     NAPHTHA.* 

Bitume  Liquide  Blanchatre,  H.    Le  Naphte,  Br.    Bitume  Napthe,  Bt. 

Carbon 89-2 87-60 

Hydrogen 14-8 12-78 

97-0  Thomson.  100-38  Saussure. 

It  is  nearly  colorless,  sometimes  yellow,  and  transparent ;  it 
burns  with  a  white  flame,  much  smoke,  gives  out  a  penetrating 
odor,  and  leaves  no  residuum.  It  dissolves  resins,  but  is  not 
itself  soluble  either  in  alcohol  or  ether. 

It  is  found  in  large  quantity  in  Persia,  and  in  the  Birman 
empire.  At  Rangoon  there  are  said  to  be  upwards  of  five 
hundred  naphtha  wells,  which  yield  annually  about  four 
hundred  and  twelve  thousand  hogsheads.  It  is  of  essential  use 
in  the  manufacture  of  varnish,  and  is  preferred  to  oil  in  the 
formation  of  oil  paint,  from  its  property  of  drying  with  great 
rapidity.  Like  alcohol,  it  is  employed  for  removing  spots  of 
grease  from  woollen  and  other  stuffs,  but  it  is  difficult  to  de- 
stroy the  disagreeable  odor  which  it  emits.  Near  the  Caspian, 
and  elsewhere  in  Persia,  it  is  used  instead  of  oil  for  lamps. 

II.     PETROLEUM. t 

Bitume  Liquide  Noiratre,  H.    Petrol,  Br.     Bitume  Petrole,  BU 

Petroleum,  at  the  usual  temperature,  is  rather  thicker  than 
common  tar,  has  a  strong  disagreeable  bituminous  odor,  and 
is  of  a  blackish  or  reddish-brown  color.  It  is  very  combusti- 
ble, emitting  during  ignition  a  thick  black  smoke,  and  leaving 
a  little  residue  in  the  form  of  black  coal. 

It  is  found  in  many  countries,  principally  in  those  producing 
coal.  At  several  places  in  France.  In  England,  at  Ormskirk 
in  Lancashire,  and  at  Coal  Port,  near  Coalbrookdale.  In 
Scotland,  at  St.  Catherine's  Well  near  Edinburgh,  and  in  the 
Isle  of  Pomona,  one  of  the  Hebrides.  It  occurs  also  in  Bava- 
ria, Switzerland,  and  in  Italy,  near  Parma.  At  the  latter  place 
the  petroleum  gives  out  so  powerful  an  odor  that  the  workmen 
cannot  long  endure  it  at  the  bottom  of  the  petroleum  wells 
without  danger  of  fainting.  It  is  found  in  many  other  parts 
of  Europe,  and  in  America. 

In  the  United  States,  this  variety  is  met  with  in  Virginia, 

*  From  the  Greek,  signifying  to  take  fire. 

f  From  two  Greek  words,  signifying  rock  or  mineral  oil. 


588  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

Kentucky,  Ohio,  New  York,  and  elsewhere.  It  is  seen  float- 
ing on  the  surface  of  Seneca  Lake,  N.  Y.,  and  has  hence  been 
called  Seneca  oil. 

When  naphtha  is  exposed  to  the  air  and  light,  it  becomes 
brown,  thickens,  and  seems  to  pass  into  petroleum  ;  and  when 
petroleum  is  distilled,  an  oil  is  obtained  similar  to  naphtha. 
When  petroleum  is  exposed  to  the  air,  it  thickens  and  passes 
into  a  kind  of  bitumen.  Considerable  alliance  is  thus  proved 
to  exist  between  mineral  oil  and  bitumen. 

BITUMEN. 
Of  bitumen  there  are  three  varieties. 

I.     EARTHY    BITUMEN. 

Erdigcs  Erdpech,  W.     Bitume  Glutineux,  H.     La  Poix  Minerale  Tcrreuse,  Br.     Earthy 
Mineral  Pitch,  J.     Malthe,  Bcudant. 

It  is  blackish-brown,  and  dull ;  fracture  earthy  and  uneven  ; 
soft  enough  to  take  an  impression  of  the  nail;  sectile,  and  pos- 
sesses a  strong  bituminous  odor.  It  burns  with  a  clear  brisk 
flame,  emits  a  powerful  smell,  and  deposits  much  soot.  It 
consists  of  inflammable  matter,  mingled  with  a  considerable 
proportion  of  earthy  substances. 

It  is  found  in  Persia,  between  Schiraz  and  Bender-congo ; 
at  the  coal  mines  of  Hurlet  near  Paisley,  enclosing  crystals  of 
calcareous  spar;  in  East  Lothian,  and  other  places.  It  is  oc- 
casionally used  as  a  pitch,  and  in  the  fabrication  of  certain 
varnishes. 

II.     ELASTIC    BITUMEN. 

Elastiches  Erdpech,  VV.     Bitume  Elastique,  H.     La  Poix  Minerale  Elastiquc,  H.     Elas- 
tic Mineral  Pitch,  J.     Elaterite,  Beudunt.     Bitumen  flexile,  D. 

Elastic  bitumen  is  of  various  shades  of  brown;  it  is  soft, 
yields  easily  to  pressure,  is  flexible,  elastic,  possesses  a  strongly 
bituminous  odor,  and  is  about  the  weight  of  water.  It  burns 
readily  with  large  flame  and  much  smoke,  but  melts  by  gentle 
heat,  and  is  thereby  converted  into  a  substance  resembling 
petroleum,  or  asphalt,  according  to  its  previous  consistence. 
It  takes  up  the  traces  of  a  pencil,  in  the  same  manner  as 
caoutchouc  or  India  rubber,  whence  its  name  of  Mineral 
Caoutchouc.  It  consists,  according  to  Henry,  of, 

England.  France. 

Carbon 52-250 58-260 

Hydrogen 7-496 4-^90 

Oxygen 40-100 36-746 

Nitrogen 0-154 0-104 

100-000  10U-000 

It  occurs  principally  in  the  Odin  mine,  near  Castleton  in 
Derbyshire,  in  a  secondary  limestone. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  589 


III.     COMPACT    BITUMEN.      ASPHALT. 

Schlackiges  Erdpech,  W.    Bitume  Solide,  H.    La  Poix  Minerale  Scoriacee,  Br.     Bitume 
Asphalte,  Bt.     Slaggy  Mineral  Pitch,  J. 

Varies  from  brownish-black  to  black ;  occurs  massive,  with 
a  conchoidal  fracture,  and  shining  resinous  lustre ;  is  opake, 
and  very  brittle.  Specific  gravity  1  —  1*6.  When  rubbed,  it 
gives  out  a  bituminous  odor.  By  combustion,  it  leaves  a  small 
quantity  of  ashes.  It  consists  chiefly  of  bituminous  oil,  hydro- 
gen gas,  and  charcoal,  but  the  latter  is  in  greater  proportion 
than  in  elastic  bitumen.  Like  the  elastic  variety,  it  is  often 
soft  when  found,  but  soon  hardens. 

This  is  much  the  most  common  variety  of  bitumen.  It  is 
found  in  the  Palatinate;  in  France  ;  at  Neuchatel  in  Switzer- 
land ;  in  large  strata  in  Avlona  in  Albania;  and  in  masses  on 
the  shores  or  floating  on  the  surface  of  the  Asphaltic  lake  in 
Judea,  called  the  Dead  Sea.  It  abounds  in  the  Island  of  Bar- 
badoes  and  Trinidad;  in  the  latter  it  forms  with  sand  a  lake 
three  miles  in  circumference,  called  the  Pitch  Lake,  the 
thickness  of  which  is  unknown.  A  gentle  heat  renders  it 
ductile,  and  when  mixed  with  grease  or  common  pitch  it  is 
used  for  paying  the  bottoms  of  common  ships.  The  ancients 
employed  bitumen  in  the  construction  of  their  buildings,  and 
the  Egyptians  used  it  for  embalming. 

It  appears  from  the  intelligent  American  missionaries  who 
have  visited  Western  Asia,  that  this  mineral  is  now  but  seldom 
found  on  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea,  even  in  small  masses, 
however  plentiful  it  may  have  been  in  former  times.  Accord- 
ing to  Mr.  Smith,  it  has  been  known  to  make  its  appearance  in 
considerable  masses  only  after  an  earthquake.  That  of  1834, 
caused  a  large  quantity  to  rise,  of  which  the  Arabs  brought 
about  six  hundred  pounds  to  market.  See  an  interesting 
paper  on  the  Geology  of  Western  Asia,  compiled  from  notes 
of  American  missionaries,  by  Prof.  Hitchcock,  in  the  Reports 
of  the  Association  of  American  Geologists,  i.  371.  Bitumen  is 
found  in  small  quantity  in  several  parts  of  the  Andes  of  Chili. 
In  the  Island  of  Cuba,  solid  bitumen  (called  Chapapote)  is 
found  near  the  towns  of  Havana,  Trinidad  and  Villa  Clara. 
Its  color  varies  from  reddish  brown  to  jet  black.  Fracture 
conchoidal.  —  See  analysis  of  Chapapote  and  some  account  of 
the  extensive  coal  mine  near  Havana,  by  J.  H.  Blake,  in  the 
Amer.  Jour,  of  Science,  xlii.  388. 

50 


590  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

BITUMINOUS    COAL. 

Schiefferkolile,  Blatterkohle,  Grobkohle,  W.     Houille,  H.     Slate-Coal,  Foliated  Coal, 
Coarse  Coal,  J.     Bituminous  Mineral  Coal,  Al.     Anthrax  bituminosus,  D. 

Sp.  Gr.  12  —  1-5.     H.  =  l-0  — 2-3. 

It  is  of  a  black  color,  frequently  with  an  irridescent  tarnish. 
It  occurs  massive ;  the  structure  in  one  direction  is  slaty, 
sometimes  it  is  so  in  two  directions;  the  fragments  vary  in 
shape  from  nearly  the  proportions  of  the  cube,  to  those  of  a 
rhombic  prism  greatly  resembling  that  of  mica;  it  sometimes 
contains  thin  parallel  layers  of  mineral  carbon;  fracture  small 
and  imperfectly  conchoidal,  frequently  with  a  brilliant  semi- 
metallic  lustre.  It  burns  with  a  bright  flame  and  much  smoke  ; 
but  this  coal  commonly  contains  some  proportion  of  earthy  in- 
gredients. 

The  composition  of  the  principal  foreign  varieties  of  bitu- 
minous coal  is  shown  by  the  following  table,  compiled  from 
different  sources. 

Carbon.          Volatile  Matter.          Cinders. 

Best  Cannel  Coal.  —  Klrwan 75-2 21-7  3-1 

Newcastle  Coal 64-28 32-52 3-20 

Common  Lancashire  Cannel  Coal G?-22 35-28 2-50 

"        Derbyshire        "          "     48-36 47-01 4-63 

«        Scotch  "          "     39-43 56-57 4-00 

Whitehaven  Coal.  —  Kirwan 57-0 41-3 1-7 

Wi<mn.—  Kirwan 61-7 36-7  1-6 

Swansea.  —  Kirwan 73-5 23-1  3-4 

Lutrim 71-4 23-4 52 

Pictou  Co;il,  Nova  Scotia. 1.  H.  Blake 54-20 30-80 15-0 

Clyde.  —  Berthier 04-4 31-0 4-6 

Northumberland.  —  Berthier 67-5 30-0 2-5 

Yorkshire.  —  Miishet 67-14 3073 2-12 

Arauco  Coal,  Chili.  —  W .  R.  Johnson 67-6-2 27-80 2-38 

San  Miguel,  Cuba.  —  J.  IL  Blake 71-84 14-62 13-57 

Ansin  — Berthier 71-5 25-     3-5 

Balayre.  —  Berthier 58-5 42-4 7-0 

Alais.  —  Berthier 68-0   21-6 10-4 

The  following  table  shows  the  composition  of  some  of  the 
principal  varieties  of  American  bituminous  coal. 

Carbon.         Volatile  Matter.  Cinders. 

Cumberland  Coal,  Maryland.—  T.  P.  Jones 78-     19-     3- 

"  "  "          C.  T  Jackson 77-09 16-05 6- 

«  "  "          A.  A.  Hayes 77-80 15-60 4-60 

Hoffman  Mine,  Frostburg,  Md  —  Silllman 76-77 14-66 8-57 

Boar  Creek,  Blosburj,  Penn.  \ 73-74 15-     11-26 

Johnson's  Creek, "          "      f 69-3 14-6 16-1 

Coal  Run,  "  "       >  T.  O.  Cleinson..  75-4 16-4 8-2 

Willis'  Pit,  Richmond,  \ 66-6 28-8 4-6 

Anderson's  Pit,     "  / 64-2 16-0  9-8 

Cannclton  Coal,  Indiana,      )   ,   „  R,  ,      61-93 35-96 2-11 

Mid  Lothian  Coal,  Virginia,  \J"  ™"  ....60-03 30-94 8-95 

Frost's  M ine,  Maryland.—  Prof.  Ducatel 70-     20-50 9-50 

Mid  Lothian,  Va.—  Profs.  Silliman  and  Hubbard.  61-     31-6 7-1 

Dr.  Thomson  inclines  to  the  opinion  that  coal  is  a  direct 
combination  of  carbon,  hydrogen,  oxygen  and  azote,  and  not  a 
compound  of  bitumen,  &c.,  as  has  been  supposed ;  and  he  has 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  591 

stated  the  composition  of  several  varieties,  giving  the  propor- 
tions of  carbon,  hydrogen,  oxygen  and  azote.  Thus  :  Newcas- 
tle, or  coking  coal,  carbon  75*28,  hydrogen  4'18,  azote  15*96, 
oxygen  4*58.  Splint,  or  light-burn  hard  coal,  from  Glasgow, 
used  for  making  coke  and  smelting  iron,  carbon  75,  hydrogen 
6  25,  azote  6'25,  oxygen  12  5. 

It  occurs  in  many  countries  of  the  European  continent,  and 
is  the  common  coal  of  the  most  extensive  British  collieries. 
In  Nova  Scotia,  New  Brunswick  and  Cape  Breton,  bituminous 
coal  abounds  in  the  New  red  sandstone  and  shale.  The  Pic- 
tou  and  Sydney  mines  have  been  the  most  extensively  explored. 
The  coal  from  the  former  is  peculiar  on  account  of  the  abun- 
dance of  mineral  charcoal  it  contains  ;  and,  for  domestic  pur- 
poses, this  is  thought  to  give  it  an  advantage  over  the  Sydney, 
and  most  other  bituminous  coal,  by  preventing  it  from  cement- 
ing together  while  consuming. 

In  the  United  States,  extensive  beds  of  bituminous  coal  ex- 
ist in  Virginia,  Maryland,  and  several  of  the  Western  States. 
The  mines  in  the  neighborhood  of  Richmond,  Va.,  have  been 
the  longest  explored,  and  they  continue  to  supply  various 
parts  of  the  country  with  a  valuable  combustible.  According 
to  Prof.  Rogers,  the  coal  measures  at  the  Mid  Lothian  mines, 
where  the  coal  beds  are  very  thick  and  pure,  rest  immediately 
upon  granite.  The  Cumberland  coal  mines  of  Maryland,  from 
their  central  position,  and  the  unsurpassed  excellence  of  the 
coal  they  have  furnished,  promise  to  become  of  very  great 
value.  This  coal  is  even  purer  than  the  imported  cannel  coal, 
as  it  contains,  according  to  the  analysis  of  Dr.  T.  P.  Jones, 
carbon  78,  bitumen  19,  alumina  and  oxide  of  iron  only  3.  Bi- 
tuminous coal  occurs  plentifully  in  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  one 
of  the  most  extensive  and  valuable  deposits  is  at  Cannelton, 
Perry  county,  in  the  last  named  State. 

1.  CANNEL  COAL.  Kennel  Kohle,  W.  Houille,  H.  Of  a 
greyish-black  color,  and  occurs  massive;  fracture  large  and 
flat  conchoidal,  with  a  glimmering  resinous  lustre;  brittle. 
Specific  gravity  1*2.  It  burns  with  a  bright  flame,  but  at  the 
same  time  decrepitates  and  flies  into  angular  fragments.  It  is 
common  in  the  upper  beds  of  our  coal  deposits,  as  near  Wigan 
in  Lancashire,  at  Clee  Hill  in  Shropshire,  and  Newcastle ; 
and  in  Scotland,  at  Gilmerton  near  Edinburgh,  and  Muirkirk 
iri  Clydesdale.  The  name  Cannel  is  supposed  to  be  derived 
from  the  word  candle,  because  in  some  places  it  is  used  as  a 
substitute.  In  Scotland  it  is  termed  Parrot  coal.  As  it  re- 
ceives a  polish,  it  is  occasionally  made  into  snuff-boxes,  ink- 
stands, &>c. 


592  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

2.  Jet.     Pechkohle,  W.     Jayet,  II.     Pitch  Coal,  J.     Jet  is 
generally  of  a  velvet-black;    it  occurs  in  elongated  reniform 
masses,  and  sometimes  in  the  shape  of  branches,  with  a  regu- 
lar woody  structure;  this  structure  is  visible  internally  only  by 
transmitted  light  and  in  specimens  cut  extremely  thin ;  it  has 
then  a  brown  translucent  appearance.     It  presents  a  brilliant 
resinous  lustre,  and  a  perfect  conchoidal  fracture;  is  soft  and 
brittle,   and  little  heavier  than  water  ;   burns  with  a  greenish 
flame  and  strong  bituminous  smell,  leaving  a  yellowish  ash. 
Jet  occurs  principally  in  marly,  schistose,  or  sandy  beds,  in 
several  places  in  France,  where  it  is  sometimes  found  enclosing 
amber  ;  near  Wittemberg  in  Prussia  ;    and  in  detached  frag- 
ments, in  the   amber  mines  on  the  coasts  of  the  Baltic.     In 
England  it  occurs  in  aluminous  shale,  at  Whitby  in  Yorkshire. 
It  is  worked  into  various  trinkets,  chiefly  worn  as  part  of  the 
mourning  habit ;  but  when  not  sufficiently  fine  and  hard  for 
that  purpose,  it  is  used  as  fuel. 

3.  Brown  Coal. —  Braunkohle,  Lignite,  W.     This  substance 
is  perhaps  principally  characterized  by  its  odor  when  in  a  state 
of  combustion,  which  resembles  that   of  peat;    the  flame  is 
weak ;   it  appears  to  have  but  little  analogy  with  common  coal. 
It  occurs  massive,  and  brown,  of  various  shades,  and  brownish- 
black  (Moor  coal) ;  the  fracture  is  earthy,  or  fibrous,  and  in 
the  latter  case  it  generally  possesses  more  or  less  of  the  struc- 
ture of  wood  (Wood  coal)  ;    but  it  is  frequently  sufficiently 
compact  to  afford  a  more  or  less  perfect  conchoidal  fracture, 
with  a  somewhat  resinous  lustre,  and  is  nearly  black.     It  yields 
to  the  knife,  occasionally  to  the  pressure  of  the  nail ;  200 
grains  of  the  Bovey  brown  coal  afforded  on  distillation  60  grains 
of  water,  acidulous  and  bituminous;  21  grains  of  thick  brown 
oily  bitumen;  90  of  charcoal ;  and  29  of  mixed  gases,  hydro- 
gen, carburetted  hydrogen,  and  carbonic  acid. 

The  earthy  and  fibrous  varieties  occur  together  in  Thurin- 
gia,  in  the  circles  of  Saale  and  Leipsic,  and  at  the  Meissner  in 
Hessia,  forming  beds  20  to  40  feet  thick,  and  several  square 
miles  in  extent :  also  in  France,  Silesia,  Bavaria,  and  other 
European  countries.  In  England,  the  fibrous  and  compact 
kinds  (Bovey  coal)  are  found  near  Bovey  Tracey  in  Devon- 
shire, forming  beds  of  various  thickness,  interposed  between 
brownish  clay  ;  small  veins  of  coal  are  found  in  the  clay, 
together  with  retinasphalt.  The  fibrous  variety  also  occurs  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Ouse  in  Sussex ;  abundantly  in  the  Faroe 
Isles,  particularly  Suderoe;  and  in  the  county  of  Antrim  im- 
bedded in  trap. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  593 

DYSODILE. 

Dysodile,  Cordier.    Houille  Papyracee,  Lucas.     Merda  di  Diavolo  des  Siciliens. 

It  occurs  in  masses  of  a  greenish-grey  or  yellow  color,  and 
either  compact  or  laminated,  sometimes  both.  It  is  extremely 
fragile,  emits  an  argillaceous  odor  when  breathed  on,  and  is  of 
the  specific  gravity  of  1-146.  It  burns  with  a  considerable 
flame  and  smoke,  and  an  almost  insupportably  fetid  odor,  with 
a  crackling  noise,  leaving  a  residue  of  nearly  half  its  weight, 
unaltered  in  form.  Macerated  in  water,  it  becomes  translu- 
cent, and  its  lamina  acquire  flexibility. 

It  occurs  at  Melili,  near  Syracuse,  in  a  bed  in  secondary 
limestone. 


AMBER. 

Bernstein,  W.    Succin,  H.     Yellow  Mineral  Resin,  M.  and  J.    Succinuum  electrum,  D. 

Contains  Carbon 80-59 70-68 

Hydrogen 7-31 11-62 

Oxygen 6-73 7-77 

94-63  Drapier.       90-07  Ure. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-0—1-1.     H.  i=2-0  — 2-5. 

In  irregular  nodules,  masses,  or  grains,  generally  of  a  yellow 
or  yellowish-white  color ;  sometimes  reddish-brown.  It  is 
brittle,  and  yields  easily  to  the  knife  ;  is  occasionally  trans- 
parent, always  translucent;  fracture  more  or  less  perfectly 
conchoidal,  with  a  vitreous  or  resinous  lustre.  Resinous  elec- 
tricity easily  produced  by  friction  ;  this  property  gave  rise  to 
the  science  of  electricity,  which  was  so  called  from  HAf  xTpoi/, 
the  Greek  name  for  amber. 

It  yields  by  distillation  an  acid  called  the  succinic  acid,  and 
leaves  an  extremely  black,  shining  residue,  which  is  employed 
as  the  basis  of  the  finest  black  varnishes.  It  burns  with  a  yel- 
low flame,  emits  an  agreeable  odor,  and  leaves  a  light,  shining, 
black  coal.  Is  soluble  in  alcohol.  The  experiments  of  Sir 
David  Brewster  on  the  optical  properties  of  amber,  leave  no 
doubt  of  the  origin  of  this  substance  being  derived  from  the 
vegetable  kingdom,  as  the  traces  of  regular  structure  indicated 
by  its  action  on  polarized  light  are  not  the  effect  of  the  ordi- 
nary laws  of  crystallization  by  which  mellite  has  been  formed, 
but  are  produced  by  the  same  causes  which  influence  the  me- 
chanical condition  of  gum  arabic  and  other  gums,  which  are 
known  to  be  formed  by  the  successive  deposition  and  indura- 
tion of  vegetable  fluids. 

The  largest  specimens  of  amber  occur  on  the  Prussian  coast, 
where  it  is  disengaged  by  the  action  of  the  waves,  and  cast 
50* 


594  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

ashore.  It  also  occurs  occasionally,  presenting  very  peculiar 
tinges  of  blue,  on  the  Sicilian  coast  near  Catania;  imbedded 
in  brown  coal  at  Hasen  Island  in  Greenland  ;  in  Poland, 
France,  Italy,  and  many  other  countries;  and  occasionally  in 
the  beds  of  gravel  in  the  neighborhood  of  London,  and  on  the 
coasts  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk.  In  the  United  States  it  has 
been  found  in  the  alluvial  deposits  of  sand  and  gravel  at  Cape 
Sable,  Maryland.  Of  those  insects  which  have  been  originally 
enclosed  in  amber,  some  have  evidently  struggled  hard  for 
their  liberty,  and  even  left  their  limbs  behind  them  in  the  at- 
tempt; it  being  no  unusual  thing  to  find  in  a  mass  of  amber 
which  contains  a  stout  beetle,  the  animal  wanting  one  or  per- 
haps two  of  its  legs,  and  those  limbs  left  in  different  places 
nearer  that  part  of  the  mass  from  which  it  set  out.  This  also 
may  account  for  the  common  accident  of  finding  legs  or  wings 
of  flies  without  the  rest  of  their  bodies  in  pieces  of  amber; 
the  insects  having,  when  entangled  in  the  yet  soft  and  viscid 
matter,  escaped  at  the  expense  of  leaving  those  limbs  behind 
them.  Most  if  not  all  of  these  insects  are  unknown  at  the 
present  day.  —  Allan's  Manual. 

Amber  is  used  in  the  fabrication  of  ornaments  by  the  Turks, 
as  mouth-pieces  for  their  pipes,  &c. ;  and  considerable  value 
is  attached  to  large  transparent  specimens.  The  common 
varieties  are  used  for  making  varnish. 

HATCHETINE.* 

Mountain  Tallow,  Mineral  Adipocerc,  Conybeare.     (Jinn,  of  Phil.,  i.  13G.) 

A  specimen  analyzed  by  Prof.  J.  F.  W.  Johnston,  (Land. 
and  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.,  xii.  338,)  yielded  carbon  7(r437, 
hydrogen  12-479,  or  one  atom  of  each  element. 

This  singular  mineral  varies  in  color  from  yellowish-white 
to  wax  and  greenish-yellow.  It  occurs  either  flaky,  like  sper- 
maceti, or  sub-granular,  like  bees'  wax.  When  flaky  it  has  a 
slightly  glistening  and  pearly  lustre,  and  a  considerable  degree 
of  translucency  ;  when  sub-granular  it  is  dull  and  opake.  It  is 
of  about  the  hardness  of  soft  tallow,  and  possesses  neither  odor 
nor  elasticity ;  but  is  so  fusible  as  to  melt  in  water  heated  be- 
low 170°;  and  is  very  light.  Specific  gravity  0-916.  Like 
elastic  bitumen,  it  is  readily  soluble  in  ether  ;  and  both  solu- 
tions, by  spontaneous  evaporation,  leave  a  viscid  oily  matter  in 
separate  drops,  but  that  from  Hatchetine  is  still  inodorous, 
while  the  one  from  elastic  bitumen  retains  strongly  the  pecu- 
liar odor  of  that  substance.  Hatchetine  distilled  over  the 

*  So  named  in  honor  of  the  eminent  chemist  Chas.  Hatchett,  Esq.,  F.  R.  S. 


COMBUSTIBLE  MINERALS.  595 

naked  flame  of  a  spirit-lamp  assumes  the  bituminous  smell,  and 
yields  a  butyraceous  substance  of  a  greenish-yellow  color,  a 
coaly  matter  remaining  in  the  retort;  at  a  lower  heat  it  affords 
a  light  oil. 

It  occurs  among  the  coal  measures  of  Glamorganshire,  and 
in  some  of  the  Midland  counties  of  England.  Also,  with  cal- 
careous spar  and  small  quartz  crystals,  in  iron-stone  at  Methyr 
Tydvil  in  South  Wales. 

SCHERERITE. 

Schererit,  Stromeyer.    Naturliche  Naphthaline,  Scherer.    Steatus  acicularis,  D. 

Consists,  according  to  Macaire,  of  carbon  73'0,  hydrogen 
24-0. 

Exists  in  loosely  aggregated,  whitish,  feebly  shining,  pearly, 
crystalline  grains,  and  folise,  which  generally  occur  in  nests. 
It  is  rather  heavier  than  water,  does  not  feel  greasy,  is  very 
friable,  and  has  no  taste.  It  melts  readily  into  a  colorless  liquid 
at  a  temperature  of  112°,  and  in  that  state  resembles  a  fatty 
oil,  and  penetrates  paper  in  the  same  manner;  the  spots,  how- 
ever, thus  produced,  disappear  when  the  paper  is  heated.  On 
cooling,  the  melted  mineral  crystallizes  in  four-sided  acicular 
crystals.  When  exposed  to  fire,  it  inflames  and  burns  com- 
pletely away,  with  a  feeble  aromatic  srnell.  Is  insoluble  in 
water,  but  melts  easily  in  alcohol,  ether,  and  concentrated  sul- 
phuric acid.  Occurs  in  beds  of  lignite  at  Ussnack  near  St. 
Gall,  and  at  Bagh  in  the  Westerwald,  Switzerland  ;  and  was 
named  after  its  discoverer,  Captain  Scherer. 

OZOKERITE.* 

Glocker. 

Sp.  Gr.  0-955.      Soft. 

Color  yellowish-brown;  translucent;  has  a  slight  odor  of 
bitumen,  and  softens  by  the  heat  of  the  hand,  so  that  it  may  be 
kneaded  like  wax.  Fuses  readily,  and  emits  a  stronger  bitu- 
minous odor  whilst  doing  so;  burns  with  a  clear  bright  flame, 
and  leaves  no  residue.  Not  affected  by  acids  or  water,  and 
only  slightly  by  heated  alcohol.  Is  soluble  in  ether  or  oil  of 
turpentine,  with  a  yellow  color.  It  contains  carbon  85'204, 
hydrogen  13  787. 

Occurs  in  considerable  masses  at  Slanik  in  the  Buchau  dis- 
trict of  Moldavia,  where  it  has  been  long  used  by  the  peasants 
for  fuel. 

*  From  OjStv,  smelling,  and  yeQog,  wax. 


596  COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS. 

MELLITE. 

Pyramidal  Mellicbrone  Res  in,  M.     Honeystone,  J.    Honigstein,  W.    Mellitc,  H.     Mellate 
of  Alumina.     "Mellis  pyramidalis,  D. 

Combination  of  mellitic  acid,  alumina,  and  water ;  or  a 
hydrous  mellate  of  alumina  : 

Mellitic  acid 46-0 41-4 

Alumina 1G-0 14-5 

Water 38-0 44-1 

100-0  Klaproth.        100-0  Wohler. 

Formula,  given  by  Dr.  Thomson,  from  the  first  analysis : 
AlMel+4Aq.  But  Wohler's  comes  nearer  to  one  At.  acid 
and  one  of  alumina,  if  we  take  Dr.  Thomson's  atomic  weights. 
Sp.  Gr.  1-58—  1-66. 

Color  honey-yellow,  reddish,  or  brown.  Primary  form  the 
Octahedron  with  square  base,  in  which  it  also  occurs  with  the 
summits  of  the  octahedron  truncated.  Cleavage  parallel  to  the 
planes  of  the  primary,  but  difficultly  obtained;  fracture  con- 
choidal ;  transparent  or  translucent ;  lustre  resinous,  inclining 
to  vitreous.  It  is  slightly  resino-electric  by  friction;  B  B,  it 
becomes  of  an  opake-white  with  black  spots,  and  is  at  length 
reduced  to  ashes;  when  burnt  in  the  open  air,  neither  smoke 
nor  flame  is  observable,  and  it  eventually  acquires  the  color 
and  consistence  of  chalk.  Soluble  in  nitric  acid. 


P  on  P' 118°  8' 

P'  on  P" 93    0 


The  mellite  is  a  rare  mineral,  having  hitherto  only  been 
found  at  Astern  in  Thuringia.  It  occurs  in  bituminous  wood, 
and  earthy  coal,  and  is  generally  accompanied  by  sulphur. 


RETINASPHALT. 

Retinite,  J.    Retinasphalt,  Hatchett.    Bitumen  fragrans,  D. 

Contains,  according  to  the  researches  of  Hatchett,  and  Dr. 
Troost  (Am.  Phil.  Trans.,  ii.  110,  1825J  : 

Cape  Sable,  Md. 

Resin  soluble  in  alcohol 55  Resin 42-5 

Insoluble  bituminous  matter 41  Bitumen 55-5 

Earthy  substances 5  Alumina  and  iron J-5 

Loss 1-5 

100  Hatchett.  

100-0  Dr.  Troost. 

Sp.  Gr.  1-1  — 1-2.     H.  =  l-0  — 2-0. 


COMBUSTIBLE    MINERALS.  597 

It  occurs  in  irregular  opake  masses  of  a  pale  brownish-yellow 
color,  having  a  glistening  lustre  and  imperfect  conchoidal  frac- 
ture. It  is  brittle  and  soft ;  when  placed  on  hot  iron  it  melts, 
smokes,  and  burns  with  a  bright  flame,  emitting  a  fragrant  odor. 
Partly  soluble  in  alcohol,  with  an  unctuous  residue.  Though 
this  species  exhibits  characters  somewhat  different  from  those 
of  bitumen,  it  yet  appears  to  be  more  nearly  allied  to  that  than 
to  any  other  substance.  The  variety  from  Bovey  Tracey  in 
Devonshire,  where  it  is  found  accompanying  brown  coal,  has  a 
dry  earthy  texture ;  while  that  from  Wolchow  in  Moravia  is 
hard  and  resinous.  It  was  discovered  in  connection  with 
amber  by  Dr.  Troost,  at  Magothy  river,  Cape  Sable,  Maryland. 

FOSSIL  COPAL. 

Fossil  Copal,  Highgate  Resin. 

Fossil  copal  or  Highgate  resin  was  found  in  considerable 
quantity  in  the  bed  of  blue  clay  of  which  Highgate  Hill,  near 
London,  in  great  measure  consists.  It  is  in  irregular  pieces  of 
a  light-yellowish  and  dirty-brown  color,  somewhat  translucent, 
and  with  a  resinous  lustre :  it  is  brittle,  yields  easily  to  the 
knife,  and  is  but  little  heavier  than  water,  its  specific  gravity 
being  only  1-046.  It  gives  out  a  resinous  aromatic  odor  when 
heated,  and  melts  into  a  limpid  fluid;  when  applied  to  the 
candle  it  takes  fire  and  burns  with  a  clear  yellow  flame  and 
abundance  of  smoke,  as  is  the  case  with  other  resins ;  B  B,  it 
burns  away  without  leaving  any  perceptible  ash. 

It  has  been  found  in  considerable  abundance  at  Wolchow  in 
Moravia.  Specimens  have  also  been  brought  to  the  United 
States  from  the  falls  of  the  Wilhamet,  a  tributary  of  the  Colum- 
bian river,  Oregon ;  and  from  the  shores  of  the  Pacific,  north 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  river. 


SUPPLEMENT: 


Containing  further  notices  of  several  substances  treated  of  in  the  body 
of  this  work,  with  an  account  of  one  or  two  others,  not  until  now 
fully  described  as  distinct  mineral  species.  It  includes  also,  a  part 
of  those  in  the  Appendix  to  the  last  edition  of  this  Treatise,  several 
of  them  now  having  their  analyses  and  formulas  given,  but  respect- 
ing most  of  which  we  are  yet  in  need  of  fuller  information  before 
we  can  admit  them  into  the  systematic  arrangement  of  species. 


SCORODITE.* 

Cuprous  Arseniate  of  Iron,  Sournon.    Cuivre  Arseniate  Ferrif  ere,  H.     Martial  Arseniate 
of  Copper,  J.  and  A.    Prismatic  Fluor  Haloide,  M.    Arealus  trimetricus,  D. 

Combination  of  arsenic  acid,  per  and  protoxide  of  iron,  and 
water. 

Saxony.  Brazil.  Popayan. 

Peroxide  of  iron 0-0 34-85 34-3 

Protoxide  of  iron 47-5 0-00 0-0 

Arsenic  acid 31-4 50-78 49-6 

Sulphuric  acid 15 0-00 0-0 

Water 18-0 15-55 16-9 

Phosphoric  acid 0-0 0-67    Oxide  of  lead..  0-4 

98-4  Ficinus.  101-85  Berzelius.  101-2  Boussingault. 

Berzelius  gives  the  following  formula,  according  to  which 
the  arsenic  acid  is  in  combination  with  both  oxides  of  iron  : 


Sp.  Gr.  31—3-2.     H.  =  3-5  — 4-0. 

Color  pale  leek-green  or  liver-brown.  Occurs  in  transparent 
or  translucent  prismatic  crystals,  terminated  by  four-sided 
pyramids;  primary  form  a  Right  rhombic  prism  of  120°  10' 
and  59°  50',  by  measurements  taken  with  the  reflective  goni- 

*  From  the  Greek,  in  allusion  to  its  emitting  an  alliaceous  odor  under  the  blowpipe. 
This  mineral,  as  above  analyzed,  is  found  to  contain  no  copper.  I  did  not  observe  that 
its  proper  connection,  among  the  iron  ores,  had  been  overlooked  in  the  last  edition  of 
this  work,  until  too  late  to  make  the  correction,  and  have  therefore  brought  it  into  the 
Supplement.  (AM.  ED.) 


600  SUPPLEMENT. 

ometer  from  natural  planes;  cleavage  imperfect  parallel  to  the 
planes  M,  M  of  the  prism,  and  to  its  lesser  diagonal;  they  are 
not  often  single,  and  usually  are  small,  and  grouped  in  a  globu- 
lar form;  lustre  of  the  crystal  adamantine  ;  streak  pale  green- 
ish-grey or  white.  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  emits  abundant  fumes 
of  arsenic,  and  fuses  in  the  reducing  flame  into  a  reddish- 
brown  magnetic  scoria.  With  the  fluxes  it  exhibits  the  bottle- 
green  color  characteristic  of  iron ;  and  is  soluble  in  nitric  and 
muriatic  acid. 


M  on  M 120°  10' 

M  on  dl 141      5 

M  or  M  on/ 149    55 

dlondl' 103      5 


The  brown-colored  variety  of  this  species  occurs  at  Schwartz- 
enberg  in  Saxony  ;  while  the  fine  leek-green  crystals  are  found 
in  certain  of  the  Cornish  mines,  coating  cavities  of  ferruginous 
quartz.  Beautiful  specimens  have  been  brought  from  Brazil, 
and  Popayan,  South  America,  and  occasionally  also  from 
Loling,  near  Huttenberg  in  Carinthia. 

The  NEOCTESE  of  Beudant,  is  the  variety  from  St.  Antonio 
Perreira,  near  Villa  Ricca,  in  Brazil,  of  which  the  analvsis 
has  just  been  given  by  Berzelius. 

The  above  figure  shows  the  form  of  the  crystals  of  this 
mineral  from  Saxony,  and  the  measurements  are  those  given 
by  Phillips,  in  the  third  edition  of  his  Mineralogy.  At  that 
time  the  mineral  had  not  been  analyzed,  but  it  is  very  evident 
from  Berzelius'  experiments,  B  B,  that  it  contained  no  copper. 
Breithaupt  first  described  it  as  a  distinct  species.  An  analysis 
of  some  crystals  from  Cornwall,  by  Chenevix,  and  which  were 
supposed  to  be  the  same  mineral,  led  to  its  being  regarded  as 
a  cupreous  arseniate.  His  analysis  is  here  omitted. 

URANIC   OCHRE. 

Uranium  Lucine-ore,  Shepard. 

This  substance  has  not  been  analyzed,  and  it  seems  proba- 
ble that  both  the  oxide  of  uranium  and  the  carbonate  have 
been  indiscriminately  described  under  the  same  title.  The 
variety  from  Joachimsthal,  was  found  by  Zippe  to  contain 
carbonic  acid,  while  that  from  Cornwall  is  supposed  to  be  pure 

§ 


SUPPLEMENT.  601 

oxide,  or  perhaps,  as  suggested  by  Allan,  the  common  uranite 
in  a  friable  state.  It  presents  a  brilliant  orange-yellow  color, 
is  extremely  soft  and  adheres  to  the  fingers ;  frequently  in 
flocculent  masses  coating  pitch  blende;  affords  moisture  on 
being  heated  in  a  glass  tube;  turns  green  in  the  reducing 
flame  of  the  blowpipe  without  melting. 

Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson  has  recently  discovered  oxide  of  uranium 
at  Westmoreland,  N.  H.  It  forms  about  two  per  cent,  of  the 
yellow  pulverulent  mineral,  which  encrusts  the  crystals  of  sul- 
phuret  of  molybdena  from  that  locality.  This  powder  appears 
to  be  a  mixture  principally  of  uranic  oxide,  and  of  molybdic 
oxide,  and  the  yellow  color  which  it  assumes  (foreign  to  the 
latter  substance)  is  attributed  by  Dr.  Jackson  to  the  presence 
of  the  former.  Is  it  not  probable  that  the  yellow  powder  which 
accompanies  the  molybdena  from  other  localities,  may  owe  its 
color  to  the  presence  of  the  same  substance? 

SILLIMANITE. 

The  editor  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Hayes  for  a  new  analysis  of 
this  mineral,  which  was  not  furnished  in  season  to  be  inserted 
in  its  proper  place  in  this  treatise.  It  is  very  important,  as 
showing  that  zirconia  is  not  a  constituent  of  the  mineral,  and 
confirming  the  result  obtained  by  Bowen  and  Connell  (see  page 
159).  His  results  are  as  follow  : 

Silica 42-00 91-30 

Alumina 54-90 24-40 

Oxide  of  iron  and  manganese. ..  1-10 

Magnesia 0-40 

Lime 0-31=99-31 

The  formula  appears  to  be  A1S,  but  there  is  a  considerable 
excess  of  alumina  in  each  of  the  analyses  of  this  mineral. 

Mr.  Hayes  observes,  "  that  some  doubts  having  existed  in 
relation  to  the  composition  of  this  mineral,  since  the  analysis 
of  a  specimen  was  published  by  Muir,  I  have  carefully  tested 
different  specimens  without  discovering  the  slightest  traces  of 
zirconia."  The  question  asked  by  Dr.  Thomson  —  is  it  not 
possible  that  Bowen  may  have  analyzed  Bucholzite  instead  of 
Sillimanite  ?  —  seems  now  to  be  answered  in  the  negative. 

Is  it  not  probable  that  minute  crystals  of  zircon  were  mixed 
in  the  specimen  analyzed  by  Muir? 

SULPHATE   OF    ALUMINA    AND    MANGANESE. 

An  important  locality  of  this  mineral,  which  had  not  come 

to  the  knowledge  of  the  editor  in  season  for  earlier  insertion, 

has   been   discovered    on    Black  mountain,    North  Carolina, 

where  it  is  abundant  in  the  overhanging  cliffs.     It  is  a  very 

51 


602  SUPPLEMENT. 

beautiful  mineral,  in  large  irregular  masses,  reddish  externally, 
the  interior  consisting  of  closely  compacted  silky  translucent 
fibrous  crystals.  Taste  like  alum,  but  slightly  metallic.  B  B, 
on  platinum  wire,  treated  with  soda,  it  gives  a  deep  green  bead. 
With  borax,  gives  a  clear  amethystine  glass,  which  before  the 
reducing  flame  becomes  colorless.  Its  analyses  by  Mr.  J.  H. 
Blake,  gave  the  following  results : 

Alumina 12-87 

Protoxide  of  manganese 6-20 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-38 

Sulphuric  acid 33-33 

Water 46-20 

99-93 

Dr.  Torrey  had  previously  ascertained  that  it  contained  no 
alkali,  and  that,  by  the  addition  of  sulphate  of  potash,  it  made 
a  very  pure  alum.  It  promises  to  become  an  object  of  com- 
mercial interest. 


UWAROWITE,   OR   CHROME   GARNET. 

This  rare  and  beautiful  mineral,  described  under  the  species 
garnet,  page  22  of  this  volume,  has  recently  been  analyzed 
and  further  examined  by  M.  Komonen.  (  Transactions  of  the 
Imperial  Mineralogical  Society  of  St.  Petersburg,  1842,  p.  55.) 
His  account  is  as  follows:  —  external  characters;  beautiful 
green  color  ;  lustre  vitreous  ;  crystallized  in  the  form  of  rhom- 
bic dodecahedrons.  These  crystals  are  implanted  on  chro- 
mated  iron.  Chemical  characters ;  in  the  alembic  it  gives  out 
water ;  alone  on  charcoal,  it  is  infusible.  With  phosphoric  salt, 
and  with  borax,  it  is  partially  soluble,  and  gives  with  both  a 
chrome-green  colored  glass.  Is  insoluble  in  acids.  It  is  not 
perfectly  decomposed  by  soda  in  the  strongest  heat,  but  soda 
and  nitre  mixed  together  decompose  it  easily,  if  the  mineral  is 
sufficiently  cleansed.  Specific  gravity  3*41.  Composition  : 

Oxygen. 

Silica 37-11 19-28. 2 

Alumina 5-88 2-74  >  Q.dH 

Oxide  of  chromium 22-54 6-74  J          L 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-44 0-55  ) 

Lime 30-34 8-52  }  9-49 1 

Magnesia MO 0-42  > 

Water 1-01 

100-42 

Formula:  (Ch,  Al)S+(Cal,  Mg,  F)S.  Or  chemically,  as 
stated  by  the  analyst :  (€rAl)Si+(Ca3,  Mg3,Fe3)Si. 

It  may  properly  be  regarded  as  a  chrome  garnet,  in  which 
the  oxide  of  chromium  has  replaced  a  large  portion  of  the 
alumina. 


SUPPLEMENT.  603 

WASHINGTONITE.     (ILMENITE.) 

In  page  381,  this  mineral,  so  named  by  Prof.  Shepard,  has 
been  described  as  a  variety  of  Ilmenite,  from  a  near  agreement 
in  its  physical  and  crystallographical  characters.  It  has  now 
been  analyzed  under  the  direction  of  Dr.  C.  T.  Jackson,  by 
Mr.  J.  S.  Kendall.  Its  composition  is  quite  different  from  that 
of  the  Ilmenite,  as  given  under  the  species  Ilmenite  in  this  vol- 
ume ;  but  Mosander*  has  analyzed  two  titaniferous  iron  ores 
from  Arendal,  the  crystalline  form  of  which  is  similar  to  that 
from  Ilmen,  and  has  obtained  a  result  which  almost  exactly  ac- 
cords with  that  of  the  Washingtonite.  It  seems  to  be  shown  that 
the  essential  constituents  of  this  mineral  —  titanic  acid  and  the 
two  oxides  of  iron  —  so  interchange  with  each  other  as  to  pro- 
duce these  several  varieties,  while  the  crystalline  form  remains 
the  same  in  each.  The  analyses  are  as  follow : 

Atoms. 

Titanic  acid 24-19 25-28 4-82. . .  .1 

Peroxide  of  iron 53-01 51-84 10-36. . .  .2 

Protoxide  of  iron 19-91 22-86 5-08. . .  .1 

Magnesia  and  lime 1-01 0-00 

Silica 1-17 0-00 

99-29  Mosander.        99-98  J.  S.  Kendall. 

We  thus  obtain  from  the  results  of  the  last  analysis  very  near- 
ly one  atom  titanic  acid,  two  atoms  peroxide  of  iron,  one  atom 
protoxide  of  iron;  or  a  trititaniate  of  iron,  consisting  of  two 
At.  trititaniated  peroxide,  and  one  At.  trititaniated  protoxide. 
Formula  :  2F3Tt+F3Tt.  If  we  unite  the  magnesia  and  lime 
with  the  protoxide  of  iron,  Mosander's  numbers  give  the  same 
formula. 


KUPFERBLUTHE. 

This  is  a  variety  of  red  oxide  of  copper  appearing  in  the 
form  of  capillary  crystals,  and  found  near  Rheinbreitbach  and 
Moldava.f  They  have  been  examined  by  Suckow,  who  found 
them  to  be  pure  suboxide  of  copper,  in  the  form  of  regular  six- 
sided  prisms.  Having  thus  the  composition  of  common  red 
oxide  of  copper,  but  belonging  to  a  different  system  of  crys- 
tallization, Suckow  supposes  them  to  constitute  a  peculiar 
species.  Red  oxide  of  copper  is  thus  shown  to  be  a  dimorphous 
substance.  There  is  also  sometimes  produced  in  the  process  of 
reducing  copper  ores,  prismatic  crystals,  but  of  less  definite 
form,  which  are  manifestly  composed  of  the  same  oxide. 

*  Kong.  Vet.  Acad.  Hand.,  1829,  p.  227.  f  Berzelius'  Rapport  Annuel,  1836,  p.  165. 


604  SUPPLEMENT. 

LEUCHTENBERGITE. 

M.  Komonen.       ( Trans.  Imp.  Min.  Soc.  of  St.  Petersburg,  1842.  p.  64.) 

This  mineral  was  given  for  examination  by  Major  Jevvreinoff. 
It  occurs  in  large  conglomerated,  but  not  perfectly  developed 
crystals,  in  the  form  of  the  rhombohedron.  It  is  in  masses  and 
of  a  yellowish  color,  but  in  thin  layers,  white.  Has  a  lamellar 
texture  and  pearly  lustre.  The  smaller  crystals  are  transparent. 
Specific  gravity  2'71.  Feels  greasy,  is  cut  with  the  knife,  and 
receives  impressions  from  the  nail.  Hardness  between  calc- 
spar  and  selenite.  Fuses  with  phosphate  of  soda  and  ammonia 
into  a  bead,  which,  while  hot,  is  of  a  weak  bottle-green,  but 
after  cooling,  colorless.  In  this  bead,  while  cooling,  an 
opalescence  may  be  observed.  With  borax,  it  gives  a  trans- 
parent glass,  which  is  colorless  after  cooling.  With  soda  it 
imperfectly  fuses  into  a  cinder,  but  gives  no  transparent  glass. 
Occurs  in  the  Schischminsk  mines  in  the  district  of  Slatonst. 
Its  analysis  afforded  M.  Komonen  the  following  results : 

Silica 34-23 

Alumina 16-31 

Peroxide  of  iron 3-33 

Lime 1-75 

Magnesia 35-36 

Water 8-68 

9JM56 

Formula  by  the  Analyst :  6MgA+7M3Si2+9MgH2. 

Major  Jewreinoff  proposed  to  name  it  Leuchtenbergite,  in 
honor  of  his  Imperial  Highness,  the  Duke  Maximilian  of 
Leuchtenberg,  a  distinguished  friend  of  the  natural  sciences. 

NITRATE   OF   MERCURY. 

A  mineral  which  has  been  mistaken  for  white  lead  ore,  but 
which  appears  to  be  nearly  pure  nitrate  of  mercury  from  Johann- 
Georgenstadt,  has  been  examined  by  M.  John.  It  is  partly 
soluble  in  water,  leaving  a  residuum  of  a  substance  which  is 
first  yellow,  then  green,  and  which  is  easily  dissolved  in  nitrous 
acid.  When  heated  in  a  glass  tube  red  vapors  of  nitrous  acid 
appear,  while  a  bright  yellow  and  red  sublimate  was  exhibited, 
a  very  little  red  oxide  remaining.  Rammelsberg  observes  that 
repeated  experiments  must  decide  whether  this  mineral,  which, 
at  any  rate,  seems  to  be  a  secondary  production,  is  pure  nitrate 
of  protoxide  of  mercury,  as  John  has  concluded  from  his 
experiments.  —  HandworterbucJit  ii.  88. 


SUPPLEMENT.  605 

SODA-ALUM.     FROM  BOLIVIA. 

It  was  obtained  by  Mr.  Blake  in  the  desert  of  Atacama, 
thirty  miles  north-east  of  the  Indian  village  of  Atacama,  in 
small  veins  in  feldspathic  rock  of  volcanic  origin,  and  in  con- 
siderable quantity  encrusting  the  surface  of  the  soil.  It  is 
crystallyzed  in  minute  plates;  color  white;  lustre  pearly; 
solution  reddens  litmus;  dissolves  readily  in  water,  being 
more  soluble  than  common  alum,  which  in  part  it  resembles. 
Its  constituents,  according  to  Mr.  Blake,  are  as  follow : 

Alumina 18-000 

Sulphuric  acid 35-266 

Soda 1-606 

Chlorhydric  acid 0-346 

Water 42-666 


97-884 

This  salt  agrees  with  the  soda-alum  from  St.  Juan,  analyzed 
by  Dr.  Thomson,  (see  page  333),  excepting  in  the  smaller 
amount  of  its  soda. 


SULPHATE   OF   SODA  AND   MAGNESIA. 

It  was  found  by  Mr.  Blake  in  the  northern  part  of  Chili,  in 
a  ravine  called  Laventura,  encrusting  its  bottom  and  sides.  It 
is  derived  from  a  magnesian  rock  of  volcanic  origin,  which 
yields  it  abundantly  when  digested  with  water,  in  which  it  is 
very  soluble.  Crystals  in  the  form  of  right  square  prisms. 
Color  white.  Its  solution  reddens  litmus.  About  sixteen  parts 
in  one  hundred,  consist  of  sulphates  of  cobalt,  manganese  and 
alumina. 

B  B,  on  platina  wire  with  borax  in  O.  F.  it  affords  a  bead, 
one  portion  of  which  is  opake,  and  the  other  clear  and  of  an 
amethyst  color.  In  R.  F.  becomes  semi-opake  and  assumes 
a  blue  tint.  With  phosphate  of  soda  and  ammonia  in  O.  F. 
it  affords  a  glass  of  an  amethyst  color.  In  R.  F.  becomes 
opake  and  deep  blue.  With  soda,  in  O.  F.,  affords  an  opake 
bead  of  a  bright  green  color,  which,  in  R.  F.,  becomes  pale 
flesh  color. 


JEFFERSONITE. 

Dr.  Thomson  has  analyzed  the  mineral  called  Jeffersonite, 
and  obtained  results  so  different  from  Keating,  that  he  has 
assigned  a  new  place  to  it  in  the  system.  It  is  a  quadruple 
salt,  and  its  constitution  is  thus  expressed  :  4CalS+4AlS+2F 
S2+MgS2,  proving  it  to  differ  essentially  both  from  pyroxene 
and  amphibole. —  Land.  JEdinb.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Jour.y  xxii. 
194,  1843. 

51* 


606  SUPPLEMENT. 

ARSENICAL  ANTIMONY. 

Arsenik-Spiesglanz,  L. 

Its  analysis  gave  these  proportions  of  its  elements : 

Arsenic 62-15 

Antimony 37-85 

100-00 

It  is  constituted  of  three  atoms  arsenic,  one  atom  antimony. 
Formula:  StAs3. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-2.     H.  =  2'0  — 4-0. 

In  kidney-shaped  masses.  Color  tin-white.  Occasionally 
splendent,  sometimes  dull.  B  B,  it  melts,  and  at  the  same 
time  emits  considerable  fumes  of  arsenic  and  antimony. 

This  species  was  noticed  by  Zippe  at  Przibram  in  Bohemia, 
where  it  occurs  in  metallic  veins,  associated  with  blende,  anti- 
mony, sparry  iron,  &c.  It  occurs  also  at  Allemont. 

ATELESTITE. 

Shepard. 

Heavy.     H.  about  3'0. 

Crystalline,  in  structure  resembling  sphene.  Color  pure 
sulphur-yellow.  Lustre  between  resinous  and  adamantine ; 
transparent  or  translucent.  B  B,  affords  indications  of  bismuth. 

Locality,  Schneeberg  in  Saxony. 


BATRACHITE. 

Breithaupt. 

Its  constituents  (Rammelsberg's  Handwortcrbucli,  ii.  30,) 
are  as  follow : 

Silica 37-69 

Lime 35-45 

Magnesia 21-79 

Protoxide  of  iron 2-99 

Water 1-27 

99-19 

Formula  by  Rammelsberg  : 

.     ...    Mg3  )  ... 
Ca'Si+j,*,   }  Si. 

Sp.  Gr.  3-038.      H.  =  5-0. 

Massive,  exhibiting  traces  of  a  Rhombic  prism  of  115°. 
Composition  impalpable.  Cleavage  parallel  to  the  sides  and 
shorter  diagonal  of  the  prism,  but  mostly  indistinct.  Fracture 
small  conchoidal.  Color  light  greenish-grey,  to  almost  white. 
Streak  white.  Lustre  resinous  or  vitreous,  more  inclined  to 


SUPPLEMENT.  607 

the  latter.  B  B,  per  se,  it  is  infusible,  without  any  perceptible 
change  of  color  to  the  flame.  Heated  in  the  matrass  it  affords 
a  little  moisture.  It  is  slowly  soluble  in  salt  of  phosphorus, 
leaving  a  silica  residue ;  with  soda  it  fuses  with  difficulty  into 
a  dark-colored  pearl. 

Is  found  at  Rizoni,  a  mountain  in  Southern  Tyrol. 


BERZELINE. 

Necker.     (Leonhar&s  Jahrbuch  der  JMineralogie,  ii.  441.) 

H.  about  5-0. 

In  extremely  minute  white  octahedral  crystals,  whose  sur- 
face is  dull.  Slightly  translucent ;  arid  having  a  vitreous  lustre 
on  the  fracture.  Very  brittle;  but  devoid  of  distinct  cleavage. 
B  B,  in  the  forceps  it  is  fusible,  though  with  difficulty, 
into  a  pale  glass.  Forms  with  heated  muriatic  acid  a  greenish 
colored  jelly. 

From  Galloro,  near  La  Riccia,  in  the  Roman  States,  where 
it  accompanies  crystals  of  black  garnet  and  pinchbeck-brown 
mica,  in  the  drusy  cavities  of  an  augitic  rock. 

BEUDANTITE. 

Levy.    (Annals  of  Phil.,  new  series,  xi.  195.) 

H.  =  40  —  45. 

Occurs  in  small  closely  aggregated  crystals,  being  slightly 
obtuse  rhombs  (viz.  92°  30')  with  the  summits  truncated. 
Color  black.  Translucent  in  thin  fragments,  and  of  a  deep- 
brown  color  by  transmitted  light.  Lustre  resinous.  Streak 
greenish-grey.  Cleavage  easily  effected  perpendicular  to  the 
axis  of  the  rhomb.  The  only  substances  Dr.  Wollaston  could 
detect  in  it  were  the  oxides  of  lead  and  iron. 

Beudantite  is  found  associated  with  brown  iron  ore  at  Hor- 
hausen,  in  the  district  of  Nassau,  on  the  Rhine.* 


BIOTINE. 

Biotina,  Monticelli.    (JWineralogia  Vesuviana,  p.  438.)      Biotin,  Leonhard. 

Sp.  Gr.  3'  11.     Scratches  glass. 

Color  white  or  yellowish.  Transparent  and  limpid.  Lustre 
brilliant.  Fracture  vitreous,  inclining  to  conchoidal.  Pre- 
sents double  refraction.  Is  not  affected  by  the  blowpipe,  and 
ig  only  partly  soluble  in  nitric  acid.  Sig.  Monticelli  noticed 

*  The  Beudantite  of  Monticelli  and  Cove  Hi,  is  now  identified  with  Nepheline. 


608  SUPPLEMENT. 

this  mineral  among  the  volcanic  debris  of  Vesuvius,  and  named 
it  in  honor  of  M.  Biot.  It  is  easily  distinguished  from  other 
species  with  which  it  is  associated,  by  the  superior  brilliancy 
of  its  lustre. 


BREISLAKITE. 

Occurs  in  delicate  capillary  prismatic  crystals  of  a  reddish 
or  chesnut-brown  color,  coating  the  cavities  of  certain  lavas. 
Its  fibres  are  flexible,  its  lustre  semi-metallic.  It  contains 
silica,  alumina,  iron,  and  a  considerable  proportion  of  copper. 
B  B,  per  se,  it  fuses  readily  into  a  brilliant  and  magnetic 
black  scoria;  with  borax  forms  a  green  glass,  which  becomes 
colorless  in  cooling;  and  with  salt  of  phosphorus  a  green 
globule,  which  reddens  in  the  reducing  flame.  It  accompa- 
nies nepheline,  pyroxene,  and  other  Vesuvian  minerals ;  and 
is  met  with  both  at  that  locality,  and  at  Capo  di  Bove  near 
Rome. — Allan's  Manual. 

CHONIKRITE. 

yon  Kobell.    ( J.  f.  pr.  Ctiem.,  ii.  51. ) 

Hydro-silicate  of  alumina,  magnesia,  and  lime.  Constitu- 
ents, according  to  Von  Kobell : 

Silica 35-69 

Alumina 17  12 

Magnesia 23-50 

Lime 12-00 

Protoxide  of  iron 1-46 

Water 9-00 

97-77 

Formula  by  Rammelsberg.  —  (Handworterbuch,  ii.  311) :  — 

3(Mg,  Ca)3Si+Al2Si+6H. 

H.  between  2-0  and  4'0. 

Occurs  massive.  Composition  impalpable.  Fracture  un- 
even and  imperfectly  conchoidal.  Lustre  glimmering  or  dull. 
Color  white,  with  shades  of  yellow  and  grey.  Translucent 
often  only  on  the  edges.  Is  not  cleavable.  B  B,  it  fuses  = 
3£  to  4,  with  evolution  of  air  bubbles,  into  a  greyish-glass, 
and  with  borax  fuses  slowly  into  a  globule  colored  by  iron.  It 
is  easily  decomposed  by  concentrated  muriatic  acid. 

Occurs  in  rounded  masses  at  Elba. 

SELENIURET   OF    PALLADIUM. 

This  mineral,  described  at  page  516  as  a  new  species,  js 
now  acknowledged  by  M.  Zinken  to  be  only  Native  Palladium. 
—  Rammelsberg' s  Handworterbuch,  ii.  135. 


SUPPLEMENT. 

DERMATINE. 

BreithaupL 

Its  analysis,  by  Ficinus,  gave  the  following  constituents 

Silica 35-800 

Magnesia 23-700 

Protoxide  of  iron 11-333 

Ptotoxide  of  manganese 2-250 

Alumina 0-416 

Lime 0-833 

Water  and  carbonic  acid 25-200 


609 


100-033 

Formula,  deduced  from  these  numbers  by  Von  Kobell : 
Mg2Si+4ri. 

Sp.  Gr.  2-136.     H.  about  2-0. 

In  reniform  masses,  rarely  globular,  and  in  thin  coatings  or 
crusts.  Color  dark  olive-green  or  liver-brown  ;  with  low  re- 
sinous lustre.  Translucent  on  the  edges.  Fracture  conchoi- 
dal.  Feels  greasy,  and  does  not  attach  itself  to  the  moist  lip. 
Streak  yellow,  inclining  to  grey.  Emits  an  argillaceous  odor 
when  breathed  upon.  Splits  and  becomes  somewhat  friable 
B  B,  assuming  at  the  same  time  a  darker  hue. 

From  the  serpentine  quarry  near  Waldheim  in  Saxony. 


GREEN  IRON  EARTH. 

Grune  Eisenerde,  W.     Hypochlorite,  Schiller. 

Contains  oxide  of  bismuth  13-03,  silica  50-24,  alumina  14-65, 
oxide  of  iron  10'54,  phosphoric  acid,  with  traces  of  manganese, 
9-62.  —  Schuler. 

Occurs  in  reniform,  botryoidal,  and  globular  masses  ;  struc- 
ture impalpable ;  color  siskin-green,  passing  into  black  and 
yellow;  lustre  resinous  and  dull ;  streak  yellowish-grey ;  brit- 
tle; becomes  brown  and  black,  B  B,  but  does  not  melt;  nor 
is  it  soluble  in  nitric  acid.  Is  found  at  Schneeberg  in  Saxony, 
and  in  the  county  of  Sayn  in  Germany. 

MARCELINE. 

Seudant.    Silicate  of  Manganese  from  Piedmont.  —  Berzelius. 

Sp.  Gr.  3'8.     Scarcely  scratches  glass. 
A  silicate  of  deutoxide  of  manganese,  without  water. 

Silica 15-17 26-00 

Oxide  of  manganese 75-80 67-23 

Oxide  of  iron 414 1-23 

Alumina 2-30 3-00 

Lime 0-00 1-40 

Magnesia 0-00 1-40 


97-91  Berzelius.      100-26  Berthier. 


610  SUPPLEMENT. 

Occurs  crystallized  in  octahedrons,  with  a  square  base. 
Color  greyish-black,  with  a  slightly  metallic  or  vitreous  lus- 
tre ;  yields  no  water  when  calcined  ;  is  fusible  B  B,  without 
alteration  of  color,  imparting  to  soda  a  distinct  re-action  of 
the  oxide  of  manganese.  Is  acted  upon  by  muriatic  acid,  with 
disengagement  of  chlorine,  leaving  a  gelatinous  residue. 

Marceline  forms  considerable  repositories  in  mica-schist,  in 
the  valley  of  Saint  Marcel  in  Piedmont. 

MONTICELLITE. 

Brooke.     (Annals  of  Philosophy,  Oct.  1831.) 

H.=5-0  —  6-0. 

In  small  imbedded  crystals,  having  the  general  aspect  of 
quartz.  Color  yellowish;  sometimes  nearly  transparent,  and 
colorless. 

Occurs  at  Vesuvius  imbedded  in  a  crystalline  carbonate  of 
lime,  along  with  particles  of  black  mica  and  minute  crystals  of 
pyroxene.  Its  name  was  proposed  by  Brooke,  in  honor  of 
the  celebrated  Neapolitan  mineralogist  Monticelli. 

NONTRONITE. 

Serthier.     (Jinn,  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.,  xxxv.  92.) 

Contains  silica  44'0,  peroxide  of  iron  29'0,  alumina  3'6, 
magnesia  2*1,  water  18*7,  clay  1*2.  — Berthier. 

This  substance  resembles  clay.  It  is  of  a  pale  straw,  or  ca- 
nary-yellow color,  with  a  greenish  tinge.  Opake.  Unctuous 
to  the  touch  ;  and  exhaling  an  odor  when  breathed  upon. 
Acquires  a  fine  polish  and  resinous  lustre  from  the  friction  of 
softer  bodies.  Is  not  reduced  to  powder,  but  becomes  lumpy 
under  the  pestle;  and  does  not  affect  the  magnet.  When  im- 
mersed in  water  it  disengages  numerous  air  bubbles,  becomes 
translucent  on  the  edges,  and  increases  in  weight.  When 
slightly  heated,  it  gives  off  water,  and  assumes  the  color  of 
red  oxide  of  iron ;  and  when  calcined  becomes  sensibly  mag- 
netic. 

Nontronite  was  noticed  by  Berthier  in  small  kidney-shaped 
masses  among  manganese  in  the  arrondissement  of  Nontron 
in  France. 


PROTHEITE. 

Ure. 

Heavy.     Scratches  glass. 
In  rectangular  prisms,  the  faces  being  striated  longitudinal- 


SUPPLEMENT.  611 

ly.  Color  olive-green  or  white.  Nearly  opake  in  large  spec- 
imens, translucent  in  smaller  Lustre  vitreous,  inclining  to 
adamantine.  Is  infusible  B  B,  and  becomes  electric  by  fric- 
tion. 

Has  lately  been  discovered  in  the  Zillerthal  in  the  Tyrol. 


STEINMANNITE. 

Zippe. 

Sp.  Gr.  6-833.     H.  — 2-5. 

Primary  form  the  Cube.  Secondary  form  the  regular  octa- 
hedron. 

Cleavage  parallel  to  the  cube,  imperfect  and  scarcely  visible. 
Fracture  uneven.  Surface  of  the  crystals  smooth.  Lustre 
metallic.  Color  pure  lead  grey.  Botryoidal ;  massive.  Com- 
position fine  granular;  in  some  varieties  a  curved  lamellar 
composition  is  visible.  Composition  also  compact,  sometimes 
porous.  When  heated  B  B,  on  charcoal,  it  decrepitates  with 
violence.  Its  powder,  heated,  emits  the  odor  of  sulphurous 
acid,  and  a  metallic  globule  remains,  as  in  the  case  of  galena, 
but  which  finally  yields  a  distinct  button  of  silver.  It  appears 
to  consist  of  lead,  antimony,  silver,  and  sulphur. 

It  is  found  at  Przibram  with  quartz,  blende,  and  iron  pyrites. 


STILPNOMELAN. 

(Glocker.    Minertdoffie,  p.  391.) 

It  has  been  analyzed  by  Rammelsberg,  (Handworterbuch, 
ii.  186,)  who  obtained  the  following  results. 

Silica 46-500 

Protoxide  of  iron 33-892 

Alumina 7-100 

Lime 0-197 

Magnesia 1-888 

Water 7-900 

97-477 

The  formula,  by  Rammelsberg:  2Fe3S"i2+AlS'i2+6H. 
Sp.  Gr.  3  27  —  3-4.     H.  —  30  —  4'0. 

In  crystalline,  lamellar,  and  fibrous  masses,  of  a  black  or 
greenish  color;  lustre  vitreous;  cleavage  in  one  direction; 
streak  olive-green  to  liver-brown.  Insoluble  in  acids ;  fusible 
B  B,  into  a  bluish-black  scoria  which  shows  the  presence  of 
iron. 

Localities,  Obergrund  and  Zinkmantel  in  Silesia. 


612  SUPPLEMENT. 

SYLVYNE. 

Beudant.    (Traite,  t.  ii.  511.)     Muriate  of  Potash.     Chlorure  de  Potassium. 

Consists  of  chlorine  47'46,  potassium  52  54. 

Formula:  KChl2. 

Soluble,  with  the  taste  of  common  salt.  Crystallizes  in  the 
form  of  the  Cube,  and  cleaves  parallel  to  the  faces  of  that  solid. 
When  in  solution  the  addition  of  muriate  of  platina  produces 
a  yellow  precipitate.  Treated  with  sulphuric  acid,  it  leaves, 
after  evaporation,  acicular  crystals,  which  do  not  effloresce  in 
the  air. 

It  is  found  in  small  quantity,  mixed  with  salt,  in  the  mines 
of  Hallein  and  Berchtesgaden,  in  Saltzburg,  where  it  was  first 
noticed  by  M.  Vogel. 

TEPHROITE. 

Sreithaupt. 

Sp.  Gr.  4-116.      H.  =5-0  — 6-0. 

Massive  and  compact.  Color  ash-grey,  tarnishing  black. 
Lustre  adamantine.  Streak  somewhat  paler  than  the  mineral. 
Cleavage  perfect  in  several  directions  ;  two  of  them  forming 
together  a  right  angle.  Fracture  imperfect  conchoidal,  or  un- 
even. Forms  a  black  slag  B  B. 

Occurs  with  Franklinite  and  red  oxide  of  zinc,  at  Sparta, 
Sussex  county,  New  Jersey.  The  distinctive  characters  of 
this  mineral  are  so  imperfectly  made  out  that  American 
mineralogists  have  not  been  able  to  identify  it.  Shepard  sup- 
poses it  to  be  a  variety  of  Troostite. 

ZURLITE.* 

Monticelli. 

Sp.  Gr.  3  27.     H.  about  6'0. 

Occurs  in  rectangular  four-sided  prisms,  lengthened  in  the 
direction  of  their  axes,  and  having  occasionally  their  lateral 
edges  replaced.  Color  asparagus-green,  inclining  to  grey. 
Opake.  Lustre  resinous.  Cleavage  indistinct.  Fracture  con- 
choidal. Surface  of  the  crystals  rough,  frequently  covered 
with  a  white  coating.  It  is  infusible  B  B,  but  yields  with  bo- 
rax a  black  glass.  Nitric  acid  dissolves  it,  partly  with  efferves- 
cence, and  the  solution  becomes  yellow.  Zurlite  is  a  Vesu- 
vian  mineral ;  it  is  generally  found  in  large  distinct  crystals, 
associated  with  calc  spar  and  other  species. 

*  In  compliment  to  the  Neapolitan  minister,  Sig.  Zurlo. 


SUPPLEMENT.  613 

VARGASITE. 

A  mineral  of  a  pale-greenish  color,  found  in  Finland,  usually 
in  amorphous  masses  of  a  columnar  structure,  and  named  in 
honor  of  Count  Vargas  de  Bedemar,  in  justice  to  whom  some 
more  particular  description  of  the  mineral  should  be  drawn  up 
and  published,  or  the  name  be  applied  to  some  species  of  a 
less  doubtful  character. 


HAYDENITE. 

We  are  indebted  to  Mr.  B.  Silliman,  Jr.,  (communication  to 
the  editor)  for  an  analysis  of  this  mineral,  which,  in  its  physi- 
cal and  crystallographical  characters,  has  been  described  at 
page  123.  His  results  exclude  it  entirely  from  the  formula 
for  chabasie,  with  which  some  had  supposed  it  to  be  identical, 
as  it  contains  only  one-third  of  the  quantity  of  water,  and  a 
much  larger  proportion  of  silicic  acid,  which  forms  a  tersilicate 
with  the  alumina;  the  latter,  if  we  include  with  it  the  isomor- 
phous  peroxide  of  iron,  nearly  agreeing  with  Al.  in  chabasie. 
Joined  with  M.  Levy's  investigations,  they  fully  establish  its 
claims  as  a  distinct  species.  The  following  are  his  results  — 
the  excess  probably  being  water : 


Silica  
Alumina  
Peroxide  of  iron. 
Potash  
Lime  
Magnesia  

56831. 
12-345. 
8-035. 
2-388. 
8-419. 
3-960. 

Atoms. 
28-41.. 
5-48  > 
]-60( 
040) 
2-40  £ 
1-13) 

....7 
....2 

....1 

Water 8-905 7-91 2 


100-883 

The  formula  answering  to  these  numbers  (admitting  a  slight 
deficiency  in  the  Al.  and  F)  may  be  thus  stated :  2(Al,F)S3-h 
(K,Cal,Mg,)S+(2Aq?)'  

GREENOVITE. 
TITANIATE    OF    MANGANESE. 

M.  Dufrenoy*  has  given  this  name,  in  honor  of  G.  B. 
Greenough,  Esq.,  to  a  mineral  from  St.  Marcel  in  Piedmom, 
which  had  been  supposed  to  be  a  silicate  of  manganese,  but  is, 
in  fact,  a  titaniate  of  manganese,  and,  except  Crichtonite, 
which  is  a  titaniate  of  iron,  it  is  the  only  titaniate  hitherto  de- 
scribed. The  proportions  of  its  constituents,  as  determined  by 
M.  Cacarrie,  are  :  titanic  acid  74-5,  oxide  of  manganese  24f8, 
limet  0-0  =  99'3. 

*  Annales  des  Mines,  t.  xvii.  p.  529.     Lond.  Edinb.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  xxi.  246, 1842. 
f  An  accident  prevented  the  quantity  of  lime  from  being  determined,  but  it  could  not 
have  amounted  to  one  per  cent. 

52 


614 


SUPPLEMENT. 


These  numbers  correspond  very  nearly  with  three  atoms 
titanic  acid,  and  one  atom  oxide  of  manganese.  Formula : 
Mntt3. 

As  described  by  M.  Dufrenoy,  it  occurs  in  small,  amorphous, 
crystalline  masses,  is  of  a  deep  rose  color,  and  has  the  specific 
gravity  3'44.  Hardness  greater  than  that  of  fluor  spar,  or 
phosphate  of  lime,  but  it  does  not  scratch  glass.  It  is  not 
acted  upon  by  acids,  nor  is  it  fusible,  per  se,  by  the  blowpipe. 
With  microcosmic  salt,  it  shows  the  reaction  of  titanium  ;  and 
with  soda  that  of  manganese.  The  crystals  are  brilliant,  es- 
pecially on  the  faces  M  and  T  ;  the  terminal  faces  being  often 
dull  and  tarnished.  The  primary  form  is  a  Doubly  oblique 
prism,  which  presents  the  modifications  shown  by  the  following 
figure.  The  angles  were  determined  by  actual  observation, 
and  partly  by  calculation. 


PonM 
PonT 
MonT 
a  on  M 
a  onT 
a  on  P 
c  on  M 


87°  10' 

85  50 

110  35 

119  20 

118  10 

140  06 

107  50 


83°  56' 
153  25 
106  30 
146  20 
110  13 
155  37 
112? 


This  mineral  was  discovered  by  M.  Bertrand-de-Lom  with 
other  ores  of  manganese,  in  irregular  rose-colored  veins,  ac- 
companied by  quartz,  epidote  and  manganese. 


LEONHARDITE. 


This  mineral  very  much  resembles  Laumonite  in  its  exter- 
nal characters,  and  its  property  of  decomposing  by  loss  of  its 
water,  under  the  ordinary  temperature  of  the  atmosphere.  But 
in  its  analysis,  it  is  shown  to  be  distinct  from  true  Laumonite. 
Dr.  Delff  found  it  composed  as  follows : 

Silica 56-128 

Alumina 22-980 

Lime 9251 

Water  and  loss 11-641 

100-000 

Sp.  Gr.  2-25.     H.r=3  — 35. 

Color  white,  passing  into  yellow,  and  more  rarely,  into  brown- 
ish. Frequently  coated  with  brownish  or  black  powder.  Streak 
white.  Translucent  on  the  edges.  Lustre  pearly,  especially 
on  perfect  cleavage  planes ;  on  the  fractured  surface  vitreous. 
Primary  form,  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism ;  M  on  M  96°  30'  and 
83^  30',  p  on  M  114°  and  64°.  This  is  the  only  form  observed. 


SUPPLEMENT.  615 

The  prismatic  crystals  are  frequently  aggregated  together,  so 
that  a  large  individual  is  composed  of  several  smaller  ones. 
The  lateral  planes  are  streaked  in  a  direction  parallel  to  the 
principal  axis  ;  two  of  them  are  often  larger  than  the  others. 
Sometimes  crystalline  columnar,  and  granular  masses  occur. 
Cleavage  very  perfect,  parallel  to  the  lateral  planes,  imperfect 
in  the  directions  of  P.  Fracture  uneven.  Pyrognostic  charac- 
ters not  given.  This  mineral  occurs  near  Wolfstein,  in  Rhen- 
ish Bavaria,  also  in  the  neighborhood  of  Heidelriberg.  It  has 
been  examined  both  by  Dr.  Delff  and  Prof.  Blum,  and  named 
by  them  in  honor  of  Von  Leonhard. 


WOHLERITE.* 

Under  this  name,  given  in  honor  of  Professor  Wohler, 
Scheerer  of  Christiania,  has  described  a  substance  found  on 
one  of  the  islands  of  the  Largesund-Fjord,  near  Brevig,  in 
Norway.  It  occurs  also  in  the  island  of  Lovoe,  in  Zircon- 
sienite,  accompanied  by  eaolite,  zircon  and  pyrochlore. 

Its  analysis  by  Scheerer,  gave  the  following  results  : 

Silica 30-62 

Tantalic  acid 14-47 

Zirconia 15-17 

Oxide  of  iron 2-12 

Protoxide  of  manganese 1-55 

Lime 26-19 

Soda 7-78 

Magnesia 0-40 

Water 0-24 

93-54 

Formula  :   Zr3Ta+5(Na,  S'!+Ca3Si). 

Sp.  Gr.  3'41.     H.  =  between  felspar  and  apatite. 

It  occurs  in  angular  grains,  arid  rarely  in  broad,  prismatic 
or  tabular  crystals;  of  which,  however,  no  exact  crystallograph- 
ical  description  has  been  given,  as  their  faces  are  imperfectly 
developed,  and  it  is  difficult  to  separate  them  from  the  sur- 
rounding mass.  Indications  of  cleavage  observed  in  one  di- 
rection. The  color  is  yellow,  of  various  shades,  passing  into 
brownish,  viz  :  light-yellow,  wine-yellow,  honey-yellow,  brown- 
ish-yellow. Color  of  the  powder,  yellowish-white.  Its  trans- 
parency varies  as  much  as  in  zircon.  The  crystalline  faces 
exhibit  a  vitreous  lustre.  Fracture  more  or  less  conchoidal, 
sometimes  passing  into  splintery  and  granular.  Characters  B  B, 
not  stated. 

*This,  and  the  preceding  article,  have  been  abridged  from  Prof.  Jameson's  Phil.  Jour, 
for  Oct  ,  1843,  into  which  they  had  been  copied  from  Poggendorf 's  Annalen,  lix.  1843. 


616  SUPPLEMENT. 

GLAUBERITE. 

This, mineral  was  among  the  specimens  brought  by  Mr. 
Blake,  from  the  Province  of  Tarapaca,  in  Peru.  From  a 
qualatitive  examination,  Mr.  Hayes  ascertained  that  it  contained 
sulphuric  acid,  soda  and  lime.  He  afterwards  submitted  it  to 
analysis,  and  found  it  to  be  identical  with  Glauberite.  It  gave 
him  the  following  results  : 

Ratio. 

Sulphuric  acid 57-22f) 11-44 2 

Soda 21-324 5-33 1 

Lime 20-680 5-90 1 

Protoxide  of  iron -444 

"99^668 

There  is  a  slight  deficiency  in  the  quantity  of  soda,  but 
this  salt  evidently  consists  of  one  atom  sulphate  of  soda,  one 
atom  sulphate  of  lime.  This  is  the  composition  of  the  variety 
from  Villa  Rubia,  in  Spain,  originally  analyzed  by  Brongniart. 
Formula:  NSl+CalSl,  or  as  stated  by  Mr.  Hayes:  (NaO,S 
O3-hCaO,  SO3.)=NaS+CaS. 

It  occurs  in  extremely  brilliant,  colorless  and  transparent 
crystals,  imbedded  in  hydrated  borate  of  lime,  or  Hayesine. 
They  are  in  the  form  of  elongated  oblique  rhombic  prisms, 
simply  replaced  on  their  obtuse  terminal  edges,  by  single  planes. 
Mr.  Teschemacher,  who  has  given  the  annexed 
figure  of  one  of  these  crystals,  has  also  measured 
their  angles  with  the  reflecting  goniometer,  and 
determined  their  exact  agreement  with  the 
angles  of  Glauberite,  as  given  at  page  333. 

As  in  the  European  crystals,  the  planes  M 
M'  are  sometimes  wholly  wanting,  so  these 
sometimes  present  no  portions  of  the  primary 
planes  P.  Very  rarely  their  acute  solid  angles 
are  replaced.  When  examined  by  a  powerful 
microscope,  we  discover  in  them,  minute  vesicles 
which  are  probably  filled  with  air  or  gas,  caus- 
ing them  to  decrepitate  violently  on  exposure  to  heat.  They 
dissolve  slowly  in  a  large  quantity  of  hot  water.  B  B,  they 
melt  into  a  colorless  glass.  According  to  Mr.  Hayes,  they 
lose  about  ^j  of  their  weight  by  being  heated. 

PICKERINGITE.* 

This  is  an  extremely  beautiful  mineral,  occurring  in  masses 
composed  of  long  parallel  fibres  of  a  silky  or  satin  lustre ; 
color  pure  white,  or  viewed  in  the  direction  of  the  fibres,  pale 

*  In  honor  of  John  Pickering,  Esq.,  President  of  the  American  Academy  of  Arts  and 
Sciences. 


SUPPLEMENT.  617 

rose-red  or  light-green.  Compact,  but  easily  divided  parallel 
with  the  fibres;  brittle.  Specific  Gravity  I '78  to  1/80.  It 
swells  when  heated,  and  the  white  mass  which  remains  tastes 
like  alum.  Its  analysis  afforded  Mr.  A.  A.  Hayes,  the  follow- 
ing results : 

Water  of  crystallization 45-450 

Sulphuric  acid 36-322 

Alumina 12-130 

Magnesia 4-682 

Protoxides  of  manganese  and  iron 0-430 

Lime 0-126 

Muriatic  acid 0-604 

99-744 

This  mineral  appears  to  be  a  very  pure  native  magnesian 
alum,  and  very  nearly  answers  to  the  composition  of  a  mag- 
nesian alum  from  South  Africa,  analyzed  by  Stromeyer,  whose 
results  are  thus  stated  (Ramm.  Handworterbuch  y  \.  9)  :  sul- 
phuric acid  36'770,  alumina  11*515,  magnesia  3-690,  peroxide 
of  manganese  2'617,  water  45-739,  chloride  of  potassium  0-205 
=  100-086.  The  formula,  as  determined  by  Mr.  Hayes,  is  : 
MgS-|-AiS3+22H,  which  differs  only  slightly  in  the  last  term 
from  the  formula  given  by  Ramrnelsberg. 

A  specimen  of  the  same  mineral  which  had  been  sent  by  the 
editor  to  Dr.  Thomson,  of  Glasgow,  has  afforded,  in  the  hands 
of  this  chemist,  very  different  results,  as  thus  stated  (Land. 
Edinb.  and  Dub.  Phil  Mag.,  xxii.  192,  1843J  :  sulphuric 
acid  32'95,  alumina  22*55,  sulphate  of  soda  6-50,  water  39-20 
mlOl  02.  As  viewed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  it  is  a  subsesquisul- 
phate  of  alumina,  consisting  of  1  At.  SI,  1£  At.  Al,  1  At.  NS1, 
5  At.  Aq.  It  is  evident  that  the  soda  must  exist  in  this  mine- 
ral, without  producing  any  change  in  its  physical  characters, 
because  these  characters  are  alike  stated  both  by  Dr.  Thomson 
and  Mr.  Hayes,  and  the  specimen  sent  to  Dr.  Thomson  could 
not  be  distinguished  from  the  other  masses  brought  to  us  by 
Mr.  Blake. 

It  occurs  abundantly  in  the  Province  of  Tarapaca  in  Peru, 
associated  with  Glauberite,  hydro-borate  of  lime,  and  iodate  of 
soda,  hydriodate  of  soda,  sulphate  and  biborate  of  soda,  chlo- 
ride of  sodium,  and  organic  matter. 


IODATE  OF  SODA. 

This  remarkable  mineral  forms  a  considerable  proportion  of 
the  saline  mixtures,  associated  with  borate  of  lime,  and  was 
first  detected  by  Mr.  Hayes,  in  his  examinations  of  the  last 
named  substance.  He  has  also  found  it  with  the  native  nitrate 
of  soda,  from  Peru,  intermixed  with  various  other  saline  sub- 
stances. 

52* 


618  SUPPLEMENT 

MONRADITE.* 

A.  Erdmann  has  described  anew  mineral  from  the  diocess  of 
Bergen,  which  he  calls  Monradite,  after  the  late  apothecary 
Monrad.  It  is  yellow,  of  a  pale  color,  somewhat  inclining  to 
reddish,  compact  and  sprinkled  with  mica,  but  has  a  determi- 
nate crystalline  structure,  with  cleavage  planes  inclining  to  each 
other  at  130°;  strong  vitreous  lustre;  surface  here  and  there 
striated;  cross-fracture  fine  grained  and  close.  Specific  grav- 
ity 3-2673.  H.  nearly  that  of  felspar.  B  B,  it  does  not  fuse, 
but  gives  water  and  darkens  a  little.  Dissolves  in  borax  into 
an  iron-colored  glass,  which,  with  much  addition,  becomes  tur- 
bid in  cooling.  Dissolves  by  phosphoric  salts,  leaving  a  skel- 
eton of  silica.  With  little  soda  it  melts  into  a  turbid  green- 
ish-pearl ;  with  more  it  forms  an  infusible  slag.  It  is  com- 
posed of  silica  56*17,  magnesia  31 '63,  protoxide  of  iron  8  56, 
water  4-04.  Formula:  4(Mg,F)S2+Aq.  This  adds  another 
species  to  the  several  native  combinations  of  bisilicate  of  mag- 
nesia previously  known. 

RODOCHROM.t 

This  mineral  was  first  brought  from  Siberia,  by  Fiedler.  It 
is  a  dark-green  serpentine-like  mineral,  containing  chromium, 
and  he  called  it  Rodochrom.  It  has  lately  been  described  by 
G.  Rose.  It  occurs  partly  in  loose  stones,  partly  imbedded  in 
serpentine,  between  Kyschtimsk  and  Syssersh,  in  Ural.  It  is 
compact,  sometimes  in  fine  scales,  and  of  a  dark-green.  The 
fine  splinters  are  of  a  peach-bloom  color.  It  gives  a  whitish 
powder ;  on  fracture  it  has  a  pearly  lustre ;  is  transparent  on  the 
edges;  scratched  by  calc-spar.  Specific  gravity  2'668.  Heated 
much  it  becomes  gray-white  and  gives  water ;  fuses  slowly  on 
thin  edges  into  a  yellow  enamel ;  is  dissolved  in  borax  and  phos- 
phoric salts  into  chrome-green  glass  ;  gives  with  the  latter  no 
silica  skeleton.  With  soda  fuses  into  a  yellowish-opake  mass. 
Heated  with  cobalt  solution,  the  powder  becomes  white.  Rose 
compared  it  with  serpentine,  from  which  it  differs  chiefly  in 
the  chrome.  The  blue  color  with  cobalt  seems,  however,  to 
betoken  more  clay  than  would  be  consistent  with  a  serpentine 
nature ;  and  its  fusibility  with  soda  is  different  from  what 
would  happen  with  a  serpentine. 


*  Berzelins  ;  ArsberAttelse,  for  1843,  p.  195. 
|  Berzelius  ;  Arab.,  p.  212. 


SUPPLEMENT. 

KAMMERERITE. 

Berzelius,  in  his  Annual  Report  for  1843,  (Arsb.  p.  193,) 
has  noticed  this  mineral,  (already  described  at  page  115  of  this 
volume,)  and  has  given  us  its  mineralogical  formula  from  Hart- 
wall's  analysis  ;  2MgS-f  (AlCr)S+2Aq.  He  observes  that  it 
much  resembles  the  Hydrargillite  from  Achmatowsk,  describ- 
ed by  G.  Rose  ;  but  acts  differently  B  B.  At  the  same  time, 
its  composition  agrees  with  Von  Kobell's  Pyrosclerite,  though 
it  differs  from  it  in  several  external  particulars. 

VANADATE  OF  LIME.* 

Ficinus  has  discovered  this  rare  mineral  in  the  form  of  tile- 
red  lamenated  masses  of  a  brilliant  lustre,  associated  with  pitch- 
blende ;  locality  not  stated.  It  dissolves  in  nitric  acid,  and 
leaves  no  residuum.  Carbonate  of  soda  precipitates  from  it  car- 
bonate of  lime,  and  salamoniac  dissolved  in  the  remaining  solu- 
tion, precipitates  flocculi  of  vanadate  of  ammonia.  Berzelius 
supposes  that,  from  the  intermixture  of  this  mineral,  may  pro- 
ceed the  vanadium  contained  in  vanadic  pitch-blende. 

BROWN   MAGNESIAN   MICA. 

The  brown  mica  from  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  has  re- 
cently been  analyzed  by  Meitzendorff,  whose  average  results 
are  thus  stated  by  Berzelius,  (Arsb.,  1843,  p.  211,)  silica41'30, 
alumina  15*35,  pertoxide  of  iron  1'77,  magnesia  28'79,  potash 
9-70,  soda  0'65,  fluoric  acid  3'30,  loss  by  ignition  0-28.  It 
thus  agrees  very  nearly  with  Prof.  H.  Rose's  analysis  of  a 
Siberian  magnesia  mica,  mentioned  at  p.  179.  The  formula 
added  is  :  KEl+9MgS+6AlS. 


HYDROFITE. 

Jlf.  Svanberg.    (Trans.  Swedish  Roy.  Acad.  1839,  p.  186.) 

The  slags  obtained  from  the  cast  iron,  made  from  the  ores 
which  are  found  at  Taberg  in  Smaland,  Sweden,  having 
been  examined  by  Sefstrom,  and  found  to  contain  vanadium,  it 
became  important  to  ascertain  the  nature  of  the  mineral  con- 
tained in  those  ores  from  which  this  metal  was  derived.  We 
are  now  indebted  to  M.  Svanberg  for  this  information.  It  oc- 
curs with  pikrolite,  in  compact  or  fibrous  masses,  with  an  un- 
even fracture,  and  of  a  mountain-green  color.  Streak  lighter ; 

*  Berzelius  ;  Arsb.,  1843,  p.  196. 


620 


SUPPLEMENT. 


hardness  between  calc-spar  and  fluor-spar;  specific  gravity 
2'65.  B  B,  it  gives  off  water,  and  seems  perfectly  infusible 
even  in  the  thinnest  splinters.  Its  analysis  afforded  very  near- 
ly the  same  results  as  serpentine,  from  which  it  differs  in  having 
a  considerable  portion  of  protoxide  of  iron  in  the  place  of 
magnesia;  in  containing  a  little  more  water,  and  having  in 
combination  with  it  a  very  small  quantity  of  vanadic  acid. 


FELSPAR. 

The  American  localities  of  this  species  having  been  omitted 
in  the  body  of  the  work,  are  here  introduced.  The  finest 
crystallized  forms  accompany  zircon  and  phosphate  of  lime  in 
white  limestone,  at  Hammond,  St.  Lawrence  county,  N.  Y. 
They  are  in  thin  tabular  crystals,  both  single  and  inacled,  and 
occasionally  from  three  to  four  inches  in  diameter.  Externally 
in  color  and  appearance,  they  resemble  horn,  but  on  fracture 
and  cleavage,  they  are  nearly  pure  white,  of  a  vitreous  lustre, 
and  slightly  opalescent.  More  rarely  they  are  iridescent,  and 
susceptible  of  much  beauty  by  polishing.  One  of  the  modifi- 
cations is  a  figure  very  similar  to  that  given  under  the  species 
felspar  in  this  volume,  (the  synoptiqne  of  Haiiy)  produced  by 
the  replacement  of  the  lateral  solid  angles  E,  of  the  obtuse 
terminal  edges  D  and  F,  (see  fig.  13,  of  the  Introduction,  p. 
xi,)  and  of  the  oblique  and  lateral  edges  of  the  prism  by  sin- 
gle planes.  The  annexed  figure,  drawn  from  a  very  perfect 
smooth  planed  crystal  in  the  editor's 
possession,  represents  one  of  the  sim- 
plest of  the  twin  forms  from  this  lo- 
cality. Interesting  crystals  are  found 
with  the  chrysoberyls,  at  Greenfield, 
Saratoga  county,  N.  Y.,  also  in  Orange, 
Essex,  and  Lewis  counties.  Very  sin- 
gular twin  crystals  were  found  by  Dr. 
Horton,  at  Harlem,  near  New  York 
city,  in  fissures  of  gneiss;  and  Prof. 
Beck  has  given  figures  of  several  inter- 
esting forms,  in  his  Report  on  the 
Mineralogy  of  New  York.  In  Bucks  and  Chester  counties, 
Penn.,  it  occurs  crystallized,  and  in  cleavable  masses,  some- 
times passing  into  transparent  Adularia.  At  Jones  Falls, 
Maryland,  both  green  felspar,  and  Adularia,  the  latter  pure  white 
and  reflecting  a  blue  light,  occur  in  granite.  In  Connecticut, 
the  china-stone  quarries  at  Middleton,  have  furnished  very  large 
crystals,  sometimes  a  foot  in  length  in  the  direction  of  the  edges 


iT 


SUPPLEMENT. 

formed  by  the  meeting  of  the  planes  P  and  M,  while  very  perfect 
crystals  of  inferior  size,  mentioned  by  Prof.  Shepard,  are  found 
at  Litchfield,  as  also  the  sun-stone  at  Lynn,  Adularia  at  the  Falls 
of  the  Yantic,  in  Norwich,  and  a  green  variety  at  Bolton,  in  the 
same  State.  At  Royalston  and  Barre,  Mass.,  a  beautiful  pure 
white  massive  variety,  and  sometimes  crystallized,  is  found 
with  beryls  and  mica.  It  occurs  under  similar  circumstances, 
at  Acworth,  N.  H.,  and  at  Paris,  Me.  Small  crystals,  accord- 
ing to  Prof.  Cleaveland,  are  found  in  the  granite  at  Freeport 
and  Brunswick,  Me.,  as  well  as  the  green  variety  at  Topsham, 
Me.  But  the  deep  rich  green  felspar,  from  Beverly,  Mass., 
discovered  and  analyzed  by  Prof.  J.  W.  Webster,  far  surpasses 
any  other  variety  of  this  mineral  hitherto  observed  in  the 
United  States.  Prof.  Webster  found  ite  composition  as  here 
stated:  silica  72,  alumina  101,  lime  1'2,  magnesia  3'2,  per- 
oxide of  iron  2,  potash  111,  with  a  trace  of  chrome.*  It  con- 
tains more  silica,  and  less  alumina,  than  the  Siberian  green 
felspar,  analyzed  by  Vauquelin,  but  about  the  same  proportion 
of  potash.  If  we  unite  the  peroxide  of  iron  and  alumina,  it 
comes  nearer  to  the  analysis  of  a  specimen  by  Klaproth,  which 
gave  silica  70,  alumina  16'50,  potash  11*50. 

GREENOCKITE. 

The  papers  of  Prof.  Jameson,  and  Arthur  Connell,  Esq.,t 
have  enabled  me  to  supply  one  or  two  important  facts  relating 
to  this  rare  and  interesting  substance,  mentioned  at  page  573. 
It  is  readily  distinguished  from  zinc-blende  by  its  reactions. 
Owing  to  its  decrepitating  property,  it  is  difficult'to  act  on  it 
per  se  on  charcoal;  but  when  this  can  be  accomplished,  the 
usual  yellowish-red  ring,  arising  from  the  oxidation  of  subli- 
mated cadmium,  is  formed  around  the  fragment.  When  mixed 
with  soda  and  acted  on,  on  charcoal,  this  ring  continues  to  be 
formed  to  the  last,  without  any  of  the  white  sublimate  which 
zinc-blende  affords.  With  borax  it  yields  a  transparent  yellow 
glass.  Heated  in  a  glass  tube,  it  decrepitates  and  acquires  a 
fine  carmine-red  color,  but  on  cooling  recovers  its  yellow  tint. 
At  a  red  heat,  it  does  not  fuse  nor  volatilize.  In  powder,  it  is 
readily  soluble  in  heated  hydrochloric  acid,  with  strong  odor  of 
sulphydric  acid  gas.  Carbonate  of  soda  causes  a  white  pre- 
cipitate, soluble  in  ammonia.  The  muriatic  solution,  by  evap- 

*  Boston  Journal  of  Philosophy  and  the  Arts,   i.  390. 
f  Edinburgh  Philosophical  Journal,  xxviii.  391. 


622  SUPPLEMENT. 

oration,  afforded  a  white  prismatic  crystallization,  not  deli- 
quescing in  an  ordinary  atmosphere.  This  character  distin- 
guishes this  mineral  from  zinc-blende. 

The  crystals  are  short  six-sided  prisms,  as  already  described  ; 
the  faces  of  the  acute  pyramids,  by  which  they  are  terminated, 
are  transversely  streaked.  The  measurements  and  figure,  have 
been  supplied  by  Brooke  :  a  on  b  1;3<3°  40' ;  a 
on  c  118°  ;  a  on  d  90°  ;  6  on  e  about  176°. 
He  obtained  an  apparent  cleavage  parallel 
with  the  lateral  planes  d,  but  was  unable  to 
determine  satisfactorily  the  primary  form,  or 
to  decide  whether  they  were  any  more  than  planes  of  com- 
position of  other  intersecting  crystals.  He  says,  "  the  form 
appears  to  be  a  regular  six-sided  prism,  but  I  suspect  that  it  is 
derived,  like  sulphate  of  potash,  from  the  intersection  of  three 
rhombic  prisms."  More  recently,  Prof.  Jameson  observes, 
that  "  the  examination  of  some  additional  specimens  leaves 
little  doubt  that  the  mineral  belongs  to  the  rhombohedral  sys- 
tem of  crystallization." — Journ.,  xxix.  175. 


RHODIZITE. 

It  was  mentioned  at  page  318,  that  the  mineral  there  named 
borocalcite,  was  the  only  native  borate  of  lime  known.  It 
was  not  then  known  to  the  editor,  that  Prof.  G.  Rose  had  made 
a  qualitative  examination  of  some  crystals  found  on  the  red 
Siberian  tourmaline,  which  proved  to  be  borate  of  lime, 
though  evidently  a  more  basic  compound  than  the  borocalcite. 
On  account  of  its  rarity,  it  has  not  been  quantitatively  examin- 
ed. Its  behavior  B  B,  is  thus  stated  by  Rose.  (Rammels- 
berg's  Handworterbuch,  ii.  102.)  Slowly  fusible  on  the  edges  in- 
to a  white-opake  glass,  which  throws  out  excrescences,  that  shine 
very  strongly  with  a  yellowish-red  light.  It  colors  the  flame 
first  green  on  one  part,  then  red  on  another,  and  finally  red 
throughout.  On  charcoal  it  rounds  off  only  on  the  edges,  and 
becomes  snow-white  and  opake.  In  alembic  gives  no  water. 
With  borax  and  phosphoric  salt,  it  dissolves  into  a  clear  glass; 
fuses  with  fluor  spar  into  a  clear  glass ;  with  little  soda  into  a 
white  enamel ;  and  with  addition  of  soda  into  a  colorless  glass. 
This  glass,  triturated  and  decomposed  by  hydrochloric  acid, 
communicates  a  green  color  to  alcohol,  with  which  the  resi- 
duum is  washed  after  the  solution  is  evaporated  to  dryness. 


SUPPLEMENT.  623 

SULPHURET  OF  LEAD  FROM  ROSSIE,  N.  Y. 
The  crystals  of  galena  from  Rossie,  which  present  all  the 
usual  modifications  of  this  substance,  are  sometimes  most  sin- 
gularly constituted.  The  annexed  figure,  represents  one  of  the 
natural  size,  in  the  editor's  possession. 
It  is  a  flattened  cube.  The  lateral 
planes  P  P',  as  well  as  the  replace- 
ments of  the  lower  solid  angles  a  a', 
are  extremely  brilliant  and  regular  ; 
but  the  upper  solid  angles,  and  the  ter- 
minal edges,  are  replaced  by  planes 
which  successively  rise,  in  a  step-like  manner,  to  the  apex, 
forming  a  very  low  pyramid.  These  replacements  are  eleven 
in  number,  on  each  face  of  the  pyramid,  and  the  lines  which 
connect  them  with  each  other,  meet  exactly  at  the  same  point ; 
thus  dividing  them  into  a  regular  series  of  parallel  faces,  hav- 
ing nearly  the  same  relative  dimensions  throughout.  It  is  not 
easy  to  give  a  satisfactory  explanation  of  the  origin  of  this 
crystal,  and  others  like  it,  but  the  faces  bear  marks  of  having 
undergone  fusion,  (as  is  the  case  also  with  many  of  the  ordi- 
nary crystals  of  galena,  as  well  as  of  the  phosphate  of  lime, 
quartz  and  felspar,  from  the  same  vicinity,)  since  their  original 
deposition  ;  and  it  is  not  improbable,  that  the  phenomenon 
may  have  had  a  connection  with  this  circumstance.  It  would 
appear  that  the  pyramidal  face  was  downward,  and  that  the 
molecules,  having  their  cohesion  gradually  overcome,  but  not 
sufficiently  so  to  separate  themselves  entirely  from  the  mass, 
and  while  yet  subject  to  the  law  of  crystallization,  subsided  in 
the  manner  in  which  we  now  see  them.  An  appearance  some- 
what similar  to  this,  has  been  observed  among  artificial  crys- 
tals produced  by  heat,  particularly  in  crystals  of  lead,  obtained 
in  the  manner  of  crystallizing  bismuth. 

The  similar  appearances  on  the  crystals  of  quartz,  from 
Grafton,  N.  H.,  first  noticed  and  described  by  Mr.  Tesche- 
macher,  appear  to  be  owing  to  the  intersection  of  laminae  of 
mica,  with  which  they  occur,  as  they  correspond  with  the 
angles  of  mica,  and  are  supposed  to  have  no  connection  with 
the  crystalline  form  of  quartz. 

MELLILITE,  IDENTICAL  WITH  HUMBOLDILITE. 
M.  Damour  (Ann.  de  C/iim.  et  de  Phys.  3d  Ser.,  Jan., 
1844,)  has  established  the  identity  of  these  two  minerals  by  a 
comparison  of  their  general  physical  characters,  and  the  insti- 
tution of  new  analyses.  His  results  are  as  here  stated ;  the 
two  first  being  of  Mellilite,  and  the  last  of  Humboldilite. 


624  SUPPLEMENT. 


Pale  yellow  crystals.        Brown  crystals.        Humboldilite. 

Silica 39-22 38-34 40-69 

Lime 32-47 32-15 31-81  ) 

Magnesia 644 0-71 5-75  f 

Potash 1-46 1-51 0  36  ( 

Sodu 1-95 212 4-43) 

Peroxide  of  iron.  .10  07 10-02 10-88 

Alumina 6-42 8-61 4-43 


98  18  99-36  98-35 

The  analysis  of  the  two  first  differs  widely  from  that  by 
Carpi,  given  at  page  09,  while  the  latter  agrees  almost  precisely 
with  Von  Kobell's  analysis  of  Hurnboldilite,  stated  at  page  218. 
Owing  to  the  discrepancy  between  the  two  analyses  there  given, 
the  formula  was  omitted.  The  rnineralogical  formula  now  de- 
ducible  from  these  results,  is :  2(Cal,  Mg,  K,  N,)S+(A1,  F)S. 

BEUDANDITE. 

According  to  MM.  Darnour  and  Descloizeaux,  (Ann.  de 
Chim.  ct  de  P/iys.  3d  Ser.,  Jan.,  1844,  pp.  72,  77,)  the 
Beudandite  of  Levy  proves  to  be  identical  with  pharmakosi- 
derite  from  Cornwall.  The  oxide  of  lead,  which  Dr.  Wollas- 
ton  detected  in  it,  is  shown  to  be  an  accidental  mixture. 
Another  substance  should  therefore  be  dedicated  to  that  dis- 
tinguished author.  One  may  ask,  how  many  of  Levy's  new  min- 
erals are  destined  to  stand  the  scrutiny  of  later  observers? 

STELLITE,  OR  ANHYDROUS   LIME-MESOLITE. 

Stellite  and  Anhydrous  Zeolite,  from  Bergen,  N.  J. 

Prof.  Beck,  in  his  Report  on  the  Mineralogy  of  New  York, 
page  343,  has  given  the  analysis  of  a  radiated,  trappean  mineral 
from  Bergen,  N.  J.,  which  he  supposes  may  be  identical  with 
the  stellite  of  Dr.  Thomson.  He  obtained  of  silica  54-60, 
lime  33*65,  magnesia  6-80,  oxide  of  iron  and  alumina  0'50, 
water  and  carbonic  acid  3-20 

It  thus  differs  from  Dr.  Thomson's  mineral,  principally  in 
the  smaller  amount  of  its  alumina  and  water  ;  but  it  consists 
of  four  atoms  bisilicate  of  lime,  and  one  atom  bisilicate  of 
magnesia.  The  physical  characters,  also,  so  far  as  they  have 
been  examined,  favor  Dr.  Beck's  views  of  their  identity, 

At  the  editor's  request,  Mr.  Hayes  has  analyzed  the  same  stel- 
lular substance,  which  consisted  of  tufts  of  sharp  needle-form 
crystals,  proceeding  from  a  compact  centre,  and  terminating  at 
their  free  extremities,  by  regular  four-sided  pyramids.  His  re- 
sults, as  given  in  a  note  to  page  205,  are  here  repeated  ;  silica 
59-96,  lime  39  72,  soda  6-75,  potash  0-60,  protoxide  of  manga- 


SUPPLEMENT.  625 

nese  0'64,  alumina  0'08,  hygrometric  water  0*16  Divided  by 
the  atomic  weights,  and  reckoning  together  the  potash  and 
soda,  the  constitution  of  this  mineral  appears  to  be  very  nearly 
6  atoms  bisilicate  of  lime,  and  one  atom  quatersilicate  of  potash 
and  soda.  Formula :  6CalS2+(K,  N,)S4.  This  result  is  very 
remarkable,  as  it  proves  the  mineral  to  be  an  anhydrous  silicate, 
and,  therefore,  unlike  any  of  the  zeolite  species  which  have 
hitherto  been  met  with  in  the  trap  rocks  of  the  United  States. 
Specific  gravity,  according  to  Beck,  2'836.  Its  hardness  is 
equal  to  that  of  glass.  Mr.  Hayes  has  thus  given  its  charac- 
ters, B  B.  In  the  outer  flame,  it  whitens  and  becomes  opake; 
at  a  higher  temperature,  it  fuses  with  slight  bubbling  into  a 
white  enamel.  In  the  reducing  flame,  the  globule  shines  bril- 
liantly and  becomes  almost  transparent  on  cooling.  The  yel- 
low color  of  the  flame  shows  the  presence  of  soda.  With  its 
bulk  of  soda,  the  mineral  gives  a  slag,  which,  in  the  outer 
flame,  has  a  green  color ;  in  the  reducing  flame,  a  flesh-red 
color  takes  its  place. 

It  will  be  observed  that  there  is  a  very  close  resemblance  in 
composition  and  general  physical  characters,  between  this 
mineral  and  three  others,  —  the  Wollastonite  and  Stellite  of 
Dr.  Thomson,  and  the  Pektolite  of  "Von  Kobell,  (See  pp.  69. 
121.  238,)  excepting  in  its  entire  freedom  from  water,  and  its 
more  perfect  crystallization  ;  the  alumina  in  the  stellite  being 
accidental,  while  the  magnesia  takes  the  place  of  the  alkalies,, 
the  water  in  all  of  them,  probably  varying  as  an  accidental 
mixture.  They  undoubtedly  all  constitute  but  one  species,  and 
while  they  may  be  most  appropriately  designated  under  the 
name  of  Stellite,  the  chemical  title  of  anhydrous  limc-mesolite 
is  naturally  suggested  by  their  crystallographical  identity  with 
mesolite,  as  established  by  Mr.  Teschemacher,  who  received 
from  the  editor  a  few  of  the  most  perfect  crystals,  presenting 
precisely  the  same  modifications  with  mesolite,  with  the  request 
that  he  would  measure  and  compare  them  with  mesolite.  These 
crystals  were  from  the  Bergen  locality,  and  from  the  same 
specimen  with  those  analyzed.  But  mesolite  consists  of  three 
atoms  silicate  of  alumina,  one  atom  tersilicate  of  lime  and  soda, 
while  the  foreign  anhydrous  mineral,  consists  of  four  atoms 
bisilicate  of  lime,  and  one  atom  tersilicate  of  soda,  and  potash. 


PYRRHITE. 

This  exceedingly  rare  and  beautiful  mineral,  hitherto  found 
only  in  Siberia,  and  of  which  but  a  single  specimen  comprising 
eight  crystals,  is  known  to  mineralogists,  has  been  recognised 
53 


626  SUPPLEMENT. 

among  the  interesting  substances  recently  brought  from  the 
Azores,  by  Prof.  J.  W.  Webster.  The  specimen  was  placed  in 
Mr.  Teschemacher's  hands  for  examination  by  Prof.  Webster, 
and  was  supposed,  by  both  of  these  gentlemen,  to  be  a  new 
substance.  On  comparing  it  with  pyrrhite,  as  described  at 
page  176,  Mr.  Teschemacher  was  at  once  convinced  of  its 
identity  with  that  substance.  He  has  furnished  the  following 
description.  Form,  beautifully  perfect  regular  octahedrons  ; 
color,  deep  orange-yellow ;  transparent  on  the  edges,  with  a 
brilliant  vitreous  lustre.  Hardness  equal  to  that  of  felspar. 
The  crystals  are  from  one-half  to  two  lines  in  length,  and  they 
are  super-imposed  on  a  white  felspar,  or  albite.  The  minutest 
crystals  are  quite  transparent.  One  of  these  exposed  to  the 
oxidating  flarne  of  the  blowpipe,  became  opake,  retaining  its 
orange  color,  but  duller.  Changed  to  the  reducing  flame,  it 
melted  without  frothing,  and  assumed  a  deep,  dull  indigo-blue 
color,  which  could  only  be  distinguished  from  black  in  a  bright 
light,  and  on  the  minute  edges  of  the  fused  crystal.  With  bo- 
rax, it  melts  into  a  dark  brown  glass,  apparently  colored  by  iron. 
It  is  probable  that  the  mineral  contains  some  titaniate,  and 
that  the  blue  color  almost  instantly  assumed  by  the  assay,  is 
owing,  as  Kersten  has  shown,  in  the  case  of  some  of  the 
titaniferous  silicates,  to  the  formation  of  blue  oxide  by  the  loss 
of  oxygen  in  titanic  acid.*  Prof.  Webster  has  the  subject  in 
hand  for  a  chemical  analysis,  and  he  has  taken  measures  to 
procure  a  larger  supply  from  the  locality. 


PEROVSKITE. 

This  mineral  has  been  named  in  honor  of  Von  Perovski,  of 
St.  Petersburg,  and  according  to  M.  G.  Rose,  (Pogg.  Ann., 
xlviii.  558,)  it  consists  principally  of  titanic  acid  and  lime.  It 
occurs  in  very  small  crystals,  the  primary  form  of  which  appears 
to  be  a  cube.  Specific  gravity  4*071  ;  Hardness  5'5.  Color 
gray  or  iron-black;  opake;  has  a  metallic  lustre.  B  B,  it  is 
infusible.  With  salt  of  phosphorous  it  shows  the  reaction  of 
titanium,  producing  in  the  inner  flame  a  grayish-green  globule 
while  hot,  but  which  becomes  of  a  violet-blue  on  cooling.  In 
the  outer  flame,  it  is  greenish-white  while  hot,  but  colorless 
when  cold.  It  is  found  with  magnetic  iron  ore  in  chlorite 
slate,  at  Achmatoosk,  near  Slatoust,  in  the  Ural,  and  appears 
to  be  a  very  scarce  mineral.  Its  near  resemblance  in  crystal- 
line form,  hardness,  and  some  of  its  pyrognostic  characters, 
with  the  last  described  mineral,  is  interesting,  and  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  both  may  prove  to  be  essentially  titaniate  of  lime. 

*  See  Lon.  Edin.  and  Dub.  Phil.  Mag.,  xvii.  542, 1840. 


.....  ' 
° 


.....  ' 
°:t 

V>  ;.  v  •-  ^  ;..:'•' 

SUPPLEMENT.  627 

BEAUMONITE  OF  M.  LEVY. 

This  mineral  recently  identified  with  Heulandite,  (see  p.  39,) 
but  which  appears  to  be  yet  regarded  as  a  new  species  in  France, 
has  now  been  analyzed  by  M.  A.  Delesse,  (Ann.  de  Chim.  et  de 
Phys.,  t.  ix.  p.  385,  1843.)  The  crystals  selected  for  analysis, 
were  of  a  honey-yellow  color  ;  their  hardness  was  about  that  of 
apatite;  specific  gravity  2.24.  They  yielded  as  follows  :  silica 
64-2,  alumina  14fl,  lime  4-8,  magnesia  T7,  protoxide  of  iron 
1-2,  water  13-4,  soda  and  loss  6=100.  It  appears  to  contain 
more  silica  than  any  of  the  zeolite  species,  and  to  the  unusual 
proportion  of  this  constituent,  must  be  ascribed  its  superior 
hardness,  and  its  capability  of  resisting  the  action  of  those  acids, 
which  readily  decompose  the  ordinary  zeolites. 

This  mineral,  as  a  variety  of  Heulandite,  presents  an  ex- 
ample analogous  to  that  of  the  variety  of  chabasie,  called  Aca- 
dialite,  in  which  the  silica  forms  a  larger  atomic  proportion, 
without  causing  any  appreciable  variation  in  the  angles  of  the 
crystals.  It  otherwise  comes  very  near  to  the  analysis  of  a  Heu- 
landite by  Retzitis,  (page  37,)  if  we  unite  the  isomorphous  bases 
which  replace  each  other  ;  and  besides,  both  are  characterized 
by  the  absence  of  the  alkalies. 

SISMONDINE. 

This  is  a  new  mineral  found  by  M.  Bertrand  de  Lorn,  at  St. 
Marcel,  and  named  in  honor  of  M.  Sismonda,  of  Turin.  It 
is  of  a  deep  green  color,  possessing  great  brilliancy  ;  cleaves 
readily,  affording  highly  lustrous  laminae;  is  brittle,  and  easily 
powdered,  the  color  of  the  powder  being  bright  greyish-green. 
Scratches  glass  ;  specific  gravity  3-565.  Its  crystalline  char- 
acters are  not  given.  It  does  not  affect  the  magnet  either  be- 
fore or  after  calcination.  It  occurs  in  chlorite  slate,  and  is 
accompanied  by  dodecahedral  garnet  and  titaniferous  iron, 
Its  analysis  by  M.  Delesse,  afforded  these  constituents  ;  (  Ann. 
de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.,  t.  ix.  p.  388,  1843)  : 

Silica  .........................  24-1 

Alumina   .....................  43-2 

Protoxide  of  iron  ..............  23  8 

Water  .......................  7-6 

Trace  of  oxide  of  titanium.  .  .  . 


B  B,  it  does  not  fuse,  but  becomes  of  a  variable  brown  col- 
or. With  salt  of  phosphorous  it  dissolves  with  difficulty,  but 
when  in  powder,  with  great  readiness.  The  globule  is  colored 
when  hot,  but  becomes  colorless  on  cooling.  With  borax  the 
reaction  of  the  iron  is  evident;  with  soda  it  melts  with  effer- 
vescence. 


628  SUPPLEMENT. 

XANTHOPHYLLITE. 

This  mineral  was  first  described  by  Prof.  G.  Rose,  (Pog- 
gendorfs  Annalen,  i.  654.)  It  has  since  been  analyzed  by 
Meitzendorf,  whose  results,  as  given  in  Pogg.  Ann.,  No.  1, 
1843,  are  as  follow  : 

Silica 17-05 16-55 16-41 16-20 

Alumina 44  0(1. , 43-73 43.17 44-96 

Lime 1J-37 13  12 14-50 12-15 

Magnesia 21-24 19-04 19-47 19-43 

Protoxide  of  iron   1-91 2-62 2-23 2-73 

Soda 061 0-67 0-62 0-55 

Loss  by  ignition    4-21 4-33 4-45 4-33 

100-06  100-73  100-35  100-37 

The  formula  supposes  the  bases  to  exist  partly  as  silicates, 
and  partly  as  aluminates,  and  is  thus  stated:  2RSH-6R  A1+ 
RH3.  Rammelsberg,  (Handivortcrbuch,  jSupp.  158,)  has 
changed  it  to  this  expression,  according  to  which  it  is  a  combi- 
nation of  Seybertite,  or  Clinlinite,  and  Gibbsite:  [3RSi+R3 
A12)+H]+A1H3.  He  seems,  however,  not  to  place  full  con- 
fidence in  these  formulas,  while  Rose,  from  its  near  resem- 
blance in  physical  properties  and  in  composition  to  Clinton- 
ite,  as  analyzed  by  Clemson,  (see  page  79,)  is  disposed  to  re- 
gard it  as  identical  with  that  mineral.  Clemson's  analysis 
gives  6  per  cent,  less  alumina.  Xanthrophyllite  occurs  near 
Slatoust,  in  the  Ural,  in  globular  and  columnar  masses,  of  a 
foliated  structure,  readily  cleavable,  and  possessing  a  pearly 
lustre.  The  internal  structure  sometimes  develops  tabular 
hexahedral  prisms.  It  is  of  a  lighter  color  than  Clintonite, 
owing  probably  to  its  containing  less  iron,  and  its  hardness  is 
also  a  little  inferior.  The  broad  faces  of  the  laminae  are  readily 
scratched  by  apatite,  while  their  edges  plainly  impress  this  min- 
eral. B  B,  it  does  not  melt,  but  becomes  turbid  and  opake ; 
with  fluxes  gives  a  greenish  glass.  It  is  decomposed  by  heated 
hydrochloric  acid  with  great  difficulty. 

PUSCHKINITE. 

This  mineral  from  the  western  declivity  of  the  Ural,  was 
first  examined  and  named  by  Wagner,  (Bulletin  of  the  Imp. 
Society  of  Naturalists,  Moscow,  1841.)  It  occurs  penetrating 
quartz,  in  long  prismatic  hexahedral  and  trihedral  prisms,  of  a 
greenish  color,  resembling  green  tourmaline,  for  which  it  was 
at  first  mistaken ;  but  it  is  distinguished  from  that  mineral  by 
its  crystalline  forms  and  several  peculiarities,  particularly  by  its 
dichroism,  when  viewed  in  different  directions.  Its  specific 
gravity  is  3*066,  hardness  67.  B  B,  it  melts,  per  se,  with 

/ 

. 


SUPPLEMENT.  629 

difficulty  and  intumesces  ;  is  soluble  in  acids  after  it  has  been 
exposed  to  ignition.  Its  analysis  afforded  the  following  con- 
stituents :  silica  38*385,  alumina  18*850,  peroxide  of  iron 
16-340,  oxide  of  manganese  0*260,  lime  16*000,  magnesia 
6*190,  soda  1*670,  lithia  0*460  :=  99*685. 

M.  Wagner  has  given  the  following  formula  :    3(Ca,  Mg) 


M.  Osersky  *  has  endeavored  to  prove  the  identity  of  this 
mineral  with  epidote,  or  pistazite,  (dichromatic  epidote  of 
Breithaupt,)  and  according  to  his  observations,  it  agrees  in 
hardness,  and  most  of  its  external  characters,  and  appears  to 
belong  to  the  same  system  of  crystallization  with  that  species. 
But  he  has  not  completed  his  examinations  of  it. 

BAULITE.t 

At  the  Scandinavian  Society  of  Natural  Philosophers  in 
Stockholm,  July,  1842,  Forchhammer  presented  several  new 
Icelandic  minerals  examined  by  him.  Baulite  is  one  of  these, 
and  occurs  as  a  volcanic  production  in  the  mountain  Baula. 
It  was  formerly  brought  from  the  volcano  Viti,  which  belongs 
to  the  Krabla  system,  and  was  found  to  be  of  a  white  granular 
composition,  and  mixed  with  crystals  of  quartz,  and  a  black 
mineral  crystallized  in  long  needles.  It  easily  dissolves  in 
hydrochloric  acid.  Specific  gravity  2*623.  Composed  of  sil- 
ica 76*65,  alumina  11*57,  lime  0*05,  magnesia  0*20,  potash 
3*26,  soda  3*73,  protoxide  of  iron  0*63.  Formula  :  (K,  N)S6 
+3A1S6.  It  is  thus,  as  Berzelius  observes,  a  kind  of  potash 
and  soda-felspar,  in  which  the  bases  are  saturated  with  double 
as  much  silicic  acid  as  in  the  common.  It  occurs  frequently 
in  the  Iceland  volcanic  formations,  and  sometimes  consists  of 
a  multitude  of  globular  masses,  outwardly  somewhat  reddish, 
but  within  white,  with  a  concentric  radiated  structure.  It  is 
intermixed  with,  and  held  together  by  a  mass  of  quartz. 


PERICLASE. 

M.  Scacchi,  Professor  of  Mineralogy  at  Naples,  has  given  a 
description  of  a  new  mineral  found  in  the  ancient  lava  of  Ve- 
suvius, (Ann.  des  Mines,  fourth  series,  vol.  iii.  1843.)  It  is 
of  a  vitreous  appearance,  has  an  obscure  green  color,  and 
confused  crystallization,  and  is  imbedded  in  a  calcareous 
gangue  like  the  Gehlenite  of  Fassa.  It  cleaves  readily  in 

*  Transactions  of  the  Imperial  Russian  MineralogicaLSociety,  1842,  p.  66. 
t  Berzelius :  Arsberattehe,  for  1843,  p.  189. 

53* 


630  SUPPLEMENT. 

three  directions  parallel  to  the  faces  of  the  cube,  whence  it 
derives  its  name,  Periclase.  It  crystallizes  in  regular  octahe- 
drons, is  infusible,  B  B.  The  powder  is  entirely  soluble  in 
acids.  Hardness  equal  to  felspar.  Specific  gravity  3'75.  It 
is  composed  of  magnesia  and  a  little  oxide  of  iron  ;  100 
parts  yielding,  by  the  analysis  of  M.  Damour,  magnesia  92'57, 
oxide  of  iron  6-91,  insoluble  matter  •86=100-34.*  Rammels- 
berg  supposes  this  mineral  to  be  substantially  pure  magnesia, 
of  which  a  portion  is  replaced  by  protoxide  of  iron.  It  is  thus 
very  interesting,  as  showing  the  crystalline  form  of  pure  mag- 
nesia. 

LEDERERITE. 

A  new  examination  of  this  mineral,  described  at  page  214, 
is  necessary,  so  far  as  to  determine  whether  the  phosphoric 
acid  discovered  in  it  by  Mr.  Hayes,  is  an  essential  and  inva- 
riable constituent.  A  third  visit  to  the  locality  having  fur- 
nished no  additional  supply  of  crystals  to  enable  the  analyst 
to  determine  this  point,  we  may  be  compelled  to  sacrifice  the 
two  or  three  very  beautiful  crystals  that  yet  remain  of  it. 
Meanwhile,  it  is  proper  to  add,  that  Berzelius  has  given  a  for- 
mula, founded  on  Mr.  Hayes'  analysis,  according  to  which  the 
mineral  appears  to  consist  of  three  atoms  lime-analcime,  united 
with  one  atom  phosphate  of  lime,  as  thus  expressed  :f 


To  suppose  the  mineral  a  variety  of  chabasieor  Gmelenite, 
requires  three  times  the  quantity  of  water  above  stated.  £  May 
not  this  mineral  be  viewed  as  a  fixed  combination  of  three 
atoms  lime-analcime,  one  atom  phosphate  of  lime,  and  the 
change  in  crystalline  form  to  a  hexahedral  prism,  be  attributed 
to  the  influence  of  the  phosphate  of  lime  which  always  occurs 
in  this  form  ?  The  cleavage  parallel  to  the  faces  of  this  prism, 
opposes  its  union  with  chabasie. 

SODA   SPODUMENE. 

Natron  Spodumen.     Oligoclas. 

This  mineral  occurs  in  granite,  at  Danvikszoll,  near  Stock- 
holm, and  at  Arendal  and  Arriege,  in  Sweden  ;  also  in  the 
Ural.  It  is  accompanied  by  calc-spar,  quartz,  mica  and  fels- 

*  From  the  Am.  Jour,  of  Sci.,  xlvi.  213.        f  Jahres-Bericht,  xiv.  175. 
J  A  writer  in  theLon.  and  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.,  (iv.  394)  has  supposed  it  to  be  identical 
with  Gmelenite,  and  Dana  has  arranged  it  under  the  same  species. 


SUPPLEMENT.  631 

par  ;  and  at  Clausthal  it  is  found  in  serpentine.  According  to 
Breithaupt,  its  primary  form  is  an  Oblique  rhombic  prism,  P  on 
M,  93°  45',  P  on  T,  115°  30'.  Its  cleavage  is  very  distinct 
parallel  with  P.  Color  white,  yellowish,  and  greenish-white. 
Lustre  of  planes  P,  between  vitreous  and  pearly ;  the  other 
faces  greasy.  Translucent  to  transparent.  Fracture  cqnchoid- 
al.  Specific  gravity  2-64—2-67.  Hardness  6.  B  B,  "it  fuses 
with  difficulty  ;  and  it  is  not  acted  upon  by  acids.  Its  analysis 
by  Berzelius,*  Hagen,f  and  Laurent,!  gave  the  following 
results : 

Danvikszoll.  Arriege.  Atoms. 

Silica 63-70 63-51 62-6 31-85 

Alumina 23-95 23-09 24-6 10-64 

Peroxide  of  iron..  0-50 0-00 0-1 10 

Lime 2-05 2-44 3-0 58 

Magnesia 0-65... \...  ..  0-77 0-2 


8-11 9-37 8-9.  O.HO/-...3-03 

Potash 1-20 2-19 0-0 


58) 

22  f 

2-03  (' 

90) 


100-16  Berzelius.  101-37  Hagen.  99-4  Laurent. 

It  is  evident  that  the  constitution  of  this  mineral,  as  shown 
by  the  atomic  numbers  in  the  last  column  from  Berzelius' 
analysis,  is  three  atoms  bisilicate  of  alumina,  one  atom  tersili- 
cate  of  the  other  bases.  Formula  :  3AlS2+(Cal,  Mg,  N,  K)S3. 


ERINITE.§ 

This  mineral  occurs  in  the  amygdaloid  rocks  near  the  Giant's 
Causeway.  It  has  been  examined  and  analyzed  by  Dr.  Thom- 
son, who  named  it  from  Erin,  the  name 'by  which  Ireland  is 
known  in  the  native  language  of  the  country.  Its  color  is  yel- 
lowish-red. It  is  compact,  very  fine  grained  ;  opake  ;  with  a 
resinous  lustre,  and  a  soapy  feel.  Fracture  conchoidal.  Hard- 
ness l-75.  Specific  gravity  2'04.  When  heated  it  gives  out 
about  one-fourth  its  weight  of  water.  B  B,  it  whitens,  but  does 
not  fuse ;  with  carbonate  of  soda  fuses  with  effervescence  into 
a  blebby  glass ;  with  borax  into  a  transparent  colorless  glass  ; 
with  biphosphate  of  soda  into  an  opake  white  frit. 

Its  constituents  were  found  to  be  as  follow  :  silica  47'036, 
alumina  18*464,  lime  I'OOO,  protoxide  of  iron  6*360,  magnesia 
a  trace,  water  25*280,  common  salt  0*900  =  99*040. 

The  salt  was  accidental  and  derived  from  the  sea.  By  unit- 
ing the  lime  to  the  alumina,  Dr.  Thomson  makes  the  constitu- 
tion of  this  mineral  (admitting  a  slight  excess  of  silica)  as  thus 
stated:  6AlS2+FS*-f  16Aq. 

Erinite  resembles  in  composition  one  or  two  varieties  of  bole, 

*  Jahres-Bericht,  iv.  147.  f  Ann-  de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.,  lix.  108.  i 

t  Pogg.  Ann.,  xliv.  329.  §  Dr.  Thomson's  Outlines,  &c.,  i.  341. 


632  SUPPLEMENT. 

particularly  those  from  Striegau  in  Silesia,  and  Stolpen  —  the 
first  consisting  of  42-00  S.,  20-12  Al.,  8-53  F.,  2-81  Cal.,  2-01 
Mg.,  24  Aq.  =  99-47  :  the  last  of  45-922  S.j  22-145  Al.,  3  902 
Cal.,  25-860  Aq.  =  97'829.* 

WICHTYNE. 

This  mineral  from  Wichty,  in  Finland,  first  recognised  by 
M.  Nordenskiold,  afforded  by  the  analysis  of  M.  Laurent  (Ann. 
de  Chim.  et  de  Phys.,  lix.  11 1,)  the  following  results:  silica 
56-3,  alumina  13  3,  peroxide  of  iron  4-0,  protoxide  of  iron  13-0, 
lime  6-0,  magnesia  3-0,  soda  3'5  =  99'1. 

It  consists  of  one  atom  bisilicate  of  alumina  and  peroxide  of 
iron,  with  one  atom  bisilicate  of  the  other  bases.  Formula  : 
(AlFe)S2+(N,  Ca,  Mg,  F)S2. 

Its  color  is  black,  fracture  flat  conchoidal.  It  possesses 
cleavages  which  are  obtained  with  difficulty,  indicating  a  rec- 
tangular rhomboidal  prism  for  its  primary.  It  scratches  glass ; 
is  fusible  B  B,  into  a  black  enamel.  With  borax  into  a  green- 
ish pearl.  It  is  attracted  by  the  magnet.  Specific  gravity 
3*03.  It  gives  out  water  before  calcination,  and  is  not  acted 
upon  by  acids. 

SAPONITE. 

M.  Svariberg.      (Royal  Swedish  Academy's  Transactions,  1840,  p.  153.) 

This  is  a  mineral  which  has  much  resemblance  in  its  exter- 
nal characteristics  to'soapstone.  It  occurs  in  Svaerdsjoe  parish 
in  the  Dales,  among  the  deserted  mines  of  Brucksved,  and 
also  in  those  of  Svartvik.  In  the  latter  it  is  found  in  clefts  of 
not  more  than  two  inches  thickness,  and  when  taken  out  in  a 
wet  state,  is  so  soft  that  it  may  be  spread  like  butter ;  so  that 
some  of  the  miners  tried  to  eat  it  as  a  substitute  for  butter  at 
first,  but  found  it  something  very  different.  In  the  air  it  har- 
dens gradually,  but  falls  to  pieces  in  drying,  and  the  pieces 
become  a  soft  powder.  After  drying  and  hardening  in  the  air, 
it  has  about  the  hardness  of  talc,  so  that  it  may  be  easily 
scratched  with  the  nails.  In  water  it  falls  to  pieces  quickly. 
It  is  dissolved  by  muriatic  acid  when  heated,  and  decomposed 
by  sulphuric  acid  when  cold,  though  very  slowly.  The  mineral 
is  partly  colorless,  and  partly  inclining  to  yellow  and  red.  It  is 
altogether  without  cleavage,  and  compact.  Fracture  slightly 
lustrous,  streak  lustrous.  To  the  feel  greasy ;  does  not  adhere 
to  the  tongue ;  is  slightly  translucent. 

*Rammelsberg's  Handwbrterbuch,  i.  145. 


SUPPLEMENT.  633 

It  gives  out  abundant  water,  with  a  portion  of  bitumen. 
It  melts  by  itself  in  thin  splinters  to  a  white  blistery  enamel. 
It  is  dissolved  by  borax;  but  leaves,  with  salt  of  phosphorous, 
a  skeleton  of  silicic  acid  undissolved.  It  fuses  with  soda  to  an 
opake  glass.  Compared  with  soapstone  from  Cornwall,  B  B, 
the  latter  fuses  more  easily  by  itself,  as  well  as  with  soda. 

M.  Svanberg  found  the  composition  of  a  specimen  from 
Brusksveden,  as  follows  :  silica  50-8,  alumina  26-5,  lime  0*7, 
magnesia  94,  peroxide  of  iron  2'0,  water  10'5  :=  99*9. 

The  mineralogical  formula  deduced  from  this  analysis  is  : 
2MgS2-j-AlS+2Aq.  Or  changed  to  the  chemical  it  becomes, 
2Mg3S2+AlS+6H.  The  water  actually  contained  in  the 
mineral  was  24  per  cent.,  but  14  percent,  was  mechanical  and 
escaped  in  drying.  This  composition  can  in  no  way  be 
deduced  from  either  of  the  analyses  obtained  from  Cornwall 
soapstone ;  and  Svanberg  has  examined  anew  the  English 
soapstone,  and  found  its  composition  very  different.  He  has 
named  it  saponite  from  the  Latin  for  soap.  The  mineral  with 
which  the  saponite,  in  chemical  respects,  most  nearly  agrees,  is 
that  analyzed  and  described  by  Pfaff,  under  the  name  of  Kero- 
lith,  and  which  originates  from  Toblez,  in  Saxony. 


DREELITE. 

This  mineral,  named  in  honor  of  M.  de  Dree,  occurs  in  a 
lead  mine  at  Nuisiere,  in  the  environs  of  Beaujeu,  in  France. 
The  following  description  of  it  has  been  drawn  up  by  M.  Du- 
frenoy  (Ann.  de  Cldm.  et  de  Phys.,  Ix.  102.,)  It  occurs  in 
small  rhomboidal  crystals,  of  a  pearly  lustre,  and  without  any 
modifications.  It  presents  three  cleavages  parallel  with  the 
faces  of  its  primary,  an  Obtuse  rhomboid,  P  on  P'  93°  or  94°. 
These  cleavages  are  also  indicated  by  the  fractured  surfaces 
which  are  parallel  with  them.  In  its  external  characters  it  re- 
sembles chabasie.  Streak  and  color  white.  Specific  gravity 
3-2—3-4 ;  hardness  3-25.  B  B,  it  fuses  into  a  white  blebby 
glass,  which  is  colored  blue  by  nitrate  of  potash. 

The  following  are  the  results  of  its  analysis  by  M.  Dufrenoy  : 
sulphate  of  barytes  61-731,  sulphate  of  lime  14*274,  lime  in 
excess  1*521,  carbonate  of  lime  8-050,  silica  9'712,  alumina 
2-404,  water  2-308  =100. 

The  only  essential  constituents  are  supposed  to  be  the  two 
first  named  ;  and  it  is  thus  a  baryto-calcite,  consisting  of  two 
atoms  sulphate  of  barytes,  one  atom  sulphate  of  lime.  Formu- 
la :  2BrS+CalS.  It  differs  essentially  from  the  baryto-calcite 


634  SUPPLEMENT. 

of  Dr.  Thomson,  which  consists  of  four  and  a  half  atoms  sul- 
phate of  lime,  one  atom  sulphate  of  barytes :  or  71  '9  sulphate 
of  lime,  28-1  sulphate  of  barytes. 

POLYSPH^ERITE,  HEDYPHAN,  AND  NUSSIERITE. 

Frankenheim  (System  der  Krystalle,  p.  523, )  has  united 
the  two  first  minerals  named  by  Breithaupt,  and  the  last  by 
Danhauser,  and  comprises  them  under  this  formula  :  3(Pb,  Ca) 

3('i,is)+Pb,Ca)E,€l). 


COMPTONITE. 

Rammelsberg  has  analyzed  this  mineral,  and  shown  that  it  is 
identical  in  composition  with  Thomsonite.  Its  near  agree- 
ment in  crystalline  characters,  and  in  other  respects,  is  in  con- 
firmation of  his  result.  His  analysis  was  not  observed  in  sea- 
son to  be  given  under  the  description  of  Comptonite,  p.  213. 
It  is  as  follows,  the  specimen  being  from  Seeberg,  in  Bohemia: 
silica  38-735,  alumina  30-843,  lime  13-428,  soda  3-852,  potash 
0-542,  water  13-097.  The  chemical  formula,  according  to 
Rammelsberg,  is  :  (Ca,  Na,  K)3Si+3AlSi+ 7H.  The  speci- 
men analyzed  by  Dr.  Thomson,  came  from  Vesuvius,  and  as 
he  was  unable  to  employ  but  7*25  grains  of  it,  he  supposes  his 
analysis  imperfect. 

PHILLIPSITE,  OR  LIME  HARMOTOME. 

Arthur  Connell,  Esq.,  has  analyzed  this  mineral  from  the 
Giant's  Causeway,  (Jameson's  Edinb.  Phil.  Journ.,  1843,  p. 
376,)  and  obtained  results  which  give  a  somewhat  different 
formula  from  that  deduced  from  former  analyses  of  crystals 
elsewhere  selected.  He  obtained  silica  47-35,  alumina  21 -30, 
lime  4-85,  potash  5-55,  soda  3  7,  water  16'96  =  100'2l.  For- 
mula: 2(CalJK,N(S2+6AlS2+9Aq. 


EXPLANATION    OF    TERMS 


USED    IN 


MINER  ALOGICAL     DESCRIPTIONS 


Acicular.  Long,  slender,  and  straight  prisms,  or  crystals,  are  termed 
acicular,  from  the  Latin,  acicula,  a  little  needle. 

-Aggregated.  A  mineral  or  rock  is  said  to  be  aggregated  when  the  several 
component  parts  only  adhere  together,  and  may  he  separated  by  mechan- 
ical means :  the  felspar,  quartz,  and  mica,  constituting  granite,  may  be 
separated  mechanically.  Granite  is  an  aggregated  rock. 

Alliaceous.  The  o:)or  given  out  by  arsenical  minerals,  when  exposed  to 
the  blowpipe  or  struck  by  the  hammer,  resembled  that  of  garlic,  in 
Latin,  allium;  whence  alliaceous. 

Alloy.     A  natural  combination  of  two  or  more  metals  in  the  metallic  state. 

Amalgam.    A  natural  combination  of  two  metals,  of  which  mercury  is  one. 

Amorphous.  Without  form ;  of  undefinable  shape ;  from  the  Greek, 
aiioQfpoe  having  that  signification.  Amorphous  minerals  are  sometimes 
described  as  being  of  indeterminate  or  indefinite  forms. 

Anhydrous,  from  the  Givek  avrdoog,  signifying  without  water. 

Arborescent,  from  the  Latin  arboresco,  to  grow  like  a  tree.    See  Dendritic. 

Arseniate.  A  term  applied  to  a  mineral  consisting  of  arsenic  acid  united 
with  a  base. 

Base.  A  term  denoting  the  substance  to  which  an  acid  is  united.  In  the 
arseniate  of  copper,  the  copper  is  the  base. 

Borate.     A  mineral  in  which  boracic  acid  is  combined  with  a  base. 

Botryoidal.  From  the  Greek  puTQvwSt]?,  signifying  hung  with  clusters  of 
grapes  or  berries.  So  a  mineral  presenting  an  aggregation  of  large  sec- 
tions of  numerous  small  globes  is  termed  botryoidal ;  but  when  the  globes 
are  larger,  and  the  portions  are  less  and  separate,  the  appearance  is  ex- 
pressed by  the  term  mammillated.  These  forms  may  be  observed  in 
certain  ores  of  cobalt,  copper,  and  manganese,  and  often  in  calcedony. 

Brittle.  This  character  of  mineral  bodies  does  not  depend  upon  their 
hardness;  those  of  which  the  particles  cohere  in  the  highest  degree, 
and  are  immovable  one  among  another,  are  the  most  brittle.  The  dia- 
mond, quartz,  sulphate  of  barytes,  and  sulphur,  vary  greatly  as  to  hard- 
ness; they  are  all  brittle,  the  first  only  in  particular  directions. 

Capillary,  derived  from  the  Latin  capillus,  a  hair,  is  chiefly  used  to  ex- 
press the  long,  tortuous,  hair-like  appearances  observable  in  native  gold, 


636  EXPLANATION    OF    TERMS. 

silver,  and  some  other  minerals.  Crystals  are  sometimes  termed  capillary 
when  long  and  slender ;  but  when  also  straight,  they  are  more  properly 
designated  acicular. 

Carbonate.     A  mineral  in  which  carbonic  acid  is  combined  with  a  base. 

Cellular.  This  term  was  used  by  Werner  in  the  description  of  such 
minerals  as  exhibit  cells  formed  by  the  crossing  and  intersecting  of  the 
lamellae  of  which  they  are  constituted;  commonly,  any  mineral  present- 
ing numerous  small  cells  or  cavities  is  termed  cellular.  See  vesicular. 

Chatoyant  has  been  adopted  from  the  French,  who  use  it  to  express  the 
changeable  light  resembling  that  observable  in  the  eye  of  a  cat,  exhib- 
ited by  certain  minerals 

Chromate,  a  mineral  in  which  chromic  acid  is  united  with  a  base. 

Cleavage.  This  term  is  most  commonly  used  in  relation  to  the  fracture  of 
those  minerals  which,  having  natural  joints,  possess  a  regular  structure, 
and  may  be  cleaved  into  more  or  less  geometrical  fragments :  as,  into 
varieties  of  the  parallelepiped,  the  rhomboid,  &c. 

Coherent.  In  minerals  that  are  brittle,  the  particles  are  strongly  cohe- 
rent ;  in  such  as  are  friable  they  are  slightly  coherent. 

Columnar  distinct  concretions;  a  term  used  to  express  the  great  and 
small  columns  in  which  certain  iron  ores  and  other  minerals  are  found. 

Compact.  A  mineral  is  compact  when  no  particular  or  distinct  parts  are 
discernible  ;  a  compact  mineral  cannot  be  cleaved  or  divided  into  regu- 
lar or  parallel  portions.  It  is  too  often  confounded  with  the  term  massive. 

Concentric  lamellar.  This  relates  to  structure,  and  is  used  in  the  descrip- 
tion of  such  minerals  as,  being  of  a  spherical  form,  have  received  suc- 
cessive coatings  or  depositions  An  onion  cut  in  two  exhibits  the  con- 
centric-lamellar appearance  in  perfection. 

Conchoidal  relates  only  to  fracture,  and  is  derived  from  the  Latin  con- 
choides,  signifying  like  a  shell.  Many  of  the  brittle  minerals  exhibit 
this  appearance,  and  occasionally  in  great  perfection,  as  quartz,  sul- 
phur, anthracite,  &c. 

Concretion  generally  signifies  a  small  and  distinct  mass. 

Coralloidal,  resembling  branches  of  coral. 

Cuneiform,  wedge-shaped;  cuneus,  in  Latin,  signifies  a  wedge. 

Decomposed.  This  term,  when  used  strictly  in  a  mineralogical  sense, 
imports  the  consequence  of  the  chemical  action  which  takes  place  natu- 
rally in  some  minerals.  Certain  ores  of  iron,  &c.  in  which  sulphur  pre- 
dominates in  an  unusual  degree,  decompose  by  exposure  to  air. 

Decrement.     This  term  relates  to  structure.     See  p.  xlix. 

Decrepitate.  A  mineral  is  said  to  decrepitate  on  exposure  to  heat  when 
it  flies  with  a  crackling  noise  similar  to  that  made  by  salt  when  thrown 
into  the  fire. 

Dendritic,  derived  from  the  Greek  derdQtn?,  signifying,  like  the  growth 
of  a  tree.  The  terms  arborescent  and  dendritic  are  used  synonymously : 
they  are  alike  applied  to  the  tree-like  appearance  in  which  native  silver 
and  native  copper  are  sometimes  lound;  to  the  delineations  seen  on  the* 
surfaces  of  certain  minerals;  to  the  appearance  in  the  mocha-stone,  &,c. 

Dentiform,  in  the  shape  of  teeth ;  dens  being  the  Latin  for  a  tooth. 

Dimorphous.     See  p.  Ixxxiv. 

Disseminated.  When  a  mineral,  whether  crystallized  or  otherwise,  is 
found  here  and  there  imbedded  in  a  mass  of  another  substance,  it  is  said 
to  be  disseminated  in  the  mass. 

Disintegrated  is  generally  used  to  express  the  falling  to  pieces  of  any 
mineral,  without  any  perceptible  chemical  action. 

Diverging,  or  Divergent.  When  the  structure  is  fibrous,  and  the  fibres 
are  not  parallel,  they  usually  diverge  in  part,  but  not  wholly,  around  a 


EXPLANATION    OF    TERMS.  637 

common  centre  ;  as  is  in  certain  zeolites,  and  haematitic  irons.  The  crys- 
tals of  some  substances  assume  a  diverging  position. 
Drusy  has  been  adopted  from  the  German  term  drusen,  for  which  we 
have  no  English  word.  The  surface  of  a  mineral  is  said  to  be  drusy 
when  composed  of  small  prominent  crystals,  nearly  equal  in  size  ;  it  is 
often  seen  in  iron  pyrites. 

Efflorescence  is  the  consequence  of  chemical  action  ;  it  is  applied  to  such 

minerals  as  are  found  in  extremely  minute  fibres  on  old  walls,  &c. 
Elastic.     A  mineral  which,  after  being  bent,  springs  back  to  its  original 

form,  is  elastic.     Mica  is  elastic  ;  talc,  which  greatly  resembles  mica, 

is  only  flexible. 
Earthy.     This  term  relates  to  fracture  and  to  texture.    Chalk,  and  certain 

of  the  ores  of  iron  and  lead,  are  notable  instances  of  the  earthy  fracture 

or  texture. 
Emarginated.     Crystals  are  said  to  be  ernarginated  when  the  edges  of 

their  primary  forms  are  each  truncated  by  one  face. 

Fasciculated.  When  a  number  of  minute  fibres  or  acicular  crystals  occur 
in  small  aggregations  or  bundles,  they  are  said  to  be  fasciculated  ;  from 
the  Latin  fasciculus,  a  little  bundle. 

Fibrous.  This  term  relates  both  to  form  and  structure.  Certain  mine- 
rals, as  amianthus,  gypsum,  &c.,  occur  in  distinct  fibres.  Asbestus,  red 
haematite,  &c.,  are  found  massive,  and  present  a  parallel  fibrous  struc- 
ture ;  others  are  of  a  radiating  fibrous  structure,  when  the  fibres  diverge 
from  a  common  centre. 

Filament.  A  mineral  is  said  to  occur  in  filaments  when  it  is  found  in 
slender  thread-like  or  hair-like  portions.  It  is  therefore  nearly  synony- 
mous with  the  term  capillary. 

Filiform  is  used  in  the  same  sense  as  the  preceding,  but  Werner  employed 
it  to  express  the  appearance  of  certain  metals  which  occur  in  the  form 
of  wire,  as  native  silver  and  native  copper.  Filum,  in  Latin,  signifies 
thread ;  filum  metalli,  wire. 

Flexible.  Talc  is  flexible  ;  it  readily  bends,  but  does  not  return  of  itself 
to  its  original  form.  Mica  is  both  flexible  and  elastic. 

Fluate.  This  term  designates  a  mineral  in  which  fluoric  acid  is  combined 
with  a  base. 

Foliated.  This  term,  from  the  Latin  foliatus,  having  or  consisting  of 
leaves,  is  used  by  Werner  to  express  the  structure  of  all  minerals  that 
may  be  divided  or  cleaved  regularly,  and  are  therefore  by  him  said  to 
consist  of  folia  or  leaves.  The  structure  of  such  minerals  is  more  com- 
monly and  better  expressed  by  the  term  lamellar;  and  they  are  said  to 
consist  of  laminae. 

Fracture  is  a  term  chiefly  employed  in  designating  the  appearance  of 
minerals  which  have  no  regular  structure  when  they  are  broken  ;  such 
minerals  present  an  earthy,  even,  uneven,  or  conchoidal  fracture,  &c» 

Frangible.  This  term  relates  to  the  susceptibility  of  minerals  to  separate 
into  fragments  by  force ;  it  is  a  quality  not  dependent  on  hardness  ;  the 
structure  of  some,  and  the  brittleness  of  other  minerals,  render  them 
easily  frangible ;  while  many,  from  their  softness,  and  the  ease  with 
which  their  particles  or  molecules  yield  or  slide  over  one  another,  are 
much  more  difficultly  frangible  ;  these  possess  the  character  of  tough- 
ness ;  Quartz  is  easily  broken  ;  asbestus  is  tough. 

Friable.  A  mineral  whose  portions  or  particles  slightly  cohere,  and  which 
is  therefore  easily  crumbled  or  broken  down,  is  said  to  be  friable. 

Fungiform.  Certain  substances,  as,  for  instance,  calcareous  stalactites, 
are  occasionally  met  with,  having  terminations  similar  tq  the  head  of  a 
fungus ;  whence  the  term. 

54 


638  EXPLANATION    OF   TERMS. 

Gangue,  from  the  German.  The  gangue  or  matrix  is  the  substance  in  or 
upon  which  a  mineral  is  found. 

Geode.  This  also  is  derived  from  the  German ;  a  geode  is  a  hollow  ball, 
generally  lined  with  crystals. 

Glance  is  a  German  word,  meaning  shining ;  thus,  glance-coal,  copper- 
glance,  &c. 

Globular  distinct  concretion  is  used  to  designate  the  form  of  any  mineral 
which  occurs  in  small  round  or  roundish  masses :  pea-stone  and  roe- 
stone  are  examples  of  it. 

Granular.  The  structure  of  a  mineral  is  said  to  be  granular  when  it 
appears  to  consist  of  small  grains,  or  concretions,  which  sometimes  are, 
sometimes  are  not,  discernible ;  we  have  therefore  the  fine  granular  and 
the  coarse  granular  structure. 

Greasy  is  used  in  relation  to  lustre. 

Hackly.  This  term  relates  to  a  fracture  which  is  peculiar  to  the  mallea- 
ble metals  ;  which,  when  broken,  present  sharp  protruding  points. 

Haematite  is  derived  from  the  Greek  uifianns,  signifying  blood-red.  It 
was  first  applied  to  the  variety  of  iron  ore  which  is  called  red  haematite, 
but  has  since  been  extended  to  other  iron  ores  of  the  same  structure, 
but  differing  in  color. 

Hepatic,  from  the  Latin  hepar,  the  liver  :  it  is  applied  either  to  color  or 
form. 

Hydrate  is  derived  from  the  Greek  V$(OQ,  water  ;  and  is  applied  to  those 
minerals  of  which  water  forms  an  ingredient  in  large  proportion. 

Imbedded.     A  mineral  found  in  a  mass  of  another  substance  is  said  to  be 

imbedded  in  it. 
Incrusted.    Any  substance  covered  by  a  mineral  is  said  to  be  incrusted 

by  it. 
Interlacing.    When  fibres  or  crystals  of  a  mineral  are  found  intermingling 

with  each  other  in  various  directions,  they  are  said  to  be  interlacing. 
Investing.    A  mineral  coating  or  covering  another  is  sometimes  described 

as  investing  it. 
Iridescent.    This  term  relates  only  to  the  color  with  which  the  surfaces 

of  some  metallic  species  are  naturally  tarnished. 
Irisated.     A  mineral  is  described  as  irisated  which  exhibits  the  prismatic 

colors  either  externally  or  internally :  the  latter  is  generally  the  conse- 
quence of  some  injury  sustained  by  the  mineral. 
Isomorphism.     See  p.  Ixxxii. 

Lamella,  Lamellar,  relate  to  structure.  When  a  mineral  can  be  fractured 
or  cleaved  into  regular  and  parallel  plates,  its  structure  is  said  to  be 
lamellar  ;  and  the  portions  thus  obtained  are  termed  laminae  or  lamellae. 
These  terms  have  been  adopted  from  the  Latin,  in  which  they  were 
almost  synonymously  used  to  express  thin  plates  of  any  substance. 

Lamellar  distinct  concretions.  This  is  used  to  denote  the  form  of  certain 
minerals  consisting  of  separate  tabular  crj'stals. 

Lamelliform.    A  mineral  consisting  of  lamellae  is  said  to  be  lamelliform. 

Lenticular  is  employed  to  express  the  forms  of  certain  crystals  which  are 
nearly  flat,  and  convex  above  and  beneath ;  and  which  consequently 
resemble  a  common  lens. 

Malleability.  Some  of  the  metals  suffer  extension  when  beaten  with  a 
hammer,  and  are  therefore  termed  malleable  metals.  Native  gold  and 
native  silver  are  very  malleable  metals. 

Mammillated.    See  Botryoidal. 


EXPLANATION   OF   TERMS.  639 

Massive.  This  term  is  sometimes  used  in  describing  a  substance  of  inde- 
terminate form,  whatever  may  be  its  internal  structure;  but  is  more 
commonly  applied  to  those  minerals  which  possess  regular  internal 
structure,  without  any  particular  external  form. 

Matrix.     See  Gangue. 

Meagre.  This  term  relates  to  the  touch  or  feel  of  a  mineral.  It  belongs 
chiefly  to  some  of  those  species  which  possess  an  earthy  texture.  Chalk 
is  remarkably  meagre  to  the  touch. 

Natural  joints.  Such  minerals  as  can  be  broken  into  regular  forms,  as 
the  cube,  rhomboid,  &c.  are  cleavable  into  those  forms  only  in  the  direc- 
tion, of  or  along  their  natural  joints.  In  some  species  these  natural  joints 
are  perceptible  by  the  assistance  of  a  strong  light. 

Nacreous  relates  to  lustre,  and  is  employed  to  express  the  lustre  of  some 
minerals  which  greatly  resembles  that  of  pearl. 

Nodular.  A  mineral  which  presents  irregularly  globular  elevations  ia 
termed  nodular. 

Opake.  Those  minerals  are  opake  which  do  not  transmit  a  perceptible 
ray  of  light  even  through  the  thinnest  and  smallest  pieces. 

Pass  into.  One  mineral  is  said  too  pass  into  another,  when  both  are  found 
so  blended  in  the  same  specimen  that  it  is  impossible  to  decide  where 
the  one  terminates  and  the  other  begins.  Flint  is  found  passing  into 
calcedony. 

Plumose.    Resembling  a  feather. 

Porous.  A  mineral  is  said  to  be  porus  when  it  is  traversed  in  different 
directions  with  communicating  holes  which  pass  through  the  substance. 

Pseudomorphous.  Minerals  exhibiting  impressions  of  the  forms  peculiar 
to  the  crystals  of  other  substances  are  said  to  be  pseudomorphous. 
Wtvdog,  in  Greek,  signifies  false  ;  ,uo§yi;,  form  or  figure.  See  p.  Ixxx. 

Pulverulent.  When  the  particles  of  a  mineral  are  jpiinute,  and  cohere 
very  slightly,  or  not  at  all,  it  is  said  to  be  pulverulebt,  or  in  the  pulve- 
rulent state. 

Radiated.     Radiatus,  in  Latin,  signifies  beset  with  rays.     When  the 

crystals  of  a  mineral  are  so  disposed  as  to  diverge  from  the  centre,  they 

are  said  to  be  radiated. 
Ramose.     Ramus,  in  Latin,  signifies  the  branch  of  a  tree.    A  mineral 

having  that  appearance  is  described  as  being  ramose. 
Refractoriness.    This  term  is  used  both  chemically  and  mechanically  in 

relation  to  minerals.     It  is  sometimes  applied   to  those  which  strongly 

resist  the  application  of  heat,  and  occasionally  to  some  whose  toughness 

enables  them  to  resist  repeated  blows. 
Reniform,  kidney-shaped.     Ren,  in  Latin,  signifies  kidney. 
Reticulated.    Minerals  occurring  in  parallel  fibres,  crossed  at  right  angles 

by  other  fibres  which  also  are  parallel,  exhibit  squares  like  the  meshes 

of  a  net.     Retis,  in  Latin,  signifies  a  net. 

Schistose  or  slaty  structure.  Minerals  which  split  only  in  one  direction, 
and  present  fragments  which  are  parallel,  but  of  unequal  thickness, 
which  also  are  not  smooth  and  even,  and  are  without  lustre,  are  said  to 
possess  a  schistose  structure. 

Scopiform.  If  a  number  of  minute  crystals  or  fibres  be  closely  aggregated 
into  a  little  bundle,  with  the  appearance  of  diverging  slightly  from  a 
common  centre,  they  are  said  to  be  scopiform.  Scopa,  in  Latin,  signi- 
fies a  broom  or  besom. 

Sectile.    The  term  sectile  is  derived  from  the  Latin  seco,  to  cut.    Those 


640  EXPLANATION    OF    TERMS. 

minerals  are  termed  sectile  which  are  midway  between  the  brittle  and 
the  malleable.  A  slice  or  portion  cut  from  a  sectile  mineral  is  fragile, 
and  the  new  surface  on  the  mass  is  smooth  and  shining. 

Semi-transparent.  A  mineral  is  said  to  be  semi-transparent  when  an 
object  is  not  distinctly  seen  through  it. 

Specular  Minerals  are  those  which  present  a  smooth  and  brilliant  surface 
which  reflects  light.  Speculum,  in  Latin,  signifies  a  looking-glass. 

Splintery  fracture  belongs  to  imperfectly  crystalline  minerals. 

Stalactitiform.  2ral.ayi.Kx.  signifies  a  drop,  an  icicle,  which  stalactitiform 
minerals  greatly  resemble  in  shape. 

Stalagmite.  A  stalagmite  is  the  deposition  afforded  by  the  water  dropping 
from  a  stalactite,  as  on  the  floor  of  a  cavern. 

Stellated.  When  the  crystals  or  fibres  of  a  mineral  diverge  all  round  a 
common  centre,  it  is  said  to  be  stellated.  Stella,  in  Latin,  signifies  a 
star. 

Strice,  Striated.  The  slight  channels  occasionally  observable  on  the 
planes  of  crystallized  minerals  are  termed  striae,  and  the  crystals  which 
exhibit  them  are  said  to  be  striated.  The  Striae  are  commonly  parallel, 
and  generally  indicate  the  direction  in  which  crystals  may  be  cleaved. 
Stria,  in  Latin,  signifies  a  groove  or  channel. 

Sulphur  et.  A  metallic  mineral  in  which  the  metal  is  combined  with  sul- 
phur. In  these  minerals  the  metal  is  not  in  the  state  of  an  oxide,  but  in 
the  metallic  state. 

Supernatant.  Such  minerals  as  are  lighter  than  water,  and  consequently 
swim  upon  it,  are  said  to  be  supernatant ;  from  the  Latin. 

Tabular.  When  this  term  is  used  in  relation  to  structure,  it  is  nearly 
allied  to  the  schistose  or  slaty.  It  is  used  more  generally  to  express  the 
external  form  of  such  crystals  as  are  nearly  flat ;  these  are  termed  tab- 
ular crystals  ;  from  the  Latin  tabula,  a  table. 

Toughness  relates  to  internal  texture.  Those  minerals  which  are  bruised, 
or  suffer  depression  by  repeated  blows  in  the  attempt  to  fracture  them, 
are  esteemed  to  be  tough. 

Translucent.  A  mineral  through  which  an  object  cannot  be  seen,  but 
which  transmits  some  light,  is  termed  translucent.  Many  minerals  are 
translucent  only  on  the  edges. 

Transparent.  Those  minerals  are  transparent  through  which  an  object 
may  be  clearly  seen. 

Tubercular.  A  mineral  whose  unevenness  of  surface  arises  from  small 
and  somewhat  round  elevations,  is  said  to  be  tubercular. 

Unctuous.  This  term  relates  to  the  touch.  Plumbago  and  soapstone  are 
very  unctuous. 

Vesicular.  A  mineral  is  said  to  be  vesicular  when  it  has  small  and  some- 
what round  cavities,  both  internally  and  externally.  Lava,  pumice, 
limestone,  &c.,  are  sometimes  vesicular.  From  the  Latin,  vesicula,  a 
little  bladder. 

Vitreous.  Minerals  having  the  lustre  of  glass  are  said  to  possess  the 
vitreous  lustre. 


INDEX. 


ABRAZITE,  71 
Acadialite,  239  241, 
Acanticonite,  45 
Acarpia  cubica,  400 

dodecahedra,  561 
Acerdise,  389 
Achates,  11 
Achirite,  494 
Achmite.  250 
ACIDIFEROUS  ALKALINE  MINERALS,  319 

ALKALINO-EARTHT  MINERALS, 329 

EARTHY  MINERALS,  257 
ACIDS,  254 

Acidum  boracicum,  254 
arsenosum,  440 
Acmite,  250 
Actynolite,  85 

asbestiform,  86 
crystallized,  86 
glassy,  86 
Adamant,  581 
Adamantine  spar,  100 
Adamas  octahedrus,  581 
Adipocire,  mineral,  594 
Adular,  193 
Adularia,  193,  620 
Aerosite,  464 
Aeachenite,  414 
Aeschynite,  4J4 
Agalmatolite,  200 
Agaric  Mineral,  267 
Agate,  11 
Akmite,  250 
Alabandine,  400 
Alalite,  75 
Alaun, 329 

naturlischer,  329 
Alaunstein,  330 
Albin,  185,  187 
Albite,  226 
Alexandrite,  166,  168 
Allagite,  308 
Allanite,416 

ALKALINO-EARTHT  MINERALS,  178 
Allochroite,  26 
Allophane,  105 
Almandine,  19 
Almandine  ruby,  138 
Alum,  ammonia,  335 

magnesia,  617 

octahedral,  329 

potash,  329 

54* 


Alum,  soda,  333 
stone,  330 
salt,  329 

Allumen  officinale,  329 
Alumina,  dihydrate  of,  102 

disilicate  of,  118 

fluate  of,  262 

fluosilicate  of,  127 

hydrate  of,  103 

hydrous,  diphosphate  of,  258 

hydrous,  trisilicate  of,  104 

mellate  of,  596 

pure,  97 

soda  fluate  of,  331 

subsulphate  of,  257 

sulphate  of,  258 

trisulphate  of,  257 

and  manganese,  sulphate  of,  601 
Alumine,  fluatee  alkaline,  331 

hydrate  silicifere,  104 

hydro-phosphatee,  258 

sous-sulfatee,  257 

sulfatee  alkaline,  329 
Aluminite,  257 
Aluminus  rhombohedrua,  330 
Alumocalcite,  18 
Alum-stone,  330 
Alunite,  330 
Alunogene,  258 
Amalgam,  574 

native,  574 
naturlisches,  574 
Amazon-stone,  195 
Amber,  593 
Amblygonite,  260 
Amethyst,  7 

oriental,  98 
Amianth,  87 
Amianthus,  87 
Ammonalum,  335 
Ammonia,  muriate  of,  328 

sulphate  of,  327 
Ammonia-alum,  335 
Ammoniac,  sal,  328 
Ammoniaque  muriat^e,  328 
sulphate,  327 

Amphibole,  81.  Var.  d'  81,  84,  85 
Amphigen*,  183 
Amphodelite,  50 
Analcime,  227 

carnea,  231 
Anatase,  432 


642 


INDEX. 


Andalusite,  118 

prismatic,  118 

Andalusius  prismaticus,  118 
Andreolite,  63 
Ang  larite,  367 
Anglesite,  550 
Anhydrite,  284 
Anhydrite  compact,  285 
Anhydrous-lime  mesolite,  625 
Ankerite,  275 
Anorthite,  53 
Anorthomoua  feldspar,  53 
Anthophyllite,  50 

hydrous,  223 
strahliger,  50 
Anthracite,  585 

columnar,  586 
massive,  585 
slaty,  585 
Anthraconite,  269 
Anthrax  bituminosus,  590 

lapideus,  585 
Antimoine  blanc,  528 
gris,  523 
natif,  522 
oxyde,  528 

sulfure,  527 
terreux,  528 
rouge,  527 
sulfure,  523 

nickeliftre,  452 
Antimon  blende,  527 
Antimonbluthe,  528 
Antimoniul  ochre,  528 
Antimonoker,  528 
Anlimonial  ore,  plumose,  525 
Antimon-nickel,  452 
Antimonphyllite,  529 
Antimon-silber,  457 

-blende,  464 
Antimony,  arsenical,  606 

baryte,  prismatic,  528 
-blende,  prismatic,  527 
bloom,  528 
dodecahedral,  522 
glance,  axifrangible,  534 
axotomous,  525 
peritomous,  463 
prismatic,  518, 536 
prismatoidal,  523 
grey,  523 
native,  522 

nickeliferous  grey,  452 
octahedral,  457 
oxide  of,  5-28 
prismatic,  457 
prismatic  white,  528 
red,  527 

rhombohedral,  522 
sesquisulphid  of,  523 
sulphuret  of,  523 
white,  528 
Antrimolite,  224 
Apatite,  276 

rhombohedral,  276 
Aphanese,  505 
Apherese,  500 

Aphrite,  268  * 

Aphrizite,  244,  246 
Aphthhalite,  320 
Aplome,  23 
Apophyllite,  185 
Aquamarine,  162, 164 


Aquamarine,  oriental,  98 
Arealus  argentiferus,  472 
cubicus,  372 
foliaceus,  357 
radiatus,  260 
rhombohedrus,  362 
rhomboidous,  365 
trimetricus,  599 
Arendalite,  45 
Arfwedsonite,  91 
Argent,  iodure  d',  470 

seleniure  d',  468 
Argent,  antimonial,  457 

ferro-arsenifere,  458 
antimonie,  sulfure,  464 

noir,  462 
arsenical,  458 
carbonate,  471 
en  epis,  477 
et  cuivre  sulfure,  4G7 
muriate,  471 
natif,  455 
natif  aurifere,  457 
rouge,  464 
rouge  antimonie,  464 

arsenie,  464 
sulfure,  459 

antimonifere  and  cuprifere,  4G3 
flexible,  460 
tellure,  458 
vitreuse,  459 
Argentine,  267 
Argenti  spuma,  573 
Argentum  rubrum,  464 

octahedrum,  455 
vivum,  573 
Argile,  54 

lithomarge,  55 
schisteuse,  54 
smectique,  56 
Argyrites  acrotomus,  442 
cubicus,  447 
cupricolor,  452 
decrepitans,-454 
eutomus,  452 
hemi-cubicus,  443 
hexagonus,  451 
Hoffmanni,  453 
Kersteni,  446 
manganicus,  400 
octahedrus.  445 
peritomus,  345 
Argyrytbrose,  464 
Arragon,  270 
Arragonite,  270,  275 
Arseniate,  amiantiform,  507 
capillary,  507 
hrematitic,  507 
hexahedral,  503 
oblique  prismatic,  505 
octahedral,  502 
right  prismatic,  506 
rhomboidal,  503 

Arsenic,  gediegen,  439,  wood,  507 
native,  439 
oxide  of,  440 
rhombohedral,  439 
sesquisulphuret  of,  441 
sulphuret  of,  440 
acid,  octahedral,  440 
natif,  439 
oxyde,  440 
sulfure  jaune,  441 


INDEX. 


643 


Arsenic  sulfure  rouge,  440 
Arsenical  pyrites,  442 

axotomous,  442 
prismatic,  345,  442 
Arsenieux,  acide,  440 
Arsenikbliithe,  291,  440 
Arsenik  eisen,  442 
-kies,  345 
spiesglawz,  606 
Arsenosum  acidum,  255,  440 
Arsenious  acid,  255 
Arsenium  rhombohedrum,  439 
Arsenous  acid,  440 

acid,  native,  255 
Arsen  silber-blende,  464 
Asbestc  dur,  87 

flexible,  87 
lignilbrm,  88 
tressee,  88 
Asbestus,  87 

common,  87 
radiated,  223 

Arparagus  stone,  276,  277 
Asphalt,  589 

Astasialus  phytogeneus,  374 
Astoria,  97,  98 
Astralus  rliombicus,  258 
Atacamite,  499 

prismatic,  499 
Atelestile,  606 
Augitf,  71 

Augite  spar,  amblygonic,  260 
axotomous,  79 
dystomic,  80 
hemi-prismatic,  81 
paratomous,  71 
peritomous,  91 
polystomous,  74 
prismatic,  67 
prismatoidal,  44 
Augitus  acrotomus,  79 
cuspidatus,  250 
diatomus,  71 
dystomus,  79 
lithicus,  260 
peritomus,  91 
phyllinus,  50 
protoeus,  52,  81 
rhombicus,  198 
rhomboideus,  Var.  43,  44 
scopiformis,  251 
tabularis,  67 
withami,93 
Aurichalcite,  569 
Aurum  cubicum,  510 
graphicum,  518 
rhombicum,  520 
Automolite,  113 
Avanturine,  7 
Axe  stone,  151 
Axinite,  46 

prismatic,  46 
Azure  spar,  prismatic,  262 

uncleavable,  261 
stone,  218 
Azurite,  262,  488 


Babingtonite,  79 
Baikalite,  77 
Balas  ruby,  138 
Baltircorite,  176 


Bandisserite,  295 
Baralus  fusilis,  301 

obliquus,  302 
ponderosus,  304 
rubefaciens,  308 
prismaticus,  310 
Barolite,  301 
Barsowite,  90 
Barystrontianite,  309 
Baryte,  brachytypous  parachrose,  363 
macrotypous  parachrose,  401 
peritomous,  308 
pyramidal  Scheelium,  293 
rhomboidal,  301 
carbonatee,  301 
sulphatee  crystallised,  304 
Barytes,  bicalcareo-carbonate  of,  304 
calcareo-carbonate  of,  302 
carbonate  of,  300 
prismatoidal,  310 
radiated,  307 
sulphate  of,  304 
Barytine,  304 
Baryto-calcite,  302 
Basi-cerine,  425 
Basanomelan,  370 
Batrachite,  606 
Baulite,  629 

Beaumontite,  39,  497,  626 
Berg-cork,  88 
-crystal,  2 
-holz,  88 

Bergmannite,  237 
Bergmehl,  57 
Berg  milch,  267 
Beril  aique-marine,  162 
Bernstein,  593 
Berthierite,  523 
Beryl,  162 

edler,  162 
Beryllus  hexagonus,  162 

rhombohedrus,  169 
rhomboideus,  160 
Berzeline,  485,  607 
Berzelite,  545 
Beudantine,  607,  624 
Bildstein,  200 
Bimstein,  233 
Biotine,  607 
Bismites  acicularis,  435 
rectangulus,  434 
rhombohedrus,  438 
Bismutalus  dodecahedrus,  437 

ochraceus,  436 
Bismuth,  arsenical,  437 

carbonate  of,  436 

cupreous,  435 

cuprifprm,  sulphuret  of,  435 

ferruginous  arseniet  of,  438 

gediegen,  433 

native,  433 

octahedral,  433 

oxide  of,  436 

plumbo  cuprif.,  sulphuret  of.  435 

silicate  of,  437 

sulphuret  of,  434 

telluret  of,  438 

-blende,  437 

glance,  434 

acicular,  435 
prismatic,  434 
rhombohedral,  438 
Bismuthine,  434 


644 


INDEX. 


Bismuth  natif,  433 
ochre,  436 
oxyde,  436 
sulfure,  434 

cuprifere,  435 
plumbo-argentifere,  468 

cuprifere,  435 
Bismutum  argenticum,  468 
octahedrum,  433 
Bitter  spar,  272 
Bittersalz,  naturlicher,  297 
Bitterspath,  297 
Bitume  asphalte,  589 
elastique,  588 
glutineux,  588 
noiratre,  587 
napthe,  587 
petrole,  587 
solide,  589 

liquide  blanchatre,  587 
Bitumen,  588 

compact,  589 
earthy,  588 
elastic,  588 
flexile,  588 
fragrans,  596 
Black  band,  365 
jack,  561 
Bl'attererz,  520 
Blatterkohle,  590 
Blattertellur,  520 
Blei,  arseniksaurcs,  549 
chromsaures,  554 
kohlensaures,  539 
phosphorsaures,  547 
rhombohedrischer  schwefel  kohlen 

saures,  542 

saltsaures,  von  Mendip,  545 
Scheelsaures,  557 
schwefel  and  kohlensaures,  541 
Vanadinsaures,  557 
Bleierz,  blau,  533 
griin,  547 
woiss,  539 
Bleifahlerz,  534 
Bleigelb,  553 
Bleiglanz,  529 
Bleigummi,  538 
Blei-hornerz,  546 
Bleisheweif,  529 
Blei  vitriol,  550 

kupfer,  schwefelsaures,  552 
Blende,  561 

cadmiferous,  564 
dodecahedral  garnet,  561 
dodecahedral  zinc,  561 
prismatic  purple,  527 
charbonneuse,  585 
Bloedite,  331 
Bloodstone,  10 
Blue  spar,  262 
Bohnenerz,  356 
Bog  iron  ore,  357 
Bole,  57 

Bolognian  stone,  307 
Boltonite,  154 
Bonsdorfite,  52 
Boracalcite,  318 
Boracic  acid,  native,  254 

prismatic,  254 
Boracicum,  acidum,  254 
Boracite,  299 

hexahedral,  299 


Boracite,  hydro,  300 

tetrahedral,  299 
Boracius  hemihedrus,  299 
Borax,  324 

obliquus,  324 
Bornine,  438 
Borodiglione,  508 
Botryogene,  371 
Botryolite,  290 
Boulangerite,  560 
Bournonite,  534 
Braardite,  464 
Braunite,  387 
Braunkolile,  592 
Braunstein,  rother,  401 
Braunsteinerz,  blattricher  schwarz, 
Breislakite,  608 
Breunnerite,  296 
Brevicite,  211 
Brewsterite,  66 
Brochantite,  496 
Brogniartin,  332 
Bromlite,  302,  634 
Bronzite,  79,  96 
Brookite,  379 
Brown  spar,  363 
Brucite,  144 

Brythine  salt,  hemi-prismatic,  332 
Bucholzite,  hydrous,  116 
Bucklandite,  80 
Buntkupfererz,  478 
Bustamite,399 
Byssolite,  86 
Bytownite,  191 


Cacholong,  11 

Cacoxenite,  260 

Cadmium,  sulphuret  of,  573 

Calaite,  261 

oriental,  262 

Calamine,  567 

electric,  566 
prismatic,  566 
rhombohedral,  707 

Calamite,  85 

Calcaire,  spath,  264 

Calcareous  spar,  264 

Calcedonite,  544 

Calcedony,  10 

Calcite,  264 

Calcius  decolorans,  275 
Dolomaei,  272 
rhombicus,  270 
rhombohedrus,  264 

Calc  sinter,  268 

Calc  spar,  264 

Caliche,  324 

Callais,  261 

Calomel,  577 

Calstronbaryte,  306 

Canaanite,  89 

Cancrinite,  230 

Candite,  135,  138 

Caoutchouc,  mineral,  588 

Caporcianite,241 

Carbo-cerine,  420 

Carbon,  mineral,  586 

Carbuncle,  20 

Carbunculus  acrotomus,  146 

Carbunculus  decussatus,  110 
dimetricus,  30 


INDEX. 


645 


Carbunculus  dodecahedrus,  19 
hemihedrus,  394 
obliquus,  144 
quadratus,  157 
rhombohedrug,  252 
Carinthin,  82 
Carinthite,  553 
Carnelian,  11 
Carpholite.  18 
Cassiterite',406 
Catlinite,  133 
Cawk,  307 
Celestin,  310 
Celestine,  310 

radiated,  310 
Cerasia  rhomboidea,  527 
Cerasite,  545 
Ceratus  cubicus,  471 
Ceratus  foliatus,  470 

quadratus,  577 
Cererit,  415 
Cerine,  416,  418 
Cerinstein,  415 
Cerite,  415 

titaniferous,  416 
Ceritus  rhombicus,  131 

rhombohedrus,  415 
Cerium,  carbonate  of,  420 
deuto-fluate  of,  425 
neutral  fluate  of,  425 
hydrated  basic  fluoride  of,  426 
silicate  of,  416 
subsesquifluate  of,  425 
and  yttria,  double  fluate  of,  425 
Cerium  ore,  prismatic,  416 

rhombohedral,  415 
uncleavable,  415 
oxyde  siliceux  noir,  416 
silicifere,  415 
yttrifere,  420 
Ceruse,  539 
Ceylonite,  135 
Chabasie,  238 
Chabasin,  238 
Chabasite,  238 
Chalcolite,  428  ' 
Chalk,  269 

black,  58 
Chalkolite,  428 
Chalkopyrite,  482 
Chaux  arseniatee,  291 

boratee  silicieuse,  288 
carbonatee,  264 

concretionnee,  268 
ferro-manganesifere,  274 
magnes.,  primitive,  272 
nacree,  267 

lamellaire,  268 

Chaux  carbpnatde  quartzifere,  266 
saccharoide,268 
spongieuse,  267 
datolit,  288 
fluatee,  280 
nitratee,  288 
phosphatee,  276 
sulphatee,  285 

anhydre,  284 
Chamoisite,  358 
Chapapote,  589 
Charcoal,  mineral,  586 
Chelmsfordite,  68 
Chenocopsolite,  472 


Chiastolite,  118, 119 
Childrenite,  261 
Chlorite,  155 

crystallized,  155, 156 
Chloropal,  358 
ChlorophaBite,  251 
Chlorophane,  283,  284 
Chlorophyllite»  62 
Chlorsilber,  471 
Christianite,  53 
Chrome,  oxide  of,  432          • 
Chrome  garnet,  22,  602 
Chromeisenstein,  385 
Chrome-ochre,  432 
Chrome-ore,  prismatic,  385 
octahedral,  385 
oxyde,  432 
Chronikrite,  608 
Chrysobery],  166 
Chrysocolla,  493 
Chrysocolle,  493 
Chrysolite,  140 

hemi-prismatic,  144 
prismatic,  140 

Chrysolithus  rectangulus,  140 
Chrysophan,  79 
Chrysophrase,  11 
Chusite,  142 
Cimolite,  57 
Cinnabar,  575 
Cinnabar,  hepatic,  576 
Cinnamon-stone,  28 
Clasistylus  acrotomus,  33 
Clausthalite,  537 
Clay,  54 

pipe,  58 
potters,  58 
slate,  58 

Cleavelandite,226 
Clintonite,  79,  628 
Coal,  anthracite,  585 
bituminous,  590 
blind,  585 
bovey, 592 
brown,  592 
cannel,591 
coarse,  590 
coking,  591 
foliated,  590 
glance,  585 
Kilkenny,  585 
light-burn,  hard,  591 
moor,  592 
Newcastle,  591 
pitch,  592 
splint,  591 
wood,  592 

Cobalt,  arseniate  of,  448 
binarseniet  of,  445 
bright  white,  443 
earthy,  448 
grey,  445 
oxide  of,  448 
sulphate  of,  450 
sulpho-arsenide  of,  443 
sulphuret  of,  447 
terarseniet  of,  446 
white,  443 
tin-white,  445 
Cobaltalus  rubellus,  443 
Cobalt  arseniate,  448 
Cobalt  arsenical,  445 


646 


INDEX. 


Cobalt  bleierz,  534 
Cobalt  bloom,  448 
Cobalt  eclatant,  443 

gris,  443 

Cobalticum  vitriolum,  450 
Cobalticus  gypsalus,  449 
Cobaltine,  443 
Cobalt  kies,  447 

mica,  prismatic,  448 
ochre,  448 

black,  448 
red,  448 

ore,  bismuth,  446 
pyritieux,  447 
oxyde  noir,  448 
sulfure,  447 
pyrites  eutomous,  452 
pyrites  hexahedral,  443 
isometric,  447 
octahedral,  443, 445 
Coccolite,  77 
Cog-wheel  ore,  536 
Colophonite,  25 
Colpa,  322 
Columbite,  382 
Columbus  Berzelii,  315 

hemiquadratus,  316 
rectangulus,  382 
Combustible  minerals,  578 
Comptonite,  213,  634 
Condrodite,  144 
Condurrite,  508 
Conite,  297 
Copal,  fossil,  597 
Copper,  acicular  arseniate  of,  506 

anhydrous  dicarbonate  of,  492 
antimonial  grey,  480 
argentiferous  sulphuret  of,  467 
arsenical  and  antimonial  grey,  480 
biailicate  of,  494 
black,  510 

oxide  of,  510 
blue,  477 
carbonate  of,  488 
capillary,  red  oxide  of,  488 
chloride  of,  499 
crenated  hydro-silicate  of,  497 
emerald,  494 

ferruginous  red  oxide  of,  488 
green,  493 
green  carbonated,  490 

carbonate  of,  490 
grey,  479 

hydro-carbonate  of,  488 
hydrous  dicarbonate  of,  490 
diphosphate  of,  500 
phosphate  of,  501 
sesquisilicate,  494 
sub-bisesquiphosphate  of, 

501 

indigo,  477 

lenticular  arseniate  of,  502 
martial  arseniate  of,  599 
muriate  of,  499 
native,  472 
octahedral,  472 
oxydulated,  4S6 
phosphate  of,  501 
platiniferous  grey,  481 
purple,  478 
pyritous,  482 
red  oxide  of,  486 


Copper,  seleniuret  of,  485 
silicate  of,  494 
silico-carbonate  of,  493 
sub-bisesquiarseniate  of,  508 
sulphate  of,  495 
sulphuret  of,  475 
tetrasulphate  of,  496 
trisulpho-antimoniate  of,  479 
vanadiate  of,  509 
variegated,  478 

vitreous,  477 
velvet  blue,  498 
vitreous,  475 
white,  480 
Copperas,  white,  369 
Cppper  glance,  475 

argentiferous,  467 
diprismatic,  534 
hexahedral,  430 
prismatic,  475 
prismatoidal,  536 
tetrahedral,  479 
nickel,  452 
ore,  azure,  488 
lenticular,  502 
octahedral,  486 
purple,  478 
velvet,  498 
yellow,  482 
pyrites,  482 

arsenical,  480 
octahedral,  478,  482 
pyramidal,  482 
yellow,  482 
Coquimbite,  369 
Coralinerz,  576 
Cordierite,  60 
Corne,  la  mine,  471 
Corindon  granulaire,  101 

hyalin,  97 

Corrosive  sublimate,  native,  577 
Corundum,  97 

common,  100,  101 
compact,  100 
dodecahedral,  135 
granular,  100 
imperfect,  100 
octahedral,  113 
perfect,  97 
prismatic,  166 
rhombohedral,  97 
stone,  100 
Cotunnia,  546 
Cotunnite,  546 
Couzeranite,  191 
Covelline,  477 
Craie,  269 
Crichtonite,379 
Crocoise,  554 
Crockalite,  202 
Cronalus  acrotomus,  542 
angleseanus,  550 
diatomus,  544 
flexilis,  541 
hexagonus,  547,  549. 
hyacinthus,  554 
peri  torn  us,  545 
pondercsus,  557 
pyramidalis,  553 
quadratus,  546 
resiniformis,  538 
rhomboideus,  552 


INDEX. 


647 


Cronalus  rhombicus,  539 
rubeus,  555 
vanadicus,  557 
Vauquelini,  556 
Vesuvianus,  546 
Cronstedtite,  357 
Cross-stone,  63 
Cruciforme,  pierre,  63 
Crusite,  118 
Cryalus  fuailis,  331 
Cryolite,  331 
Cube-ore,  372 
Cubizit,  227 
Cuivre,  seleniure  de,  485 

arseniate  en  prisme  rhomboidal 

oblique,  505 
arseniate  lamelliforme,  503 

mamelonne  fibrcux,  507 
octaedre  aigu,  506 
primitif,  502 
arseniate  forrifere,  599 
carbonate  bleu,  448 

terreux,  493 
vert,  490 
dioptase,  494 
gris,  479 

antimonie,  480 
muriate,  499 
natif,  472 
oxyde  noir,  510 
oxyde  rouge,  486 
oxydule,  486 
phosphate,  500 
pyriteux,  482 

hepatique,  478 
selenie,  485 

argental,  469 
spiciforme,  477 
sulfate,  495 
sulfure,  475 

argentifere,  467 
sulfure  bismutifere,  435 
hepatique,  477 
prismatoide,  536 
Cuivreuse,  pyrite,  482 
Cuivre  veloute,  498 
vitreux,  475 
Cummingtonite,  251 
Cuprum  octahedrum,  472 
Cyanose,  495 
Cymophane,  166 
Cypralas  acicularis,  506 
acrotomus,  505 
amorphus,  493 
coeruleus,  488 
concentricus,  509 
decrepitans,  508 
dystomus,  500 
exhalans,  499 
foliaceus,  503 
hemihedrus,  501 
rectangulus,  502 
rhombohedrus,  494 
vulgaris,  490 
Cyprine,  22 
Cyprites  cubicus,  430 

dodecahedrus,  481 
rectangulus,  534 
rhombicus,  475 
tetrahedrus,  479 
Cypromica,  503 


Danaite,  346 

Danburite,  172 

Datholite,  288 

Datholite,  prismatic,  288 

Davidsonite,  121 

Davina,  40 

Davyne,  40 

Delphinite,  44 

Delvauxine,  367 

Dermatine,609 

Desmine,  35 

Devonite,  258 

Deweylite  of  Emmons,  148 

Diallage,  52 

Diallage  chatoyante,  95 

motalloide,  var.  de,  94, 95,  96 
Diallogite,  401 
Dialogue,  398 
Diamond,  581 
Diaspore,  102 
Dichroite,  60,61 
Diopside,  75 
Dioptase,  494 
Diploite,  199 
Dipyre,  234,  237 
Disthene,  106 

spar,  euklastic,  102 
Dog  tooth  spar,  264 
Dolomite,  272 
Doubly -refracting  spar,  264 
Dreelite,  633 
Dufrenite,  403 
Dyoxylite,  541 
Dysclasite,  122 
Dysluite,  114 
Dysodile,  593 
Dystome  spar,  prismatic,  288 


Earth-foam,  268 

EARTHY  MINERALS,  1 

Ecume  de  mer,  296 

de  terre,  268 

Edelite,  202 

Edingtonite,  248 

Edwardsite,  422 

Egeran,  31 

Egyptian  pebble,  12 

Eisen,  gediegen,  324 

Eisenchrom,  385 

Eisenerde,  blau,  367 

Eisenerde,  griine,  609 

Eisenerz  trappisches,  379 
hystatisch.es,  379 

Eisenglanz,  350 

Eisen  kies,  338 

Eisenkiesel,  8 

Eisenoxyd,  350 

Eisenpecherz,  361 

Eisensinter,  361 

Eisenstein,  blau,  249 
rother,  355 
schwartz,  391 

Eisen  vitriol,  368 

rother,  371 
eis-spath,  195 

Ekebergite,  237 

Elasmites  hexagonus,  405 
quadratus,  520 
rhombicus,  461 


648 


INDEX. 


Elasmose,  520 

Elaterite,  588 

Elaeolite,  221 

Electrum,  510,  513 

Emerald,  162 

oriental,  98 
prismatic,  160 
rhombohedral,  162 

Emeraude,  162 

Emeril,  101 

Emery,  101 

Emmonsite,  308 

Endellione,  534 

Epidote,  44 

dichromatic,  629 
var.  d',  43 
granular,  46 
rnanganesian,  46 
violet,  46 

Epimecius  Bucholzianus, 
cyaneus,  106 
dissiliens,  102 
Sillimanianus,  159 

Epistilbite,  216 

Epsom  salt,  native,  297 

prismatic,  297 

Epsomite,  297 

Ercinite,  63 

Erdkobold,  448 

rother,  448 

Erdpecb,  elastiches,588 
erdiges,  588 
schlagiges,  589 

Eremite,  424 

Erinite,  509 

Erinite  of  Dr.  Thomson,  631 

Erlanite,  217 

Erythrine,  448 

Eschenite,  414 

Esmarkite,  176,  288 

Essonite,  28 

Etain  oxyde,  406 
sulfure,  430 

Euchroa  aurea,  441 
rubella,  440 

Euchroite,  507 

Euclase,  160 

Eudilyt,  252 

Eudyalite,  252 

Eukairite,  469 

Euklas,  160 

Eupyrchroite,  279 

Exanthalose,  322 


Fahlerz,  479 

Fahlunite,  59 

hard,  61 

Fassaite,  76 

Faujasite,  207 

Fayalite,  231 

Federerz,  525 

Felspar,  192,  620 

anorthomous,  53 
common,  194 
decomposed,  196 
glassy,  197 
hemi-pyramidal,  248 
heterotomous,  224 
Labradore,  225 
polychromatic,  225 
prismatic,  192 


Felspar,  prysmato-pyramidal,  234 
pyramidal,  234 
rhombohedral,  219 
rhomboidal,219 
tetarto-prismatic,  226 
Feldspath,  192 

glassiger,  197 
apyre,  118 
bleu,  262 
nacree,  193 
opalin,  225 
Fer  arseniate,  373 
arsenical,  345 
calcareo-siliceux,  360 
carbure,  583 
chromate,  385 
Fergusonite,  316,  417 
Fer  hydro-oxyde,  354 
muriate,  362 
natif,  324 

meteorique,  337 
volcanique,  337 
oligiste,  350 

oligiste  concretionn6,  356 
oxalate,  374 
oxyde,  350 

brun  granuleux,  365 
carbonate,  363 
haematite,  356 
resinite,  361 
oxydule,  347 

titane,  379 
Ferrifere,  343 
Ferrum  octahedrum,  324 
Fer  phosphate,  365 

terreux,  367 
spathique,  363 
speculaire,  350 
sulphate,  368 
sulphure,  338,  343 

arsenical,  342 
aurifere,  342 
blanc,  342 
epigene,  341 
magnetique,  343 
Fettstein,  221 
Fibrolite,  106,  108 
Figure-stone,  200 
Fiorite,  17 
Fishaugenstein,  185 
Fish-eye-stone,  186 
Flint,  9 
Floatstone,  9 
Flos  ferri,  270,  271,  272 
Flucerine,  425 
Fluellite,  262 
Fluellus  Childrenii,  261 
hexagonus,  276 
obliquus,  298 
octahedrus,  280 
pyramidalis,  262 
rhombicus,  280 
Fluor,  compact,  284 
earthy,  284 
octahedral,  280 
haloide,  prismatic,  599 
Fluorine,  280 
Fluor  spar,  280 
Fluss,  280 
Forsterite,  143 
Frankliniie,  353 
Fuller's  earth,  56 


INDEX. 


649 


Gadolinite,  169 

prismatic,  169 
Goealum  columnare,  331 

obliquum,  332 

Gahnite,  113  ,    ^    - 

Galena,  529 

Galena,  argentiferous,  534 
cobaltic,  534 
specular,  533 
Galmei,  566,  567 
Gallizinite,  570 
Gansekothig-erz,  472 
Garnet,  19 

black,  21 

brown  manganese,  24 
chrome,  22,  602 
common,  20 
dodecahedral,  19 
manganesian,  23 
green,  21 
precious,  19 
prismatoidal,  110 
pyramidal,  30 
tetrahedral,  394 
Gaylussite,  334 
Gehlenite,  32 
Gelb-bleierz,  553 

erz,  520 

Geokronite,  559 
Gibbsite,  103 
Gieseckite,  189 
Gigantholite,  206 
Giobertite,  296 
Giseckite,  189 
Gismondine,  71 

Glance  blende,  hexahedral,  400 
Glanzkohle,  585 
Glaserz,  459  A 

Glaskoph,  brauner,  356 
rother,  356 
schwartzer,  391 
Glauberite,  332,  616 
Glauber  salt,  322 

prismatic,  322 
prismatoidal,  320 
Glaubersalz,  naturlisches,  322 
Glaucolite,  202 
Glimmer,  179 
Glucina,  bisilicate  of,  169 
Gmelinite,  212 
i    Goethite,  355 
i    Gold,  argentiferous,  513 
gediegen,  510 
graphic,  518 
hexahedral,  510 
native,  510 
-glance,  yellow,  520 
i    Gorlandite,  549 
;   Goutte  d'eau,  129 
i    Grammatite,  84 
I    Grammite,  67 
i    Granat,  edler,  19 

gemeiner,  20 
i   Graphit,  583 
Graphite,  rhomboidal,  583 

mica,  rhombohedral,  583 
,   Grasse  pierre,  221 
i    Graustein,  240 
Green  earth,  156 
Greenockite,  573,  621 
Greenovite,  613 


Gregorite,  378 
Grenat.  19 

brun,  20 
granulifonne,  26 
Grenatit,  110 
Grenat  manganesie,  23 
melanite,  25 
noble,  19 
noir,  25 
resinite,  25 
rouge  de  feu,  26 
Grobkohle,  590 
Grossularite,  21 
Grunerde,  156 
Gultigerz,  schwartz,  462 

weiss,462 
Gurhofian,  274 
Gyps,  285 

Gypsalus  cobalticus,  449 
rectangulus,  284 
rhombicus,  292 
rhomboideus,  285 
stellatus,  291 
Gypsum,  285 

axifrangible,  285 
compact,  287 
earthy,  288 
fibrous,  287 
granular,  288 


Haarkies,  451 
Haematite,  brown,  356 
fibrous,  356 
red,  355 
scaly,  356 

Haidingerite,  292,  523 
Hal-baryte,  diprismatic,  301 

he  mi-prismatic,  302 
peritomous,  308 
prismatic,  304 
prismatoidal,  310 
Halb-opal,  15 
Hallite,  257 
Halloysite,  106 

Haloide,  brachytypous  lime,  296 
diatomous  euclas,  448 
dicromatic  euclas,  365 

gypsum,  292 
hemi-prismatic  fluor,  298 

gypsum,  291 
macrotypoua  lime,  272 
octahedral  fluor,  280 
paratomous  lime,  275 
prismatic  cryone,  331 
fluor,  331 
gypsum,  284 
lime,  270 

prismatoidal  gypsum,  285 
rhombohedral  alum,  330 
rhombohedral  fluor,  276 
Harmotome,  63 

lime,  627 
Hatchetine,  594 
Hausmannite,  386 
Hauyne,222 
Hayesine,  318 
Haydenite,  123,  613 
Heavy  spar,  304 

columnar,  307 
lamellar,  304 
Hedenbergite,  78 


650 


INDEX. 


Hedyphan,  550 

Heliotrope,  10 

Helleflinta,  200 

Helvine,  394 

Hematite,  varieties  of,  391 

Hepatite,  307 

Herderite,  280 

Herrerite,  519 

Herschellite,  187 

Hetecoklin,  609 

Heteposite,  368 

Heterosite,  368 

Heulandite,  37,  626 

Hisingerite,  359 

Houille,  590,  591 

papyracee,  593 

Holmesite,  79,  628 

Honeystone,  596 

Honigstein,  596 

Hope! le,  571 

Ht.rnblei,  546 

Hornblende,  81 

crystallized,  82 
ferruginous,  92 
Labradorische,  94 
massive,  83 
-schiefer,  83 

Hornerz,  471 

Hornstone,  13 

Hudsonite,  127 

Humboldtilite,  177,  218,  623 

Humboidtine,  374 

Humboldtite,  288,  290,  374 

Humite,  146 

Huraulite,  402 

Hyacinth,  158 

Hyait,  360 

Hyalite,  16 

Hyalosiderite,  142 

Hyalus  acutus,  46 
bicolor,  60 
ferriferus,  48 
opalinus,  14 
rhombohedrus,  1 
vulcani,  231 

Hydrargillite,  103,  258 

Hydrargyrum,  573 

dodecahedron!.  574 
fluidum,  573 

Hydro-borate  of  lime,  318 

Hydro-boracite,  300 

Hydrolite,  212 

Hydrolua  argilliformis,  104 
Gibbsianus,  103 
pyrosmicus,  190 

Hydromngnesite,  139 

Hydrophite,  149,  619 

Hydrotalcite,  134 

Hypersthene,94 

Hypochlorite,  609 

Hypostilbite,  215 


Iceland  spar,  264 
Ice  spar,  195 
Ichthyophthalmite,  185 
Idocrase,  30 
Ilmenite,  380,  603 
Ilvaite,  360 
Indianite,  49 
Indian  pipe-stone,  132 


Indicolite  244,  247 
lod-quecksilber,  577 
lod-silber,  470 
lolite,  60 

hydrous,  62 
Iridium,  517 

pure  native,  516 
rhornbohednil,  517 
and  osmium,  alloy  of,  517 
hexagonum,  517 
osmie,  517 
Iridpsmine,  517 
Iserine,  378 
Isopyre,  48 
Ittnerite,  220 

Iron,  anhydrous  silicate  of,  357 
argentiferous  arsenical,  346 
argillaceous  carbonate  of,  365 
arseniate  of,  372, 373 
arsenical,  345 

bisulphated  peroxide  of,  369 
carbonate  of,  363 
chloride  of,  367 
chromated,  385 
cold  short,  357 
cuprous  arseniate  of  599 
diarseniate  of  373 
earthy  phosphate  of,  367 

pleisto-magnetic,  350 
fibrous  carbonate  of,  365 
hydrous  disilicate  of,  359 
peroxido  of,  354 
magnetic  oxide  of,  347 
manganeso-diphosphate  of,  402 
native,  324 

meteoric,  337 
muriate  of,  362 
volcanic,  337 
ochrey  brown,  356 
octahedral,  324 
oligisto-maAketic,  350 
oxalate  of,  374 
phosphate  of,  365 
pleisto-magnetic,  347 
scaly,  356 
sparry,  363 
spa^hose,  363 
specular,  350 

oxide  of,  350 
sulphate  of,  368 
sulphated  peroxide  of,  370 
titaniate  of,  378 
tungstate  of,  375 
yellow  phosphate  of,  containing 

chlorine,  367 

and  cobalt,  arsenical  sulphuret  of,  346 
-earth,  blue,  367 
green,  609 
-flint,  8 
-glance,  550 
-mica,  prismatic,  365 
-ore,  argillaceous,  357,  363 
axotomous,  380 
black,  391 
blue,  365 
bog,  356 
brown,  354 
common  magnetic,  347 
diprismatic,  360 
dodecahedral,  353 
fibrous  brown,  356 
magnetic,  347 


INDEX. 


651 


Iron-ore,  octahedral,  347 
pitchy,  361,  402 
prismatic,  354 
red,  355 

rhombohedral,  350 
uncleavable,  382 
pyrites,  arsenical,  342 
auriferous,  342 
cubic,  338 
hexahedral,  338 
magnetic,  343 
prismatic,  342 
rhombohedral,  343 
white,  342 
yellow,  338 

Iron  sand  of  Jameson,  350 
Iron  stone,  clay,  357,  363,  365 
columnar  clay,  365 
lenticular  clay,  365 
red,  355 
vitriol,  native  red,  of  Fahlun,  371 


Jade,  common,  151 

nephritique,  151 
Jamesonite,  525 
Jargoon,  158 
Jaspe-opal,  16 
Jasper,  common,  12 

Egyptian,  12 

porcelain,  13 

ribbon,  12 

striped,  12 
-opal,  16 
Jayet,  592 
Jeffersonite,  74,  605 
Jet,  592 
Johannite,  430 
Johnstonite,  557 
Jovius  quadratus,  406 
Junkerite,  364 
Jurinite  of  Soret,  379 

K 

Kakoxene,  260 
Kalk  salpeter,  288 

-sinter,  268 

-spath,  264 

-stein,  268 

-tuff,  270 
Kallochrom,  554 
Kamkies,  342 
Kammererite,  115,  619 
Kaneefstein,  28 
Kaolin,  196 
Karneol,  11 
Karpholite,  18 
Karphosiderite,  368 
Kerasine,  546 
Kerasite,  545 

Kerate,  hexahedral  pearl,  471 
Kerate,  pyramidal  pearl,  577 
Kerolite,  149 
Kibdelophan,  380 
Kieselmalachite,  493 
Kieselsinter.  17 
Kieskupfer,  493 
Killinite,  201 
Kimmeridge-coal,  54 
Klaprothine,  262 


Knebelite,  399. 
Kobalt,  glanz,  443 
Kobalt,  schwefel,  447 
-bluthe,  448 
-kies,  447 
-vitriol,  450 
Kobellite,  560 
Koboldine,  447 
Koenigine,  497 
Kohle,  kennel,  591 
Kohlenblende,  585 
Kokholith,77 
Kollyrite,  1  4 
Koupholite,  34 
Kouphone  spar,  abrazite,  71 

Brewsteritic,  66 
Comptonitic,  213 
Davy  tic,  40 
dialomous,     1 
diplogenic,  216 
dodecahedral,  229 
flabelliform,  210 
hemi-prismatic,  37 
hexahedral,  212 
macrotypous,  243 
octahedral,  231 
orthotomous,  204 
paratomous,  63 
peritomous,  202 
prismatic,  204 
prismatoidal,  35 
pyramidal,  185 
rhombohedral,  238 
staurotypous,  184 
trapezoidal,  183 
Kreide,  269 
Keuzstein,  63 
Krisoberil,  166 
Krokydolite,  249 
Kryolith,  331 

Krysolith,  140  ^. 

Kubizit,  227 
Kupaphrite,  508 
Kupfer,  gediegen,  472 
linsen,  502 

octaedrisches  phosphorsaurea,  500 
salzsaures,  499 
-bluthe,  603 
erz,  weiss,  480 
glanz, 475 
glimmer,  503 
griin,  eisenschussig,  493 
kies,  482 
lazur,  488 
mangan,  393 
nickel,  452 
sammterz,  498 
schaum,  508 
smaragd,  494 
schwarz,  510 
vitriol,  495 
wismutherz,  435 
Kyanite,  106 


Labradorite,  225 
Labradoratein,  225 
Lanarkite,  541 
Langstaffite,  144 
Lapis-lazuli,  218 
Laumonite,  41 


652 


INDEX. 


Lasionite,  258,  259 
Latrobite,  ]99 
Lave  vitreuse  perle,  188 
Lazulit,  262 
Lazulite,  218 
Lazulus  amorphus,  261 
rhombicus,  262 
Lazurstein,  218 
Lead,  arseniate  of,  549 

bisulpho  antimonite  of,  526 

bitelluret  of,  520,  539 

black,  583 

blue,  533 

carbonate  of,  539 

chloride  of,  546 

chloro-carbonate  of,  546 

chromate  of,  554 

chromo-phosphate  of,  548 

cupreo-chromate  of,  556 

cupreous  sulphate  of,  552 

cupreous  sulphate-carbonate  of,  544 

dichloride  of,  545 

earthy  carbonate  of,  541 

feather  ore,  525 

hydrous  aluminate  of,  538 

raolybdate  of,  553 

muriate  of,  545 

murio-carbonate  of,  546 

native,  529 

oxido-chloride  of,  545 

phosphate  of,  547 

pure  chromate  of,  in  form  of  the 

molybdate,  554 
rhomboidal  carbonate  of,  542 
Scheelate  of,  557 
seleniet  of,  537 
selenite  of,  558 
seleniuret  of,  537 
sexaluminate  of,  538 
subsesquichromate  of,  553 
sulphate  of,  550 
sulphato-tri-carbonatc  of,  542 
sulphuret  of,  523 
sulphuretted  sulphate  of,  534 
supersulphuret  of,  534 
singular  crystal  of,  623 
trismolybdatc  of,  554 
tungstate  of,  557 
vanadate  of,  557 

and  antimony,  sulphuret  of,  533,  560 
cobalt,  seleniuret  of,  538 
copper,  chromate  of,  556 
seleniuret  of,  537 
mercury,  seleniuret  of,  538 
antimony  and  silver,  sulphuret  of,  533 
baryte,  axotomous,  542 

brachytypous,  546 
diplogenic,  552 
diprismatic,  539 
hemi-prismatic,  554 
paratomous,  544 
peritomous,  545 
prismatic,  550 
prismaloidal,  541 
pyramidal,  553 
rhombohedral,  547,  549 
-glance,  529 

cobaltic,  534 
hexahedral.  529 
Leadhillite,  542 
Lead  ore,  brown,  547 

corneous,  546 


Lead  ore,  looking-glass,  533 

white,  539 
Lead,  ore,  yellow,  553 

spar,  prismatic,  554 
pyramidal,  553 
red,  554 

rhombohedral.  549 
tri-prismatic,  550 
Lebererz,  576 
Ledererite,  214,  630 
Ledente,  412 
Leelite,  200 
Lehuntite,  252 
Lemnian  earth,  57 
Lenzinite,  105 
Leonhardite,  614 
Lepidokrokite,  355 
Lepidolite,  179,  180, 181 
Leuchtenbergite,  604 
Leucite,  183 
Leucophane,  209 
Leucopyrite,  442 
Leuzit,  183 
Levyne,  243 
Liberkies,  343 
Libethenite,  500 
Lievrite,  360 
Lignite,  502 
Ligurito,  143 
Limbelite,  142 

Lime,  anhydrous  sulphate  of,  284 
Lime,  arseniate  of,  291 

baryto-fluate  of,  290 

bisilicate  of,  67 

borate  of,  288,  318 

borosilicate  of,  288 

carbonate  of,  264 

fibrous  phosphate  of,  279 

fluate  of,  280 

hydrous  sulphate  of,  285 

nitrate  of,  288 

oxalate  of,  292 

phosphate  of  276 

prismatic  carbonate  of,  270 

stalactite  carbonate  of,  268 

subsesquiphosphate  of,  276 

sulphate  of,  235 

tersilicate  of,  70 

tungstate  of,  293 

vanadate  of,  619 

and  soda,  native  carbonate  of,  334 

•harmotome,  184 

-stone,  altered  blue,  146 
granular,  268 
uiagnesian,  274 
prismatic,  270 
Limonite,  354 
Linarite,  552 
Lincolnite,  39 
Linsenerz,  502 
Liquor  seiernalis,  573 
Liroconite,  573 
Lithomarge,  55 

friable,  55 

Loadstone,  native,  347 
Lomonit,  41 
Lucu Ilite,  269 
Lunites  Auricus,  518 
Cupricus,  467 
dodecahedrus,  458 
peritomus,  463 
rhombicus,  462 


INDEX. 


653 


Lunites  rhombohedrus,  464 

Selenicua,  469 

Telluricus,  458 
Lycites  acrotomus,  525 

Berthieri,  523 

diatomus,  523 

Zinkeni,  526 
Lythodes,  221 

M 

Made,  118, 119 
Macluerite,  144 

Magnesia,  anhydrous  silicate  of,  140 
biborate  of,  299 
borate  of,  299 
carbonate  of,  295 
di  hydro  us  bisilicate  of,  153 
earthy  carbonate  of,  296 
hydrate  of,  139 
hydrous  sesquisilicate  of,  147 
native,  139 

hydrate  of,  139 
nitrate  of,  298 
silicious  hydrate  of,  152 
soda  sulphate  of,  333 
sulphate  of,  297 
tersilicate  of,  88 
Magnesialus  fibrosus,  295 

rhombohedrus,  296 
Magnesia  and  iron,  carbonate  of,  296 
Magnesian  spath,  296 
Magnesie  boratee,  299 
hydratee,  139 

silicieuse,  153, 
nitrated,  298 
phosphatee,  298 
sulphatee,  297 
Magnesite,  295 
Magnet,  native,  350 
Magneteisenstein,  347 
Magnetkies,  343 
Malachite,  490 

axotomous  habroneme,  505 
diatomous  habroneme,  505 
diprismatic  olive,  500 
dystomic  habroneme,  509 
fibrous,  491 
hemi-prismatic  habroneme,  490 

olive,  556 

hexahedral  lirocone,  372 
massive,  491 
prismatic  azure,  488 

emerald,  507 
habroneme,  501 
lirocone,  502 
•  olive,  506 

prismatoidal  habroneme,  499 
ihombohedral  emerald,  494 
rhomboidal  emerald,  494 
uncleavable  staphyline,  493 
Malacolithe,  77 
Malthe,  588 

Mangan,  kohlensaures,  400 
kupfer,  393 
-blende,  400 
Manganerz,  brachytypous,  387 

dichtes  schwartz,  391 
Manganese,  arseniet  of,  400 
arseniuret  of,  400 
bisilicate  of,  397 
black,  386 

55* 


Manganese,  caroonate  or,  401 
corneous,  398 
cupreous,  393 
earthy,  393 

ferruginous  silicate  of,  396 
grey  ore  of,  388 

oxide  of,  389 

hydrated  deutoxide  of,  389 
hydrosilicate  of,  398 
hydrous  binoxide  of,  392 

sesquibinoxide  of,  393 
phosphate  of,  402 
red,  401 

oxide  of,  387 
rhomboidal  red,  401 
sesquisilicate  of,  395 
ailicate  of,  395,  397,  609 
sulphuret  of,  400 
titaniate  of,  613 
blende,  prismatic,  400 
ore,  brachytypous,  387 
ore,  compact  and  fibrous,  391 
prismatoidal,  389 
foliated  black,  386 
prismatic,  388,  389 
prismatoidal,  389 
pyramidal,  386 
uncleavable,  391 


hydrate  cuprifere,  393 
oxidee  carbonate,  401 


oxidee  hydratee,  386 

concretionnee,  391 
metalloide,  389 
non-barytefere,  391 
silicifere,  46,  397 
-spar,  397 
sulfuree,  400 
Manganite,  389 

Mangan  kiesel,  schwartzer,  398 
Manganspath,  397 
Manganus  acrotomus,  389 
cobaltiferus,  443 
Cupriferus,  393 
informis,  391 
peritomus,  387 
prismaticus,  388 
rhombicus,  389 
terrenus,  393 

Matantalus  decrepitans,  401 
Frenaei,  368 
quadratus,  402 
rhombohedrus,  363, 
Marble,  cotham,  269 

landscape,  269 
lumachelli,  269 
ruin,  269 
statuary,  268 
Matceline,  609 
Marcesite,  338 
Marekanite,  232 
Margarite,  182 
Margaritus  magnesicus,  139 
saponaceus,  155 
Marl,  270 
Marmatite,  572 

Marmo  bardiglio  di  Bergamo,  285. 
Marmolite,  153 
Mascagnin,  327 
Masonite,  132 
Meerschaum,  296 
Meionite,  234 
Melacorxise,  510 


654 


INDEX. 


Melane  glance,  prismatic,  462 

ore,  anorthitic,  416 
Melanite,  25 
Melanochroite,  555 
Melanophseus  acicularis,  419 
flammans,  420 
Mengianus,  414 
obliquus,  169 
rectangulus,  415 
thoriferous,  170 
triclinatus,  416 
Melanterie,  368 
Melinose,  553 

Mellichrone  leain,  pyramidal.  596,  623 
Mellilite,  69 
Mellis  pyramidalis,  596 
Me  I  lite,  596 
Menaccanite,  378 
Mendiffite,  545 
Menilite,  16 
Mongite,  422 
Mercure  iodurede,  577 
argental,  574 
ioiiure,  577 
muriate,  577 
natif,  573 
sulfure,  575 
Mercury,  573 

chloride  of,  577 
diciiliiride  of,  577 
dodecahedral,  574 
iodic,  577 
liquid,  573 
muriate  of,  577 
nitrate  of,  604 
pyramidal  corneous,  577 
sulphuret  of,  575 
Merda  di  Diavolo,  593 
Mesole,  210 
Mesolite,  210 
Mesotype,  202,  204 

crystallized,  203 
fibrous,  2l)3 
pulverulent,  203 
METALS  AND  METALLIFEROUS  MINERALS, 

NATIVE,  324 

Metaxite  of  Breithaupt,  149 
Miargyrite,  467 
Mica,  178 

brown,  619 
common,  179 
magnesian,  178 
prismatic  copper,  503 
euclore,  503 

pyramidal  euclore,  427,  428 
rhombohedral,  178 

euchlore,  503: 
melane,357 
di- axial,  179 
filamenteux,  182 
hexugona, 178 
mangarina,  182 
mono-axial,  178 
obliqua,  179 
prismatique,  179 
rhombohedrique,  178 
Micaphyelite,  118 
Micarelle,  189 
Michaelite,  17 
Microlite,  314 
Miemito,  vi74 
Mimetese,  549 


Mineralalkali,  naturlischos,  320 
Minium,  575 

native,  536 
Mispickel,  345 
Misy.  37-2 
Mohsite,  382 
Molybdanglanz,  405 
Molybdan  silber,  438 
Molybdena,  405 

-glance,  rhombohedral,  405 
-ocker,  406 
-silver,  438 

Molybdene  sult'ure,  405 
Molybdenite,  405 
Molybdenum,  bisulphide  of,  405 
bisulphuret  of,  405 
oxide  of,  406 
Molybdic  ochre,  406 
Monazite,  422 
Monradite,  618 
Monticellite,  610 
Moonstone,  193 
Morasterz,  356 
Moroxite,  276 
Morvenite,  65 
Mountain  cork,  88 

green,  490 

leather,  88 

meal,  57 

paper,  88 

tallow,  594 

wood,  88 
Mullerine,  520 
Muller*  glass,  16 
Mullicite,  367 
Mundic,  338 
Murchisonite,  195 
Muriacite,  284 
Mussite,  75 
Mysorite,  492 


N 


Nacrite,  155,  156 
Nadelerz,  435 
Nagyagererz,  520 
Naphtha,  587 

Napthaline,  naturlische,  595 
Natrolite,  202,  204 
Natron,  320 

boraxsaures,  324 
prismatic,  3-20,  321 
permanens,  321 
salt,  hcmiprismatic,  331 

prismatic,  320 
Natron  efflorescens,  320 

Gay-Lussianum,  334 
Needle  ore,  435 
Needlestone,  210 
Numalite,  152 
Nematus  gracilis,  152 

rectangulus,  153 
Neoctese,  600 
Neoplase,  371 
Nepheline,  219 
Nephrite,  151 

spar,  prismatic,  234 

uncleavable,  151 
Nephrus  amorphus,  151 
peritomus,234 
Neurolite,  92 
Newkirkite,  397 


INDEX. 


655 


NiccalusHerreri,519 

prasinus,  455 
Nickel,  antimonial,  451 

antimoniel  of,  451 

arsenical,  452 

binarseniet  of,  453 

copper,  452 

native,  451 

sulpho-antimonial,  452 
-arsenide  of,  454 

sulphuret  of,  451 

white,  453 

arsnniate,  455 

arsenical  antimonifere,  452 

-blutho,  455 

-glance,  454 

-glanz,  454 

-oclier,  455 

-oxyde,  455 

-pyrites,  prismatic,  452 

spiesjjlaserz,  452 

•ulfure,  451 
Nigrin,  377 
Nitrate  de  cliaux,  288 
Nitre,  319 

prismatic,  319 
salt,  prismatic,  319 
Nitrocalcite,  288 
Nitro-magnusite,  293 
Nitrum  rhombicum,  319 

rhombohedrum,  323 
Nontronite,  610 
Nozin,  223 
Nosean,  -223 
Nuttalite,  220 


Obsidian,  231 

Obsidienne,  lave  vitreuse,  231 

Octahedrite,  432 

Odontalito,  261 

Oil,  mineral,  587 

Okenite,  123 

Oktcedrite,  432 

Olivenerz,  506 

Olivenite,  598 

acicular,506 
Olivenkupfer,  506 
Olivin,  141 

Olivine,  meteoric,  142 
Olivinite,  prismatic,  500,  501 

radiated  acicular,  505 
Ollaire,  pierre,  151 
Onegite,  354 
Onkonsite,  125 
Onyx,  10 
Oolite,  269 
Opal,  14 

common,  15 

edlcr,  14 

ferruginous,  16 

fire,  15 

gemeiner,  15 

Lalb,  15 

holz,  16 

noble,  14 

precious,  14 

semi,  15 

wood,  16 

-jasuer,  16 
Ophite,  147 


Ophitis,  147 

communis,  147 

var.,  153 

figularis,  200 
Opsimose,  398 
Or  natif,  510 
Orpiment,  red,  440 

yellow,  441 
Orthite,  419 
Orthoklas,  193 
Osmelite,  155 
Ostranite,  160 
Ottrelite,  173 
Oxalate  de  for,  374 
Oxidum  manganeso-manganicum,  387 
Ozokerite,  595 


Palladium,  515 

native,  515 

octahedral,  515 

selenietof,  516 

seleniuret  of,  608 
Palladium  octahedrum,  515 
Panabase,  479 
Paranthine,  234,  237 
Pargasite,  83 
Paulite,  94 
Peach,  156 
Pea  ore,  356 
Pearl  mica,  rhomboidal,  182 

rhombohedral,  182 
sinter,  17 
spar,  272,  274 
Pearlstonp,  188,  233 
Pea-stone,  269 
Peche-blende,  426 
Pecherz,  426 
Pcchkohle,  592 
Pechstoin,  232 
Pektolite,  238,  624 
Peliom,  61 
Pelokonite,  402 
Peiiclase,  629 
Pericline,  224 
Peridot,  140 

a Here,  142 
granuliforme,  141 
Periklin,  224 
Peristerite,  206 
Perle,  lave  vitrense,  188 
Perl  glimmer,  182 
Perlstein,  188 
Perovskiie,  626 
Perowskinite,  404 
Petnline  spar,  pcritomous,  59 
Petalitc,  197 

prismatic,  197 
-spar,  197 

Petalus  rhombicus,  197 
Petrol,  587 
Petroleum,  587 
Phakolite,  242 
Pharmacolite,  291 
Pharmakosideritj  372 
Phenakite,  1H9 
Phillipsite,  184,  627 
Phillipsite  of  Beaudant,  478 
Pholerite,  117 

Phosphate  «le  fer  manganesien  vert,  402 
Phosphorite,  276, 278 


656 


INDEX. 


Phosphorkupfererz,  500 
Phosphorkupfer  von  libethen,  500 

rheinbreitbacb,  501 
Phosphor  mangan,  402 
Phosphyttria,  313 
Photizite,  398 
Phyllinius  aereus,  96 

metallinus,  94 
Schilleri,  95 
Phyllite,  207 
Physajite,  130 
Pickeringite,  616 
Picralum  deliquescens,  298 
Glauberium,  322 
octahedrum,  328 
rhorabicum,  297 
tenellum,  288 
Thenardianum,  323 
volcanicum,  327 
Picrolite  of  Hausmann,  149 
Picro-pharmacolite,  292 
Picrosmine,  153,  154 
Pictite,  138 
Pierophylle,  149 
Pierre  d'  azur,  218 
Pikrophylle,  172 
Pikrosm'in,  J53 
Pimelite,  455 
Pinguite,  358 
Finite,  189 
Pisolite,  269 
Pistacit,  44 
Pistasite,  44 
Pitch,  earthy  mineral,  588 
elastic  mineral,  588 
slaggy  mineral,  589 
blende,  426 
stone  ,231,  232 

of  menil-montant,  16 
Pittizite,  361 
Plagionite,  525 
Plasma,  10 

Platina,  hexahedral,  513 
Platine,  gediegen,  513 

natif  ferifere,  513 
Platinum,  native,  513 

cubicum,  513 
Pleonaste,  135 
Pleuroklas,  298 
Plomb  arseniate,  549 
bleu,  533 
carbonate,  539 
chromate  rouge,  554 
come,  546 

cuivreux,  sulfate  de.  552 
Plombgommo,  538 

hydro-alnmineux,538 
jaune,  553 
molybdate,  553 
muriate,  546 
murio-cirbonate,  546 
natif,  vitriol  de,  550 
noir,  533 
oxyde  rouge,  536 
phosphate,  547 
seleniure,  537 
sulfate,  550 
sulfure,  529 

antimonifere,  534 
prismatique  epigene,  533 
speculr      '"" 
tungstate,  557 


Plumbago,  583 

scriptoria,  583 
Plumbites  Cobalticus,  534 
cubicus,  529 
Selenicua,  537 
Plumbo-calcite,  275 
Plumbum  galena,  529 
Poix  minarale  elastique,  588 
scoriacee,  589 
terreuse,  588 
Polier  schiefer,  55 
Polyadelphite,  135 
Polybasite,  464 
Polyhallite,  331 
Polylite,  1-27 
Polymignite,  415 
Polysphaerite,549 
Poonahlite,  171 
Porcelain-clay,  196 
Porcellanerde,  196 
Porcellanite,  13 
Potash,  muriate  of,  612 

nitrate  of,  319 

sulphate  of,  320 
-alum,  329 
Potassc  nitratee,  319 

.     sulphatee,  320 
Potassium,  chlorure  de,  612 
Potstone,  151 
Prase, 7 
Prehnite,  33 

Prismatoidal  kouphone  spar,  35 
Protheite,  610 
Proustite,  464 
Psilomelane,  391 
Pseudolite,  138 
Pseudomalachit,  501 
Pumice,  231,233 
Puschkinite,  626 
Pycniie,  133 
Pyrallolite,  88 
Pyrargillite,  190 
Pyreneite,  21,  25 
Pyrenit,  21 
Pyrgom,  76 
Pyrite  rnartiale,  338 
Pyrites,  arsenical,  442 

auriferous,  342 

capillary,  451 

cockscomb,  342 

copper,  482 

hepatic,  341 

magnetic,  343 

tin,  430 

white  iron,  342 

spear,  342 

Pyrites  capillaris,  451 
cubicus,  338 
erubescens,  478 
hexagonus,  343 
pyramidalis,  482 
rhombicus,  342 
Pyrochlore,  314 
Pyroluaite,  388 
Pyromorphite, 
Pyrope,  26 
Pyrophyllite,  58 
Pyrophysalite,  130 
Pyrorthite,  420 
Pyrosklerite,  116 
Pyrosmalite,  362 
Pyrosmali      th, 


INDEX. 


657 


Pyroxene,  71,  var.  74,  75 

foliated,  74 

ferro-manganesien,  362 

granulifnrme,  77 

laminaire  gris  verdatre,  77 
Pyrrhite,  176,  625 


auartz,  1 

brown,  8 
crystallized,  2 
emphyrodox,  331 
ferruginous,  8 
fibrous,  8 
fusible,  231 
gemoiner,  2 
isopyric,  48 
Kilpatrick,  14 
milk,  7 
prismatic,  60 
radiated, 8 
rhombohedral,  1 
rose, 7 

gpongiform,  9 
uncleavable,  14 
violot,  7 
yellow,  8 
Quartz  agathe  concrctionnethermogene,  17 

cornaline,  11 
aluminifere  tripoleen,  56 
brunatre,  16 
hyalin,  2 

avanturine,  7 
concretioune,  16 
enfunie,  8 
iaune, 8 
Jaiteux,  7 
rubigineux,  8 
vert-obscur,  7 
resinite,  14 

cpmmun,  15 
giarasol,  15 
*    hydropbanc,  15 
opnlin,  14 
subluisaut,  16 
xyloide,  16 
nectiquc,  9 
Quecksilber,  cblor,  577 

gediegen,  573 
horneiz,  577 
-lebererz,  575 
Quicksilver,  horn,  577 
native,  573 

R 

Radelerz,  536 
Rauschgelb,  gelbes,  441 
rother,  441 
Razoumuffskin,  295 
Realgar,  440 

rouge,  440 
Rensselaerito,  78 
Resin,  hifligate,  597 

yellow  mineral,  593 
Resinite,  petrosilex,  232 
Retinite,  596 
Retinasphalt,596 
lleussite,  333 
Rex  metallorum,  510 
Rhsetizite,  106, 108 
Rhenite,  501 


Rhodhalose,  450 
Rhodizite,  62-2 
Rhodonite,  398 
Rhomb  spur,  272 
Riolite,  564 
Rionite,  564 
Rock  cork,  88 
milk,  267 
salt,  hexahedral,  325 

native  decrepitating,  327 
wood,  88 
Rodisite, 
Rodochrom,  618 
Romanzovite,  29 
Roselite,  449 
Rosite,  238 
Rothbleierz,  554 
Rothbraunsteinerz,  401 
Rothgultigfrz,  464 
Rothkupfererz,  486 
Rothspiesglnstrz,  527 
Rottenstone,  55 
Rubella  floiida,  464 
Rubellane,  181 
Rubella  obliqua,  467 
peritoma,  575 
rhombohedra,  464 
Rubellite,  244,  248 
Ruhellon  aster-mica,  181 
Rubicelle,  138 
Rubin-glimmer,  355 
Ruby,  oriental  ,  98 

-blende,  hemi-prismatic,  467 
peritomous,  575 
prismato-rhomboidal,  575 
ihombohedral,  464 
rhomboidal,  464 
Rutile,  376 
Rutilua  Brucii,  565 

dystomus,  314 
obliquus,  410 
octahedru*,  486 
pyramidalis,  432 
quadratus,  376 


Ryacolite,  197 


S 


Sahlite,  77 

Sal  cubicum,325 
msire,  325 

Salmiak,  naturlicher,  398 

Salpeter,  naturlicher,  319 

Salzkuplererz,  499 

Saphir,  97 

Saponite,  633 

Sappare,  106 

Sapphire,  97 

chatoyant,  98 
girasol,  98 
opalescent,  98 
oriental,  98 
white,  98 

Sapphire  d'eau,  62 

Sapphirine,  138 

Sapphirus  eutoma,  113 
infusilis,  114 
oclahcdra,  135 
rectangula,  166 
rhombohedra,  97 

Sarcolite,  212,  231 

Sarcolithe,  231 

Sassoline,  254 


658 


INDEX. 


Saussurite,  234 
Satin  spar,  272 
Scapolite,  234 

massive,  89 
rock,  89 
Scarbroite,  106 
Schabasit,  238 
Schaumerdo,  268 
Scheelin  calcaire,  293 

ferrugine,  375 
Scheelite,293 
Scheelitine,  557 
Scheelium  ore,  prismatic,  375 
Scheelius  pyiamidalis,  293 
Schererite,  595 
Schieferkohle,  590 

spar,  267 
spath,  267 
Schieferthon,  54 
Schilleri  phyllmius,  95 
Schiller  spar,  95 

diatomous,  95 
hemi-prismatic,  96 
prismatoidal,  94 
prismatic,  50 
spath,  95 
stein,  95 

Schiste  a  polier,  55 
Schmelzstein,237 
Schmiergel,  101 
Schorl,  244,  246 
Schrifterz,  518 
Schwartzerz,  400,  480 
Schwefel,  natmlicher,  578 
-kies,  333 
-nickel,  451 
schilfglazerz,  463 
Schwerspath,  304 
Schwerstein,  293 
Schwimmstein,  9 
Scolezite,211 

anhydrous,  125 
Scorodite,  599 
Scorza,  46 
Scoulerite,  132 
Selenblei,  537 
Selen  cuprite,  485 
Selenite,  285, 286 
Selen  kupfersilber,  469 
Selenium,  native,  580 
Seleniure  cuivre-plombique,  537 
Selen-silber,  468 
Sel-d'epsom  natif,297 
Sel  gemme,  325 
.Semi-opal,  15 
Serpentine,  147 

ollaire,  151 
Severite,  104 
Seybertite,  79 
Shale,  54 

black  bituminous,  54 
brown,  54 
Siberite,  248 
Siderite  airnant,  347 

chromifere,  385 
zincifere.  353 
Sideritine,  361 
Sideroschislite,  357 
Sideroschisolite,  359 
Siderus  acrotomus,  379,  380 
chromicus,  385 
fibrosus,  249 


Siderus  haematicus,  354 
Hisingeri,  359 
octahedrus,  347 
rhombicus,  360 
rhombohedrus,  350 
zinciferus,  353 
Silber,  buttermilch,  472 
gediegen,  455 
guldisches  gediegen,  457 
-blende,  464 
-glanz,  biegsamer.  460 
-kupferglanz,  467 
-schwartze,  460 
Silex  girasul,  15 
Silex  opale,  14 

resinite,  15 

Silice  fluatee  alumineuse,  127 
Silicite,  175 
Sillimanite,  159,  601 
Silvanite,  518 
Silver,  antimonial,  457 
arsenical,  458 

antimonial,  458 
auriferous,  native,  457 
bismuthic,  468 
bisulpho  antimoniate  of,  467 
black  sulphuret  of,  460 
brittle  sulphuret  of,  462 
bromide  of,  470 
buttermilk,  472 
carbonate  of,  471 
chloride  of,  471 
corneous,  471 
earthy-corneous,  472 
ferro-sulphuret  of,  460 
flexible  sulphuret  of,  460 
hexahedral,  455 
horn,  471 
iodic,  470 
iodide  of,  470 
muriate  of,  471 
native,  455 
red,  464 
ruby,  464 
seleniet  of,  468 
selenio-cuprate  of,  469 
seleniuret  of,  468 
eubsesquisulpho-antimoniate  of,  464 

-arseniate  of,  464 
sulpho-cuprite  of,  467 
sulphuret  of,  459 
telluric,  458 
vitreous,  459 

and  antimony,  sulphuret  of,  463, 464 
and  arsenic,  sulphuret  of,  464 
and  copper,  seleniuret  of,  469 
sulphuret  of,  467 
and  lead  and  antimony,  sulphuret  of, 

463 
glance,  459 

brittle,  462 
earthy,  460- 
hexahedral,  459 
ore,  grey,  471 
Sinter,  silicious,  17 
Sismondine,  627 
Slate,  adhesive,  55 
-clay,  54 
polishing,  55 
spar,  267 
SHckenside,  533 
Smaltine,  445 


INDEX. 


659 


Smaragdite,  52 
Smithsonite,  567 
Soapstone,  150 
Soda,  biborate  of,  324 
borate  of,  324 
carbonate  of,  320 
iodate  of,  617 
nitrate  of,  323 
sulphate  of,  322 
-alum,  333 

Bolivian,  605 

and  manganese,  sulphate  of,  605 
Sodaite,  237     ' 
Sodalite,  229 
Sodium,  chloride  of,  325 
Somervillite,  177,  218 
Sommite,  219 
Sordawalite,  63 
Soude  boratee,  324 

carbonatee,  320 
nitratee,  323 
sulphatee,  322 
Soufre,  578 

Spanialus  dodecahedrus,  425 
hexagonus,  425 
peritomus,  313 
quadratus,  420 
rhombicus,  420 
Spar,  tabular,  67 
Spargelstein,  277 
Spar-kies,  342 
Spath-eisenstein,  363 
Spatinius  decolorans,  397 
reniforms,  399 
rhombohedrus,  396 
Spatum  Gehlenianum,  32 
gemellum,  224 
Herschellianum,  187 
hexagonum,  219,  var.  40 
oleaceum,  231 
opalescens,  225 
orthotomum,  192 
quadratum,  234 
roseum,  199 
triclinatum,  226 
Vesuvianum,  53,  var.  49 
volcanicum,  71 
Speckstein,  150 
Speissglaserz,  Schwartz.  534 
Sperkise,  312 
Spessartine,  23 
Sphoerosiderite,  365 
Sphoerulite,  233 
Sphen, 410 
Sphene,  410 
Spherostilbite,  217 
Spiosglanzbleierz,  534 
Spiesglas,  gediegen,  522 
Spiesglaserz,  grau,  523 
weiss,  528 
Spiesglassilber,  457 
Spieskobold,  Grauer,  445 
Spiessglanz  ochre,  528 
weiss,  523 
Spinel,  135 

ruby,  138 
Spinellane,  223 
Spinelle,  135 

zincifere,  113 
Spinthere,  413 


Spodumene,  198 

prismatic,  198 
Sprbd-glaserz,  462 
Stangenspath,  307 
Stannolite,  406 
Stanzaite,  118 
Staurolite,  110 

macle,  112 
Steatite,  150 

pagodite,  200 
Steatus  acicularis,  595 
Steinmannite,  611 
Steinheilite,  til 
Steinmark,  55 
Steinsalz,  352 
Stellite,  121,  624 
Sterlingite,  365 
Sternbergite,  461 
Stibiconise,  528 
Stibium  rhombicum,  457 

rhombohedrum,  522 
Stilbine,  523 
Stilbite,  35 
Stilpnomelan,  611 
Stilpnosiderite,  357 
Stimmius  rhombicus,  528 
Stinkstone,  269 
Strahlerz,  505 
Strahlkies,  342 
Strahlstein,  85 
Strahlzeolith,  35 
Strelite,  50 
Striegisun,  259 
Strohstein,  18 
Stromeyerine,  467 
Stromeyerite,  467 
Stromnite,  309 
Strontian,  308 

baryto-sulphate  of,  310 
carbonate  of, 
sulphate  of,  310 
Strontian  carbonatee,  308 
sulphatee,  310 
Strontianite,  308 
Stylobite,  32 
Stylus  acrotomus,  59 

hexagonus,  189 
Succin,  593 
Succinite,  28 
Succinuum  electrum,  593 
Sulphur,  578 

hemi  prismatic,  440 

prismatic,  578 

prismatoidal,  441 

ruby,  440 

Sulphur  pyramidalis,  578 
Sulphuret,  triple,  534 
Sulphurica,  aqua,  254 
Sulphuric  acid,  hydrous,  254 
liquid,  254 
native,  254 

Sulphurique  hydrate,  acide,  254 
Sumpferz,  356 
Sun-stone,  193 
Susannite,  542 
Swinestone,  269 
Sylvan,  gediegen,  517 
Sylvane  graphique,  518 
Sylvanerz,  \veiss,  520 
Sylvine,  612 


660 


INDEX. 


Table  Spar,  67 
Tables,  spath  en,  67 
Tabular  spar,  67 

prismatic,  88 
Talc,  155 

Venetian,  155 
Talc  graphique,  200 
granuleux,  156 
mica,  hemi-prismatic,  179 

prismatic,  155 
ollaire,  151 
steatite,  150 
zographique,  156 
Talcum  serpentinum,  147 
Talk,  phosphorsaurer,  298 
Tankelite,3l3 
Tantale  oxide  ferro-manganesifere,  3i 

yttrifere,  315 
Tantalit,  382 

Tantalum  ore,  prismatic,  382 
Tautolite,  171 
Tellum,  gediegen,  517 

weiss,  520 

Tellure  aurifere  and  plomhifere,  520 
natif  auro-argentifere,  518 
-ferrifere,  517 
-plombifere,  520 
Tellurium,  black,  520 
foliated,  520 
graphic,  518 
hexabedral,  517 
native,  517 
prismatic  black,  520 
white  ore  of,  520 
yellow,  520 
glance,  pyramidal,  520 
Tellurium  hexagonum,  517 
ore,  Nagyag,  521 
Telluro  Galene,  520 
Tellur-silber,  458 
Tennantite,  481 
Tephroite,  612 
Tesselite,  185,  187 
Tetartin,  226 
Tetraphyline,  404 
Thallite,45 
Thenardite,  323 
Thomsonite,  204 
Thon,  54 
Thorite,  170 
Thraulite,  359 
Thrombolithe,  502 
Thulite,  131 
Thumite,  46 
Thumer-stono,  46 
Tile  ore,  4b8 
Tin,  fibrous  oxide  of,  410 
oxide  of,  406 
stream,  406,  410 
sulphuret  of,  430 
tantaliferous  oxide  of,  410 
toad's-eye  wood,  410 
wood,  406,  407,  410 
ore,  pyramidal,  406 
stone,  406 
pyrites,  430 
Tincal,  324 
Tinder  ore,  527 
Titan  nigrin,  377 


Titane  anatase,  432 
oxyde,  376 

ferrifere,  377 
rutile,  376 
silico-calcaire,  410 
Titanic  acid,  376 

Titanium  ore,  hemi-prismatic,  410 
peritomous,  376 
prismatic,  379,  410 
prismatico-pyramidal,  376 
pyramidal,  432 
red  oxide  of,  376 
Tomosif,  398 
Topaz,  127 

oriental,  98 
prismaticj  127 
-rock,  129 
Topazius  rhomhicus,  127 

Vesufianus,  143 
Topazolite,  27 
Tophstein,  151 
Torrellite,  384,  418 
Tourmaline,  244 

green, 248 
rhombohedral,  244 
rhomboidal,  244 
Tourmaline  apyre,  248 
d'Uto,  247 
rouge,  248 
Tremolite,  84 

asbestiform,  85 
common,  84 
Norwegian,  85 
Triclasite,  59 
Tripel,  56 
Triphane  spar,  198 

axotornous,  33 
prismatic,  198 
Triphyline,  403 
Tripoli,  56 

Trippes,  pierre  des,  285 
Trona.  321 
Troostite,  396 
Tufa,  270 

Tungsten,  native  yellow  oxide  of,  431 
oxide  of,  431 
pyramidal,  293 
Tungsten  schwerstein,  293 
Tungstic  ochre,  431 
Turmalus  rhombohedrus,  244 
Turmerite,  138 
Turquoise,  261 

occidental,  262 


Uraconise,  429 
Uran-bloom,  429 
-bluthe,  429 
glimmer,  427,  428 
mica,  427 
vitriol,  430 
Uranalus  ochraceus,  429 

qundratus,  427,  428 
Urane  sulfate  vert  d',  430 
micac6,  427 
oxide,  427 
oxydule,  426 
sulfate,  430 
Uranerz,  gru'ner,  428 
Uranic  ochre,  600 


INDEX. 


661 


Uranite,  407 

Uranium,  calcareo-phosphate  of,  427 
carbonate  of,  429 
cupreo-phosphate  of,  428 
phosphate  of,  427 
uncleavable,  426 
lucine-ore,  600 

Uranius  amorphous,  426 

Uranpecherz,  426 

Urao,  321 

Uwarowite,  22,  602 


Vanadate  of  lead,  557 

Vanadinbleierz,  557 

Vanadinite,  557 

Vargasite,  613 

Variegated  copper  ore,  478 

Varvacite,  391 

Vauquelinito,  556 

Velvet  copper  ore,  498 

Vermiculite,  125 

Verd  antique,  269 

Vesuvian,  30 

Villarsite,  174 

Vitreous  copper  ore,  475 
silver  ore,  459 

Vitriol,  blue,  495 
green,  368 
hemi  prismatic,  368 
prismatic,  495 
pyramidal,  570 
red,  450 
white,  570 
bleu,  495 

salt,  hemi-prismatic,  3 
salt,  prismatic,  570 

Vitriolum  bicolor,  371 

cobalticum,  450 
cyprium,  495 
hexagonum,  369 
martiale,  368 
uranicum,  430 
zincicum,  570 

Vivianite.  365 

Volborthite,  509 

Voltzite,  564 

Vulcanus  acutus,  216 

Brewsterianus,  66 
Comptonianus,  213 
cubicus,  227 
dodecahedrus,  229 
dystomus,  288 
efflorescens,41 
exfolians,  212 
fascicularis,  35 
flabelliformis,  210 
gemellus,  63 
nemiquadratus,  248 
Levyanus,  243 
peritomus,  202 
Phillipsianus,  184 
quadratus,  185 
rhombicus,  204 
rhombohedrus,  238 
rhomboideus,  37 
stramineus,  18 
Thomsonianus,  204 
trapezohedrus.  183 

Vulpinite,285 

56 


w 

Wad,  393 

black,  393 

Wagnerite,  298 

Walkerde,  56 

Wandstein,  275 

Warwickite,  413 

Washingtonite,  381,  603 

Wavellite,  258 

Websterite,  257 

Weissite,  188 

Wernerite,  234,  237 

Wiesenerz,  356 

Willelmine,  570 

Willemit,  570. 

Wismuth,  arsenik,  437 
kiesel,  437 
tellur,  438 
-ocher,  436 
silbererz,  468 

Withamite,  93 

Witherite,  301 

Wohlerite,  615 

Wolfram,  375 

prismatic,  375 

Wolframius  rectangulus,  375 

Wollastonite,  67,  69 

Worth  ite,  108 

Wurfelerz,  372 

Wurfelspath,  284 


Xanthophyllite,  628 
Xanthite,  32 
Xenolite,  109 
Xenotine,  313 


Yanolite,  46 

Yenite,  360 

Ypoleime,  501 

Yttererde,  phosphorsaure,  313 

Yttria,  carbonate  of,  313 
phosphate  of,  313 
and  cerium,  fluate  of,  4! 
phosphatee,  313 

Yttrocerite,  420 

Yttro-columbite,  315 

Yttrotantal,  315 

Yttrotantallite,  315 


Zeagonite,  71 

Zeilanite,  135 

Zeolite,  var.  of,  202 
blatter,  37 
compact,  252 
crystalline,  203 
dodecahedral.  229 
efflorescing,  41 
fibrous,  203 
foliated,  37 
hexahedral,  227 
mealy,  203 
needle,  204 
pulverulent,  203 
pyramidal,  185 


662 


INDEX. 


Zeolite,  radiated,  35 

rhombohedral,  328 
trapezoidal,  183 
Zeuxite,  51 
Zieglerz,488 
Zigueline,  486 

Zinc,  anhydrous  carbonate  of,  567 
carbonate  of,  567 
hydrous  dicarbonate  of,  569 

silicate  of,  566 
manganesian  oxide  of,  565 
red,  565 

red  oxide  of,  565 
seleniet  of,  564 
silicious  oxide  of,  566 
sulphate  of,  570 
sulphuret  of,  561 
Zincalus  acrotomous,  570 
diatomus,  571 
ochraceus,  569 
peritomous,  566 
rhombohedrus,  567 
Zinc  and  Mercury,  seleniet  of,  564 
baryte,  prismatic,  566 

rhombohedral,  567 
blende,  dodecahedral,  561 


Zinc  carbon  at6,  567 

hydrate  cuprifere,  508 
Zincites  flammans,  564 
Zinc  ore,  prismatic,  565 

oxyd,  565 

oxyde  ferrifere,  353 

manganesifere,  565 
silicifere,  566 

spath,  567 

sulfure,  561 

sulphate,  570 

vitriol,  570 
Zincum  sterile,  561 
Zinkbluthe,  569 
Zinkenite,  526 
Zinnkies,  430 
Zinnober,  575 
Zinnstein,  406 
Zircon,  157 

pyramidal,  157 
Zirconite,  158 
Zoisite,  43 
Zblestin,  310 
Zootinsalz,  323 
Z  undererz,  527 
Zurlite,  612 


ERRATA. 

Preface,  p.  ii,  line  13,  for  "  multiplied  by  ten  "  read  "multiplied  by  100." 

Page  xliv,  note,  for  "  calcareons"  read  "  calcareous." 
"     cxxxv,  Sp.  29,  substitute  this  formula  :  "  CalC+BrC." 
"     cix,  second  line,  substitute  "  8-5"  for  "  85." 
"     cxxix,  Sp.  61,  substitute  "  4Cal2S+MgS2"  for  "  4CS3+MS3." 
"    cxxxiii,  for  the  formula  for  Haydenite,  substitute  this  ;   "2(A1,  F)S3-j-(K,  Cal, 
Mg,)S+2Aq.» 

Page  73,  note,  for  "  analyses"  read  analysis." 

"  90,  line  1,  for  "  characterizes  "  read  "  characterized." 

"  122,  line  1,  for  "  4CS*+MS3"  read  "  4CalSa+MgS3." 

«  136,  line  2,  for  "  Pleonate"  read  "  Pleonaste." 

"  165,  line  7  from  bottom,  for  "  trapezoidal"  read  "  trapezoidal.*' 

"  171,  for  "  H  "  in  the  formula  for  Poonahlite  substitute  "  12H." 

"  207,  in  the»formula  for  Gigantholite,  for  "  P,  M,"  read  "  P,  Mn." 

"  242,  line  7,  above  article  Phakolite,  for  "  basis"  read  "  bases." 

"  293,  line  5  from  the  figure,  for  "  their"  read  "  these." 

"  324,  line  2,  for  "  borax"  read  "  soda." 

"  333,  line  1,  in  art.  Soda-Alum,  for  "  analyses"  read  "  analysis." 

"  344,  make  the  same  correction  as  above  in  the  note  to  this  page. 

"  484,  line  4  from  bottom,  for  "  pounds"  read  "  puds." 

"  553,  fourth  analysis,  place  the  figures  "  40-293"  against  molybdic  acid,  and 

"  61-903  "  against  protoxide  of  lead. 

"  605,  formula,  line  3  from  bottom  substitute  "  F"  for  "  P." 

"  617,  formula  for  Pickeringite,  place  a  dot  over  the  "  ift." 

"  619,  ine  12,  for  "  lamenated  "  read  «  laminated." 

"  619,  line  18,  for  "  Salamoniac"  read  "  Salammoniac." 

"  628,  line  19,  for  "  Clinlinite"  read  "  Clintonite." 

"  642,  add  "  Anhydrous  Silicate  of  Alumina,  p.  109." 

"  644,  add  "  Bucholzite,  p.  109." 

"  648,  add  page  109  to  "  Epimecius  Bucholzianus." 


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